The pursuit of a career in music is rewarding, but can only be done by those who possess a passion for it. Although there are many universities with music programs, only a few have earned excellent reputations as Music education leaders. This article provides an overview of acc music production.
Read on to learn more about the accredited music production schools, accessories for music production, accounting for music production costs, accredited online music production schools, and access to higher education music production. You can get related articles on CollegeLearners.
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Austin has a unique music scene. ACC’s Music Business, Performance & Technology Program is as diverse and dynamic as Austin itself. The faculty and staff provide incredible insight and training. Our students are ready for jobs in live sound, audio engineering, artist management, concert promotion, and songwriting. Additionally, our programs provide valuable internships and volunteer opportunities at local businesses and music festivals.
Get hands-on experience in our state-of-the-art recording studios and music production labs, instructors who are active in the global music scene, guest lecturers and performers, field trips, and a highly respected internship program all combine to make this degree a great entry into the world of commercial music.
Artists, audio engineers, record producers, talent managers, booking agents, songwriters, and studio musicians are all vital to the creation of recorded music and live concert events. ACC offers courses in each area, plus comprehensive Associate of Applied Science degrees.
Not only are students equipped with the fundamentals of music, they also study topics critical to the business, such as web design, entertainment law, and marketing.
Music Business, Performance, and Technology
Interested in producing albums or concerts? Consider studying music business, performance, and technology at Austin Community College. You can learn about the legal aspects of the music industry, get access to state-of-the-art recording studios, participate in an internship program, and more.
Pride Points
Performance experiences
Internship opportunities
Career & Salary Information
A solid understanding of both the technical and business sides of the music industry can open the door to a range of careers, including the ones listed here.
Click each title to learn more about important career information such as employment rates, and average salary in our region.
- Agents and Business Managers of Artists, Performers, and Athletes
- Music Composers and Arrangers
- Sound Engineering Technicians
- Talent Directors
Salary information is based on data analysis of traditional and real-time labor market information (LMI) provided in collaboration with labor market analytics firm, Emsi, a Strada company.
Awards & Program Maps
Choose the Award Path That’s Right for You
ACC offers stackable credentials. Certificates prepare you for a career change or career advancement and often include credits that count toward associate degrees. Associate degrees further increase your employability and help you build a strong foundation for university transfer.
Explore awards in this program and follow program maps to stay on track:
Associate of Applied Science Degree
| Audio Engineering Specialization | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Digital Composition Specialization | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Live Sound and Stage Production Specialization | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Music Business Specialization | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Music Performance Specialization | Award Plan | Program Map |
Certificate Level 1
| Audio Engineering Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Audio-Visual Technician Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Digital Composition Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Hip Hop Production Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Live Sound and Stage Production Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Music Business Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map | |
| Music Performance Level 1 | Award Plan | Program Map |
At ACC, we don’t just do FE courses. We’ve also got two Music Foundation Degree courses in partnership with 2017 University of the Year, Nottingham Trent University and we’re taking a closer look at them!
First up, we’ve got our FdA Music Performance course. We’ve built this course to be practical and vocational. Foundation Degrees are less ‘academic’ than full degrees, which means you’ll spend your time learning by doing, pulling together the skills and techniques you will develop during your time on the course to fully prepare yourself for your career in the music industry.
Over two years, you’ll cover:
Composition and Arrangement – You’ll be given grounding in music theory, arrangement techniques and composition, while developing hands-on skills in music production software. You’ll finish this module with a portfolio of new music that shows off what you can do as a composer, arrangement and musician.
Performance Techniques – Combine your strong compositional knowledge with reinforced performance techniques and showcase your music to the world through electrifying performances that leave your audience breathless. You’ll develop skills for performing solo and as a group as you learn how to effectively engage your audience and use every inch of the performance environment to your advantage.
Recording Studio Practice – Learn the basics of the recording process so that you can go into any professional studio environment and confidently explain exactly what you want from your recording, as well as being able to get industry standard results yourself at home.
The Music Industry – We’ll also get you up to speed with industry trends, observing the current industry landscape and how it’s changing. We shore this up with experience of client management through the completion of a live client brief.
