University Of Miami Frost School Of Music
The final school on this list with two different program options is one of the best in the country. Within the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, students can study media scoring and production or music engineering and technology.
The media scoring and production program ranks among the top 25 music schools for film and television, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
Thanks to their outstanding resources and a faculty that includes multiple Emmy-award winners, U Miami prepares students for immediate employment within the music and media industries.
Founded in 1977, the music engineering technology program at U Miami is the oldest in the world. The program boasts the newly-renovated Weeks Recording Studio, the worlds first studio to feature three full-size consoles in the control room.
I Have No Experience In Music Can I Still Learn Production
Yes! Many of your favorite producers started producing with no previous musical experience. Sure, it helps, but you can pick up skills like songwriting and melody writing along the way.
In fact, music theory is just one part of music production, and even those who have played an instrument before are only at a slight advantage.
What Do We Mean By Music Production
The term music producer may mean different things to many people. Some people think of a music producer as a beatmaker. But music producers do more than just create beats. Even though the music production process may vary from person to person, it generally involves writing, arranging, producing, and recording songs.
Some music producers shape the sound of an artists album, while others create beats or songs for their own projects. Music producers may also listen to recordings as well as make suggestions for edits and give artists advice when it comes to their performance and vocals.
When you think of the term music producer, you should be aware that it essentially means that these professionals fully understand and are masters at every aspect of studio production. Theyre skilled at how to piece together sounds, vocals, and instruments to form a cohesive product. You can think of a music producer as a visionary for the overall sound and quality of a record.
If youre an aspiring producer, you may already have some knowledge about the industry. If not, you can improve your skills by enrolling in a music production school. Throughout your studies, youll learn the process of recording, engineering, and production.
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Music Production Gear What Do I Need
My advice to new producers would be to not stress too much on gear.
A new piece of production gear, whether it be a MIDI keyboard, software plugin, or headphonesmay certainly aid your creative process and help with the technical side of things, but they wont automatically make you a better producer.
With that said, there are a few essentials. Ive written a post that you should check out:Starting Electronic Music Production on a Budget.
Berklee College Of Music Boston Massachusetts

A degree in music production and engineering from the prestigious Berklee College of Music gives you access to award-winning mentors and premier recording studios that have the latest equipment in the industry and open 21 hours every day.
You get hands-on experience in everything from synthesis technologies to digital audio editing and production of musical compositions.
Berklee Online also offers a Bachelors Degree in Professional Studies in Electronic Music Production and Sound Design, along with a variety of certification courses for specialists, professionals, and teachers. It is undoubtedly one of the Best Music Production Schools in 2021.
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The Frost School Of Musicthe University Of Miami
Ensembles are how serious music students test their skills with faculty and peers. The Frost School has their own electronic music ensemble, which is partly why this school makes it on our list of the best electronic music production schools.
Along with your standard music theory and music performance courses, The Frost School also offers several courses exploring the many facets of electronic music. Digital Editing and Sequencing, History and Analysis of Electronic and Acousmatic Music, and several others all aim to impart to you the skills and context needed to move forward confidently in the world of electronic music.
Usc Thornton School Of Music
The highest-ranking school on this list is also the most selective. Each year, the music technology program at the Thornton School of Music at the University of Southern California accepts a very small number of students.
Those who make it into the program learn the creative, technical and business aspects of professional music.
Seeking to prepare them for the evolving nature of professional music, the program trains students in a wide range of competencies, including composing and arranging, live and studio performance, audio engineering/mixing, editing and mastering, music synthesis and programming, as well as the business aspects related to music licensing.
The program takes advantage of USCs many other programs, allowing students to collaborate with songwriters, artists, and bands within the Thornton school, as well as video directors and video game designers in the School of Cinematic Arts, the Roski School of Art and Design, the Viterbi School of Engineering, and the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism.
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What Great Design Sounds Like
We inspire and motivate students to cultivate their unique voice as artists. Students develop a portfolio that demonstrates a personal style and a high level of technical skills, preparing them for a professional career. The spirit of imagination, creativity, skill, and intense commitment flourishes. The proof is in the music. This is what great design sounds like.
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American University Washington Dc
Earn your B.A. in Music Production or B.S. in Music Technology at the American University recognized nationally. Both programs focus on sound synthesis and study management, but you specialize in music, communication, computer or physics.
The combination of art and science along with seven on-campus studies provides a holistic education to make their mark in the music production industry.
