Education Focus - School Of Synthesis

Name of institution: School Of Synthesis

Answered by: Mike Callander — Director and Ableton Certified Trainer

What kind of courses do you offer? We offer specialist short courses in music production and music theory with the most up-to-date versions of all software, and for the more serious student we offer a half year program that packages our courses into a comprehensive personalised pathway. We are an Ableton Certified Training Centre, a Native Instruments Training Centre and our co-founder is an Apple Certified Logic Pro.

Do you offer practical on-site learning or more of a theoretical base? We specialise in hands on, practical training in small classes taught by highly regarded industry professionals and we are focused on genuine results. Our trainers are highly competent in delivering material that is flexible to the needs and interests of the students while at the same time delivering the fundamentals that all musicians and music producers should understand.

What makes you different to other educational institutions? Our small classes are intensive but incredibly fun. Our trainers sit at a workstation with the students and, rather than delivering a lecture, we all make music together. We don't follow any national curriculum because we like to stay ahead of it! Our students have consistently returned to study more and more of our short courses because they enjoy the content and the environment. Recently this led us to design our highly regarded half-year program.

What kind of social activities do you offer? We have a student-only online forum and student-moderated Facebook group, and we host regular free events to which everyone is welcome. Unofficially, our students often attend events where other students or our trainers are working or performing and many of them continue to collaborate long after the completion of their studies.

Do you offer job opportunities, internships, or other ways to help students get ahead? Several past and present students have gone on to join us in the studio or to work and perform alongside our trainers. In particular one of our students has written and recorded an album with founder Davide Carbone, and another enjoys a high profile DJ residency alongside founder Mike Callander. Two other former students also work with us regularly on various sound and design projects.

When and where is your next Info Day/Open Day? We can meet and show you our space whenever suits you best. Just drop us a line or call to make an appointment. Otherwise keep an eye out for our half yearly open evenings.

Website link for more info? schoolofsynthesis.com