Music, Technology and Performance – In this module you’ll learn to incorporate a range of technologies into your live performances, including triggering samples and loops, utilising synths, drum sequencing and live looping to take your performances to a new level and give your audience an amazing live experience.
Composing Music for Visual Media – An often forgotten revenue stream in the music industry is composing music for visual media, such as TV shows, films and adverts. It can be highly lucrative and it’s such an important facet of the industry that we’ve given the subject it’s own module. The module will also help to develop your critical thinking and reflection skills as you assess your compositions; both of which are transferable skills, key to being a professional musician.
Contextual Studies in Music – Looking past performance techniques, software, composition and the internal aspects of music, we’ve designed this module to give you a view of how music impacts wider society. Think of Hip Hop’s impact on culture and you’re on the right track. Not only that, you’ll look at the psychology of music and the emotive impact it has on the human brain.
Industry Practice – We’ve got this module in both our Foundation Degree courses because it’s so important. Bringing together everything you have learned during your time on the course, you’ll work on a range of self-directed projects that lay down the foundation for whatever it is you want to do beyond your time at Access Creative College. It’s the perfect opportunity to kick-start your career in the industry before you finish the course!
Of course there’s more to music than writing, recording and performing, and if your passion lies in audio production, we’ve got you covered. Our two year FdSc Audio & Music Technology course is in partnership with Nottingham Trent University and together we’ve designed this course to be practical, vocational and perfect for anyone that may have finished a Music Production or Music Tech College course.
If you’re looking for a new challenge and want to hone your production and recording skills alongside experienced tutors using industry standard facilities, then this is the course for you!
Audio Production Technology – Break down all the stages of the audio production process and learn how to effectively make decisions that get results. You’ll look at recording, editing, mixing and mastering, ensuring that you keep current and historical practices in mind to create the best quality final product.
Electronic Music Production – Learn everything you’ll need to know and more about producing electronic music, both analogue and digital, including mixing, sampling, sequencing and so much more.
Audio & The Music Industry – We’ll also get you up to speed with industry trends, observing how technological changes are shaping the industry. We shore this up with experience of client management through the completion of a live client brief.
Research Methods in Audio & Music Technology – You’ll develop an awareness of appropriate research methodologies in order to progress your studies in audio and music technologies. The ability to select the correct method of research is a skill that will assist you in your studies across all disciplines; including practical assessments and professional development. Academia is an important part of this qualification, and we’ll make sure you’re able to submit your best work by teaching you imperative research skills.
Sound & Audio Theory – Everything to do with audio is grounded in science, it’s the bread and butter! Understanding that allows you to adapt to different environments and create the best sound possible. It’s so key that we’ve given it it’s own module.
Advanced Audio Production – Bring together everything you learned when recording, editing, mixing and mastering in the Audio Production Technology module and develop your skills further as you incorporate your new found knowledge to produce work comparable to industry standard productions.
Creative Audio & Music Technology – You’ll be taking a deeper look into contemporary technologies, focussing on the creative application of modular synthesis, sound design and experimental music production techniques.
Acoustics & Electronics – Discover how sound sources, spaces and the technology you’re using interact. The room and environment you’re working in makes a huge difference to the sound of your overall production. We teach you how to work with the room you’re in to create an ideal environment for recording, producing, mixing and mastering music.
Industry Practice – We’ve got this module in both our Foundation Degree courses because it’s so important. Bringing together everything you have learned during your time on the course, you’ll work on a range of self-directed projects that lay down the foundation for whatever it is you want to do beyond your time at Access Creative. It’s the perfect opportunity to kick-start your career in the industry before you finish the course!
In a city flush with great music-making facilities, one of the most state-of-the-art recording studios is at – of all places – the community college.
At Studio A, inside Austin Community College’s Highland campus, a sky-high ceiling gives an unencumbered air to the big three-section cutting room lined with curved panels that look like wooden sound waves. Three large windows look into an unusually spacious control room, big enough for a class, with an elite 32-channel Neve 5088 mixing board as its centerpiece.
It’s a studio worthy of world-class musicians and engineers, yet available to students paying just $100 per credit hour. You could record a chamber orchestra in there, though for that you might opt for nearby Studio B, outfitted with a covetable SSL 948 console, which is actually connected to a large ensemble practice room. Come to think of it, they could also be recorded in the stunning recital hall that’s in the same building.
