Whichever one of our creative music production courses you choose, you can expect to gain hands-on experience using the very latest equipment. Our expert tutors, who have a wealth of industry experience, will help you build the skills and knowledge to utilise this technology and bring your musical ideas to life.
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What is music production?
What defines a music producer and their involvement in the creative process varies from person to person. But generally, music production involves five key principles; composition, capture (recording), editing, mixing and mastering.
Music producers are involved in the entire process of creating music and so there are a variety of pathways to choose from. During your studies in music production, you’ll become an expert in harmonisation, synthesis, music theory and sound mixing, as well as business strategy, networking and project management. The possibilities are endless.
Why study music production at Spirit Studios?
Our facilities can’t be beaten. When you embark on one of our music production courses, you’ll have enviable access to a range of recording studios, DJ booths and equipment, allowing you to experiment and push your musical style to its full potential. You’ll get to use some of the most revered audio equipment in the business. From a legendary Neve VR mixing console in an open-plan studio to industry-standard monitoring systems and software plug-ins , you’ll have everything you need to create commercial-quality releases when studying music production with Spirit Studios.
You’ll also have access to shelves crammed with instruments and sign-out equipment, including synths, drum machines and samplers, Gibson and Fender guitars, and over 160 microphones.
What is the importance of the music producer?
Music producers play a huge role behind the scenes of the music business. As experts in recording, editing and publishing, they’re critical in overseeing the complete process of creating a track or album. Often considered the “doers”, they realise an artist’s creative vision, guiding their sound and taking their ideas to a whole new level.
Making music is a collaborative process: sharing views, experiences and creative ideas to make a more interesting product. Music producers are not only the technical leaders, but are the creative driving force whom artists turn to for inspiration.
Our music production courses
We offer a range of music production courses to suit your experience and study preferences, including music production degrees, evening-based industry courses and short courses. You can filter by course level below:
Undergraduate Degree
BA (Hons) Music Production
Duration:
3 years full-time or 5 years part-time
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
A minimum of 64 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent
Key areas:
Creating, recording, mixing and mastering
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Undergraduate Degree
BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production and Performance
Duration:
3 years full-time or 5 years part-time
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
A minimum of 64 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent
Key areas:
Sequencing, sampling, producing and performing
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Undergraduate Degree
BSc (Hons) Live Sound Engineering and Music Production
Duration:
3 years full-time or 5 years part-time
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
A minimum of 64 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent
Key areas:
Sound-checking, monitoring, mixing and mastering
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Undergraduate Degree
BSc (Hons) Entrepreneurial Audio Production
Duration:
3 years full-time or 5 years part-time
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
A minimum of 64 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent
Key areas:
Composition, acoustic theory and post-production
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Undergraduate Degree
BA (Hons) Popular Music, Songwriting and Performance
Duration:
3 years full-time
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
A minimum of 64 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent
Key areas:
Songwriting, Performance, Music Production, Composition and Arrangement
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Undergraduate Degree
BA (Hons) Music Production with Foundation Entry
Duration:
1 year full-time foundation course, followed by 3 years full-time degree course
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
40 UCAS points at A2 or equivalent
Key areas:
Creating, recording, mixing and mastering
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Postgraduate Degree
MA Music Production
Duration:
1 year full-time, 2 or 3 year part-time options available
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
Higher second-class Bachelor degree
Key areas:
Research, portfolio creation, advanced mixing and mastering
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Industry Course
Creative Music Production
Duration:
12 months
Start date:
6 March 2024
Entry requirements:
No formal entry requirements
Key areas:
Creating, producing and publishing
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Industry Course
Sound Engineering and Music Production
Duration:
9 months
Start date:
16 September 2024
Entry requirements:
No formal entry requirements.