American University is one of the Best Music Production Schools in 2021. The school also offers graduate certificates and masters degrees in technology and Music production.
The Georgia Tech Center for Music Technology offers masters and doctorates for innovative artistic and technological advances.
The research-focused department, which is part of the School of Music and the School of Architecture, offers leading courses in the robotic music industry, music information retrieval and digital signal processing and music theory to train the next generation of audio technologists.
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University Of New Haven New Haven Connecticut
UNH offers a B.A. and B.S. in Music and sound recording, which are based on the theory of music, musicality and sound recording technologies. The components of science include electrical engineering, sound physics, and calculus classes.
Professional instructors guide small classes as you learn to conduct a computer-based study. The three campus studios have professional-level teams that cater to beginners and advanced students.
Berklee College Of Music
Boston, MA + Valencia, Spain + Online
From $59880
Well, come on, we couldnt leave out one of the most respected schools for music across the globe. If you havent heard of Berklee, then youve been living under at least a couple of rocks.
Based in Boston, this higher-education music school recruits the most promising and talented contemporary musicians from across the US and even the world.
In a nutshell, you can study from among 27 majors through a B.M., B.F.A., B.P.S. or artist diploma. They also have graduate courses beyond that, and both undergraduate and graduate options for their online program too.
An entry requirement of Berklee is to have a principal instrument. Traditionally, this refers to pianos, guitars and the like.
However, as of 2019 you can take an EDI as a principal instrument, like an Ableton Push.
Beyond that, there is a broad number of disciplines taking these courses will introduce you to, including theatre, film and technology. But that gives you the option to specialize in what suits you .
Apart from the prestigious curriculum, youll find a vast network of people and alumni to connect with at Berklee.
You might ask how thats different from any old school their 294 Grammy wins by alumni might help you understand the value there a bit more.
Get more info on the programs at their website.
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Music Production And Sound Design Specializations
Specialization is often a part of moving forward in music production careers. That might mean working in a particular area of sound engineering, like multi-track mixing or live studio recording. Or, it can entail going into a particular sector of the field, like the concert business, sports broadcasting or video production. Here are some other areas of emphasis:
Video Game Production
Working in the video game industry is probably a childhood dream for many people, and there are many different sound and music-related careers one can pursue. Audio workers, such as sound engineers, develop, record and process every sound within the game – music, dialogue and all the small unique sound effects that bring the game to life.
Electronic Music Production
While much music is still created the old fashioned way by real live people playing instruments and singing digital technology has evolved to a point where entire tracks can be conceived, created, mixed and mastered in a virtual workspace. This technology, and its many applications, are gaining interest as an area of specialization.
Audio Mastering
The final step in music production is called mastering, and it has been seen as a mysterious hidden realm. It involves a comprehensive knowledge of sound mixing and editing processes, as well as a finely tuned ear, because it rests on creating a final cut of an audio track that is ready for duplication and mass distribution.
The 10 Best Music Production & Audio Engineering Schools

Few careers are quite as exciting as those in music. Nearly everyone has fantasized about getting up on stage to play a killer solo or wowing an audience with their virtuosity.
But playing an instrument is just a small part of being in the music industry. In a music production program, students learn the technical aspects of making music. These programs teach students how to create, record, mix, edit, and master music.
Some people going into music production learn these skills to compose their own music, while others focus on helping other artists achieve their visions.
Although the major is relatively new, numerous schools across the country are integrating them into their programs, albeit under different names. Some call the major music production or audio engineering, while others call it performing arts technology or music technology.
Today, we are diving into ten amazing music production and audio engineering schools.
These schools feature unparalleled faculty for music production with years of experience in the field. The schools also have state-of-the-art facilities, opportunities, and collaborations with established musicians.
Ready to hit the studio and make the next hit? Then read on and find the best music production school!
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The Steinhardt School Of Musicnew York University
With a complete music technology degree program, the Steinhardt School of Music explores all the facets of electronic music production and performance with their Bachelor of Music in Music Technology program. I would consider it one of the best schools for electronic music production.
What makes this school stand out is its Masters in Music, which aims to make its students into tonmeisters, those veritable geniuses of the technology and processes behind music production. This includes synthesizing sounds, recording, and wielding a complete command of traditional and non-traditional musical rules and practices.