Walking through the vast assets of the Music Business Performance Technology (MBPT) department at ACC Highland, during a tour in June, I’m struck with three thoughts.
1) There’s no facility in Central Texas, educational or otherwise, that compares to the scope and quality of this.
2) I can’t believe I’m in the lower level of what used to be Austin’s shittiest shopping mall.
3) This is the community college music trade school complex that Austin deserves.
For the sake of comparison, in early August I toured the MBPT program’s former home at ACC’s Northridge campus, which, in contrast, feels more like a state hospital. Tim Dittmar – who’s worked in the college’s music trade school, formerly known as Commercial Music Management, since 2000 and now serves as department chair – stands in the old control room. It’s small and boxy with exactly the kind of sound-bouncing parallel walls you don’t want in a studio. It’s difficult to imagine that they used to hold 12 students, plus instructors, and a recording console in here.
Nothing about the space this department’s existed in since 1991 had been ideal. The performance hall was a converted classroom with a creaky floor, MIDI and synth classes were taught in a veritable closet, and, because the studio doubled as a lecture room, there was little space for students to work on assignments. All told, MBPT’s footprint amounted to one studio, one general classroom, two converted control rooms, and a half a lab – somehow serving hundreds of students per semester.
Incredibly, the department experienced tremendous growth over the last two decades – during most of which it was helmed by now-retired music industry sage Geoffrey Schulman. Student enrollment increased from 225 to 700, the amount of general audio classes tripled, electronic composition courses expanded from a single MIDI class to a robust curriculum including sound design, remixing, and hip-hop production.
“It was like Tetris because there were all these classes that we knew we needed, but we were always maxed out on space,” says longtime MBPT studio manager Kurtis Machler. “We still always found a way to shoehorn some more in.”
Musicians are exceptional at making do with limited means. Like Machler and Dittmar, both owning 30-plus year legacies of playing in and recording Austin bands, most of the department’s 40 employees are musicians – the rest being industry professionals. A scrappy ethic faceted into MBPT’s evolution: Grant proposals helped purchase out-of-budget gear and, to remedy the lack of space for hands-on training, the program partnered with churches, studios, and venues to provide students with experience.
“Without the staff being super creative and our faculty being able to work with what they had, we never would’ve been able to pull off what we did at this campus and be successful,” says Ditmarr.
Now, after decades of adapting an undersized, handed-down space, the department – which has remained at full enrollment, even throughout the pandemic – finally inhabits a creative campus designed specifically for what they’re teaching. As a result, Ditmarr projects the program could eventually double its student body.
ACC students Alessio Sarmiento (l) and Danaja Jai work on a promotional jingle (Photo by John Anderson)
When voters approved a $386 million ACC bond in 2014, MBPT staff understood it would revolutionize their program, but to what extent was uncertain. Throughout the following year, Dittmar, Machler, and other department representatives met frequently with architects, acousticians, and consultants discussing their space in Highland’s phase two design and how it would be outfitted.
“We were asking for the dream stuff … and we got everything,” Machler says.
Neumann and AKG microphones, Akai MIDI controllers, and iMacs arriving by pallet load contrasted with old days when entire classrooms shared one computer with ProTools. Such spoils of public funding foreshadow an entirely new experience for students.
MBPT’s campus now includes five smart labs, where each seat has a laptop and MIDI keyboard; four mix suites – one featuring a 16-channel Neve console, a foley studio complete with a pit to break stuff in, and rehearsal rooms with virtual acoustic effects, in addition to the recording studios.
Dittmar believes hands-on classroom experience will increase ten-fold in the new space. He also sees increased opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
“One of the goals of this new campus is more interaction between departments,” he says. “These students can get experience doing sound design with gaming students or score a movie with film students. That’s been the dream, but the logistics of the original building didn’t allow it.”
Within ACC, there are academic disciplines and workforce disciplines. MBPT qualifies as the latter: a trade school. Ditmarr, being an experienced live sound engineer, is acutely aware that some enrollees are looking for a job rather than a degree.