Key areas:
Introduction to the studio, Digital Audio Workstations, recording and mixing
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Industry Course
Studio Production and Mastering
Duration:
12 months
Start date:
24 September 2024
Entry requirements:
A good understanding of working practically in recording studios
Key areas:
Advanced recording, mixing and mastering
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Summer School Course
Sample into Sound
Duration:
5 days (non residential)
Start date:
5 August 2024
Entry requirements:
No formal qualifications required
Key areas:
Sound engineering, music production and music business
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Pro Tools Course
PT101 Pro Tools Fundamentals I
Duration:
2 Days
Start date:
20 April 2024
Entry requirements:
Knowledge of audio recording and DAW basics is required
Key areas:
Audio production, editing and mixing
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Pro Tools Course
PT110 Pro Tools Fundamentals II
Duration:
3 days
Start date:
1 March 2024
Entry requirements:
Pro Tools Fundamentals I, or equivalent experience
Key areas:
Recording, clip-based editing and mixing
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Pro Tools Course
PT201 Pro Tools Production I
Duration:
2 days
Start date:
16 March 2024
Entry requirements:
Pro Tools Fundamentals I and II
Key areas:
Submixing, automation and auditioning techniques
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Pro Tools Course
PT210M Pro Tools Production II (Music Production)
Duration:
3 days
Start date:
15 November 2024
Entry requirements:
Pro Tools Fundamentals I, Fundamentals II and Production I
Key areas:
Fine-tune automation, static automation and advanced MIDI production techniques
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Pro Tools Course
PT210P Pro Tools Production II (Post Production)
Duration:
3 days
Entry requirements:
Pro Tools Fundamentals I, Fundamentals II and Production I
Key areas:
Field recording, dialog editing and mixing audio to picture
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Pro Tools Course
PT301S6 Essential Pro Tools | S6 Mixing Techniques
Duration:
1 Day
Entry requirements:
Pro Tools Fundamentals I and II, and Pro Tools Production I and II
Key areas:
Session management, system customization and expanded parameter control
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Pro Tools Course
PT310P Advanced Post Production Techniques
Duration:
4 days
Entry requirements:
Pro Tools Fundamentals I and II, and Production I and II (Post)
Key areas:
Post production, sound design and Foley
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One-to-one Course
In-Person One-to-one Tuition
Duration:
2+ hours
Entry requirements:
No formal entry requirements
Key areas:
Previous students have studied areas such as DJ skills, mixing techniques, building a personal brand and more.
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One-to-one Course
Online One-to-one Tuition
Duration:
2+ hours
Entry requirements:
No formal entry requirements
Key areas:
Previous students have studied areas such as post production techniques, DAW familiarisation, mixing techniques and more.
View course
Features and benefits
Flexibility
Innovation and experimentation are our driving force and we celebrate a diverse range of approaches and traditions to making music. You’ll have complete freedom to explore your own creative interests, genres and styles when you choose one of our music production courses.
Enviable studio access
Students enjoy year-round access to purpose-built, state of the art facilities when training to be a music producer. Our studios, edit suites and live venue will become your second home. Whether you use Pro Tools, Logic Pro or Ableton Live we have all the digital audio workstation (DAW) software you need for audio production, mixing and mastering.
We're small in size
This allows us to stay agile, invest in the right kit and quickly reshape our courses to meet the skill needs of the fast-changing industry.
Portfolio led assessments
From your very first lesson right through to assessment hand-ins, your learning is hands-on. You won’t be sat in the back of a lecture hall, nor will you be asked to write essay after essay to achieve your degree in music production.
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What careers will a music production course prepare me for?
- ADR Mixer
- Artist
- Audio Editor
- Audio-Visual Technician
- Composer
- Compositior for Moving Image
- Digital Content Creator
- DIY Label Manager
- DJ
- Dubbing Mixer
- Educator
- Foley Artist
- Game Audio Engineer
- Mastering Engineer
- Mixing Engineer
- Music Editor
- Music Journalist
- Music Producer
- Music Production Coordinator
- Radio Broadcast Engineer
- Radio DJ
- Recording Engineer
- Recording Studio Manager
- Remixer
- Session Musician
- Songwriter
- Sound Artist
- Sound Designer
- Sound Editor
- Sound Engineer
- Sound Technician
- Studio Engineer
What to expect
As you progress through one of our music production courses, you can expect to move to a state of independence that is essential when forging your own career path. Our courses are designed to give you hands-on experience to ensure you leave us industry-ready.
Whether you want to create music for moving image, become a studio engineer, the next best DJ or a mixing god, our range of courses give you the freedom to explore these areas of interest within music technology and electronic music production. With a variety of specialist modules, each course covers the core practical skills needed to succeed as a music producer and bring your ideas to life.
Studying music production takes place in a variety of formats including lectures, workshops, demonstrations, peer reviews and one-to-one tutorial support. Our aim throughout is to encourage your creative exploration and hone your technical skills, all so you’ll leave us as a confident, independent professional.
You'll cover topics and core modules such as
- Mixing and Mastering
- Composition and Arrangement
- Recording Techniques and Technologies
- Sound, Synthesis & Sampling
- Remixing and DJ Performance
- Music Production Career Focus
Music production student successes
Orlagh Dooley
Or:la studied electronic music production with us and has since been working as a DJ, hosting her own club nights, and founded record label CÉAD.
Read more
Andy Tomlinson
From making mixes as a teenager to playing one of Berlin’s biggest techno clubs, Tresor, Andy is certainly on track to a bright future.
Read more
Holly Lester
From growing up in rural Armagh to warming up the crowd for Annie Mac, Electronic Music Production graduate, Holly Lester, has already made more than a mark on the industry.
