Music production colleges have become a popular destination for aspiring artists, producers, and engineers who are looking to take their passion to the next level.
However, even in spite of the job placement programs that schools claim to offer, students must understand that graduating from music production colleges may not land them a job right on a spot as a bonafide audio engineer or music producer unless they already have an “in” with someone well-connected or happen to be at the right place at just the right time, which is not very common in what is arguably one of the most ruthlessly competitive industries in the world.
Don’t Spend Too Much Money
Students should also exercise caution when applying for schools that charge thousands of dollars in tuition fees, as they may find alternative schools that may offer as much or even more materials, supplies, and higher-quality courses than schools who charge such excessive prices.
Granted, there may be networking opportunities that you may not want to miss out on, or perhaps the school is located within a once famous studio that was the birthplace of many hit records and singles, but don’t be fooled by the silver lining; certain schools can count on raking in unsuspecting, gullible high school students and aspiring musicians to bankroll their operations, and will do so as long as they’re able to keep their doors open.
How To Find a Good College?
Of course, this isn’t to say that all recording schools that charge high fees are out to scam you out of your money, and that all schools that don’t tack on hefty price tags are capable of providing high quality courses and instruction to help you reach your goals, but doing your homework and researching potential schools thoroughly will spare you a lot of headaches and a significant financial burden in the long run.
If you can afford the price, have visited the location, met with the instructors, and feel comfortable that they can fulfill their professional obligations to help you learn and achieve as much as you can while you’re there, then you’ve probably found just the right spot.
For those of you who consider yourselves to be the DIY type, there are plenty of online blogs, websites, forums, and videos that you can access to teach you about the ins and outs of audio engineering and music production, and they will cost you absolutely nothing!
What About Online Classes?
That being said, there are also online courses and materials that you can also pay for, but they will be a fraction of what it would cost if you were to sign up for classes at a physical location.
However, you must make sure that you have all the necessary equipment at your disposal before you get started, which is still a minor disadvantage in comparison to what you may pay for tuition and being able to access a professional studio.
Alternatively, you can also opt to intern at a professional studio and basically work for free in exchange for learning how a studio works from the ground up, and you probably won’t have to fight other students to get hands-on time with the chief engineer or other staff members, although you may end up working till 6 in the morning or getting a call at 3 in the morning if need be, so be prepared!