“I would never encourage someone who wants to be a tour manager or a live sound person to spend $75,000 a year on an education. It doesn’t make any sense and no one’s ever gonna ask to see your degree,” he says, noting that they place 40-50 students a semester in internships at music businesses like C3 Presents and Circuit of the Americas. “I encourage students to get a degree, but if you want to take Live Sound 1 and 2 so you can start working running sound at concerts, cool! $600 and you’re working and you’ve already made some connections.”
Ditmarr says he hasn’t played a show in 10 years where the venue’s sound engineer hadn’t been through the MBPT program.
One alumnus, Charles Medlin, signed up for ACC’s music trade program so he could save money by recording his own band. After getting an associate’s degree with an emphasis in audio engineering, he took a six-month internship at Machler’s studio, Million Dollar Sound.
“He was the first to take me under his wing,” Medlin says of Machler. “He told me, ‘You know, I think you’re gonna be able to make some money doing this’ and started throwing me jobs. I was able to quit Sears within a year and everything I’ve done since has been music-related.”
Medlin’s now an adjunct professor at ACC, teaching Audio 1 classes in person and online.
“Live sound, here in Austin, there’s a lot of work for it,” he reports. “ACC has also partnered up with a lot of different production companies in town for internships and they can lead to big A/V production money where you’re working higher end commercial gigs.”
Medlin notes that ACC’s new facilities utilize DANTE (Digital Audio Network Through Ethernet) systems, which he calls the next big thing in A/V and that having experience with that will set students up for well-paying jobs.
Meanwhile, Dittmar says being workforce-oriented, rather than academic, allows MBPT to create classes for specifically local needs. Many enrollees are music makers wanting to fine tune their skills as independent artists. In that regard, he points to classes like PR & Marketing for Creatives – taught by Juice Consulting’s Heather Wagner Reed, Ray LaManna’s Hip-Hop Production course, and Music Career Organization with author Debbie Stanley.
“Some students come for a degree, some just come for a job, often it’s training musicians on the business side, or sometimes it’s just helping them figure out life because it’s a community college,” Dittmar muses. “Our department’s faculty and staff are on board with that. The main satisfaction of the job is seeing our students succeed, and that can mean so many different things.”
If you’re wanting to learn music production or DJing, chances are you’re looking at attending a school or course for music production.
The issue is that you can very easily waste this learning opportunity on some expensive school that doesn’t get you the results you’re after.
They teach you vague concepts without applying them. They don’t challenge you to become better. They don’t give you concrete results.
That being said, there are a small number of schools that might be worth it if you’re willing to put in the effort. So to save you time, we’ve curated our top picks from among the sea of educational resources.
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Icon Collective
Los Angeles, CA + Online
From $2995
Icon Collective Music Production School Website
Icon is regarded as one of the most prestigious schools for EDM production, and a position there is coveted by many. In fact, Connor our Product Manager attended there.
Firstly, the school is known for its rigorous program. Icon is specifically tailored to electronic music production, so you’re not wasting time learning things that aren’t going to get you results.
No more lecturers spending one hour conveying how to open Logic Pro. You’ll also get really valuable extras, like guest artists, 1-on-1 sessions with staff and a great network.
In addition, you’ll certainly be stretching to find an alumnus who will tell you that graduating Icon was easy. In other words, it’s got a damn challenging syllabus.
Compared to most music production schools, Icon’s 30 contact hours a week (for the LA program) will push you to work harder than you could imagine on your own.
Lastly, Icon’s long list of successful alumni (Jauz, Nghtmre, Slander etc.) is very convincing, especially in an industry that hasn’t been around for 100’s of years.
You’ll be learning the basics of music production with Ableton Live and Logic Pro X, as well as songwriting, music business and intermediate/advanced music production.
If you want more info on their Online classes or Los Angeles class, visit their website.
SAE Institute
Worldwide Campuses + Online
From $23399
SAE Music Production School Website
SAE (School of Audio Engineering) is an arts school that have a solid electronic music production program that has stood the test of time. They have 51 campuses in 25 countries, so there’s a good chance there’ll be one near you.
The exact offerings vary from country to country, but you can get varying levels of education, including an associate degree, diploma, bachelor, and masters.
In other words, they are a higher-education institution and can offer approved degrees if that’s your thing.