University Of Denver Denver Colorado
One of the most important performance schools in the country, Lamont School of Music accepts only 300 students per year. Earning your B.M. in Recording and Production provides in-depth training in instruments, music theory, analog synthesis, and digital audio work.
Instruction in the classroom is equally balanced with time in the three electronic and production studios. Students participate in more than 300 presentations each year on campus and at regional festivals.
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Middle Tennessee State University Murfreesboro Tennessee
The Recording Industry Department of MTSU is recognized as one of the largest and best music production programs in the world. ABS. in audio production and a masters degree in fine arts In arts and recording technology are available.
Bachelor students are encouraged to seek a minor technician, such as electroacoustic, computer science or entertainment technology. The campus offers six recording studios and separate laboratory spaces for mastering, film mixing, postproduction, and MIDI.
Find And Promote New Artists
While the importance of connections in the music industry cannot be overstated, finding and promoting your own new artists is the ultimate goal. Scout new bands and artists by keeping up with industry social media. Consider hiring promoters to inform potential audiences of your artists upcoming events. Always remember that your success as a music producer relies largely on the music you release and the referrals that may follow those releases.
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What To Expect From A Career Producing Music
The music industry is full of talented people, but a career in producing music is about more than just talent and dedication – you need strong business and technical skills, as well as a thorough understanding of all aspects of the music business. Music production programs at Ontario colleges help students gain these valuable skills, preparing them for a career in this exciting industry.
Whether youre a musician or you simply have a passion for music and want to learn how to produce, heres what you need to know.
The Funnest Ways To Learn Music Production
Putting in serious study and practice doesn’t have to be hard and boring. With music production it’s actually a blast. When you get sick of trying to invent new ideas right out of your own brain there are a few things you can do to keep it interesting and turn up new techniques.
Remakes – I recommend first and foremost to try to remake songs you like. That means figuring out their key, chord progressions, orchestration and arrangement, and recreating it the best you can. You can usually find acapella tracks, too, though I recommend performing the vocals yourself.
Remixes – Another fun method is to create remixes of songs you enjoy. Again, you can use an acapella and even time-stretch it to target a different tempo. Taking songs you’re familiar with and turning them into something completely different is a blast.
Challenges – Finally, I love to create music production challenges. For instance, I once challenged myself to make a children’s music EP album from only FL Studio stock sounds, only in major keys, and it had to be in the genre of world music. I learned a ton from that and the songs were great.
The more you restrict the parameters during challenges, the more creative you have to be, which forces you to expand your thinking and your arsenal of techniques. You end up having to study new genres that have a lot to teach you.
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Typical Courses & Electives In Music Production Schools
When you enroll in a music production school, youll be able to choose from several courses to expand your musical knowledge. You’ll notice there’s some overlap from the typical program you’d find in audio engineering schools.
To obtain a degree in music production, some of the required courses youll need include:
- Music Production Analysis
Electives you may choose from include:
- Audio Mastering Techniques
- Advanced Audio Ear Training
Tutors & Industry Guests

Our courses are taught by a team of permanent tutors & visiting international music industry professionals with a genuine passion for passing on their specialist knowledge to others.
They’ll ask the difficult questions you’ve been avoiding, set impossible tasks that stretch you in ways you didnt know you were capable of, provide insights into new ways of thinking and heap fulsome praise where it’s due.
Above all, they’ll be there for you when you pick yourself up out of the dirt after a spectacular creative failure with an encouragement to be even more audacious next time.
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Timbaland Teaches Producing And Beatmaking
Now that hip-hop is one of the biggest genres in the world, many musicians are using their talents to produce beats. But, contrary to what some acoustic diehards think, beatmaking is incredibly difficult and requires a special set of skills as well as a good ear. With this Masterclass, you can learn to make hits from a beatmaking legend: Timbaland.
Timbalands Masterclass includes 15 bite-sized lessons . Youll learn how to loop, mix, layer drums, add vocals and collaborate with other producers. But you also get some motivation and stories from the ground-breaking producer: For example, in one lesson Tim leads you through how he made produced Dirt Off Your Shoulder for Jay-Z.
Courtesy Masterclass
Is Becoming A Music Producer Right For Me
The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You dont want to waste your time doing something you dont want to do. If youre new here, you should read about:
Still unsure if becoming a music producer is the right career path?Take the free CareerExplorer career test to find out if this career is in your top matches. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a music producer or another similar career!
Described by our users as being shockingly accurate, you might discover careers you havent thought of before.
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