Read more
View more alumni stories
Your music production tutors
Our tutors are all experts in their field, each with their own specialisms and industry experience. Whether you’re looking to work on number one songs or record your favourite bands, our music production tutors will get you to where you want to be.
Rob Mullender-Ross
Tutor
Rob is an industry professional and well experienced lecturer, teaching the subject of sonic art around the country.
Brandon Nightingale
Tutor
Brandon is a music producer with many talents such as DJing, graphic design and occasional filmmaking.
Liam Peaco*ck
Tutor
Liam is a soundtrack composer who has worked on creating music for film, television, games and animation.
He has previously worked with:
- Orb Soundwerx
- The BBC
Tom Burford
Tutor
Tom has been a professional musician for over 10 years, facilitating music production and performance sessions, and working across secondary and further music education.
Steve Boyce-Buckley
Tutor
Steve is a professional recording engineer, producer, arranger and classically trained musician with over 4 decades of industry experience.
Josh Cullen
Tutor
Josh is a producer and musician who has toured extensively and produced audio for some high profile clients.
Josh has previously worked with:
- Jagwar
- Ray Lewis
- Dom Major
- Ravenface
Rick Jupp
Tutor
As a former member for the band Elbow, Rick has spent many years touring the world as a professional musician.
Stuart Avery
Tutor
Stuart is a studio/mastering engineer who is heavily involved in the Manchester scene. As an experienced producer, promoter and events organiser, he's been a key player in the city's cultural output.
Stuart has worked with:
- Blossoms
- Badly Drawn Boy
- KiD BRiTiSH
- Orchids
- The Irrepressibles
Shane Dickinson
Tutor
Shane is a musician and producer, with knowledge spanning across studio-based music production and live sound engineering.
Al Atcheson
Tutor
Al is a producer and sound engineer who teaches a wide variety of modules here at Spirit, allowing him to share his expertise with his students.
Dan Valentine
Programme Leader
Dan is an electronic musician and producer whose work has seen him release music on Manchester's Modern Love imprint, receiving support from the likes of Mixmag, RA, Björk and Bicep.
He has performed at:
- Berghain
- Boiler Room
- Village Underground
- NTS Radio
- Golden Pudel
- Cafe Oto
Josh Horsley
Programme Leader
Josh is a multi-instrumentalist, composer and producer whose work explores temporality within music. His main focus is the sonic arts, and often uses architecture, film and design for inspiration.
Mark Winterburn
Tutor
Mark is producer and sound engineer who has worked on UK number one and Mercury nominated singles. He joined Spirit as a student and has returned as a tutor after a successful commercial career.
He has worked with:
- Sylvia Massy
- Plan B
- James Arthur
- 5 Seconds Of Summer
- Cassia
Lewis Jones
Tutor
As a Spirit Studios veteran, Lewis has taught on a number of our courses and outreach programmes. As a professional sound engineer and producer, his career has seen him travel the world.
Lewis has previously worked with:
- MIKA
- Travis
- Andy Gangadeen
- Lonelady
- Seafret
Jonathan Radford
Programme Leader
Jon is a producer, label manager, DJ and promoter who has over a decade of experience within the industry and has released five albums under the alias Diesler.
Find out more about our tutors
Real opportunities
Our creative partnerships benefit our music business students by providing work placements, field trips, guest lectures, educational discounts and, of course, job opportunities.
Find our more about our partnerships
Why study with Spirit Studios?
Outstanding facilities
Our facilities are designed to meet the needs of tomorrow’s music industry, ensuring you feel confident in any environment as a music producer.
Industry connections
You’ll have a range of exciting creative and collaborative opportunities, including hands-on work experience at legendary venues in Manchester and beyond.
Proven results
Our career focused attitude means that from day one, everything we do is designed with your future in mind.
Spirit +
We prepare our music production students for a bright future. Through our Spirit+ programme, we provide extracurricular masterclasses and workshops from leading industry figures.
Taught by industry-active experts
Our tutors have not only had years of experience in the creative industries, but share a commitment to helping you on your journey as well.
Community spirit
We’re a supportive community that takes pride in our small size. We’ll get to know you as an individual and tailor mentorship to your personal development.
Interested in studying music production with us?
Click below to start your application, register for an open day or get in touch with any questions
Attend an open dayApply nowget in touch
News stories
Featured
Degree Show 2024
Our Degree Show 2024 be across 3 dates, hosted at Spirit and SOUP in the Northern Quarter. Expect a range of listening parties and DJ sets and live performances covering all ends of the spectrum.
Read more about Degree Show 2024
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Read more about DJ Booths: New and Improved
New Summer School’s for 2024
Read more about New Summer School’s for 2024
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