They have great access to professional recording studios and equipment, and also a great network of other students, teachers and industry professionals.
Check out the US website here for more info.
Liveschool
Sydney, Australia
Prices Upon Application
Liveschool Music Production School Website
A bit of an oddball amongst some big names, Liveschool is a hidden gem down here in Australia.
They are based in Sydney and offer courses specifically for Ableton Live, as a certified training centre. Like Icon, they boast some big names, this time in the realm of trainers and guest lecturers: Flume, Elizabeth Rose and Mr. Bill.
Their signature course – Produce Music – is an all-encompassing music production course featuring Sound Design, Remixing, Mixing & Mastering and many more modules to help you become a great all-round producer and an Ableton Live master.
The same course is also offered in an intensive 8-week course, instead of the traditional one-year.
Additionally, they offer some of the modules as standalone courses if you weren’t wanting to learn everything.
Although they don’t offer any online courses currently, if you’re based in Australia and want a great option for a brick-and-mortar school, give this one some serious consideration.
No, they aren’t a ‘higher education’ approved institution like some of the colleges and universities here, but does that really matter?
Check out their courses here.
Berklee College of Music
Boston, MA + Valencia, Spain + Online
From $59880
Berklee Website
Well, come on, we couldn’t leave out one of the most respected schools for music across the globe. If you haven’t heard of Berklee, then you’ve 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 (Electronic Digital Instrument) 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 (if you’re reading this article, probably electronic music production).
Apart from the prestigious curriculum, you’ll find a vast network of people and alumni to connect with at Berklee.
You might ask how that’s 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.
Point Blank
Worldwide Campuses + Online
From $887 (One Module Only)
Point Blank Website
Point Blank is a great example of a highly focused and wildly successful music school, specifically focused on music production and DJing.
Starting in London, they now have campuses in LA, China, Ibiza and Mumbai, along with their online platform.
They’re also amazingly flexible, offering not just full higher-education courses but a wide variety of different skill-based classes, as well as weekend courses and summer schools. You get the point – they have a lot of options.
They also tend to offer free software copies with their courses, including NI Komplete and Ableton Live, which is a win if you don’t already have them and need them.
If you need more proof that this bunch are the real deal, then check out their YouTube channel and blog for some great educational content.
Convinced? Check out their website to find out more about their online and other courses.
Pyramind
San Francisco, CA + Online
From $495 (One Module Only)
Pyramind Website
Pyramind is and has been quite popular in the electronic music production world, and for a good reason too. They offer quality courses and programs for both music production and DJing, helping you to get career-ready in a focused way.
Their main offering is ‘The Complete Producer’ course, which gets you well acquainted with music production in the broader, multidisciplinary sense. You’ll learn production for bands, film and a whole lot more.
The more relevant program here would be the ‘Electronic Music Producer’ program that covers Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Piano and Music Theory, Sound Design, Mixing & Mastering, Production/Arrangement, Music Business and DJing & Live Performance.
Additionally, they package similar concepts into the online version, at about 1/10th of the price, this time focusing mostly on Ableton Live.
Apart from that, they’ve got great facilities, industry partners (like Ableton and Xfer) and a solid lineup of instructors, including You Suck At Producing’s Underbelly.
Feel free to look more into the San Francisco and Online programs.
343 Labs
Online
Various Prices
343 Labs Website
Out of the ashes of Dubspot comes a new school formed by a group of their former instructors – 343 Labs.
Although I can’t say much about 343 Labs yet, many people have gotten a lot out of the Dubspot courses and the materials that come along with them.
This is because they broke down their learning into 5 different modules: DJ, Music Production, Music Foundations, Sound Design and Mixing & Mastering. The different programs they offered include varying combinations of these, depending on your goals of course.
Nowadays in 343 Labs, they offer both Online and New York-based programs in areas like Ableton Live, Logic Pro X, Synthesis, Mixing & Mastering and much more.
This team of instructors has been around for a while, so they know what they’re doing.
Personally, I have gotten a lot from the old Dubspot YouTube channel, especially when I was starting out, so their courses would be more than a slight improvement on that information.
If you want more information on the full range of courses available from them, head over to their website here.
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