Why so expensive son? (cost of audio education)

[AlexBoyKing]

This is a bit odd guys.

Why does learning music production cost so much money?

I just enrolled my kid in a course for that is going to last just 5 months. The tuition, get this . . . was 9750 dollars.

It would have cost me a lot less to send him to college for a decent degree in business or something.

Another thing, why are these programs so short? How can you cover everything in 5 months?

I like that he's following daddy's footsteps (I learned on my own though but it's only because we didn't have any music schools back then) but the pricing has to come down guys.

90% of the music is made on computers anyways.

[JCBigler]

A 5 month long course only cost you $9750? (I assume that's Canadian dollars?).

And you think it would cost less to send him to college?

My college education (music performance, arts management, and information systems, with some theatre thrown in for good measure) cost well over $120,000. And I will never get it paid off...since I work in the music and entertainment business.

[albee1952]

The thing with music/production school boils down to the student. Those that go in believing that this is going to make them famous and/or rich because it looks like lots of fun and glamour, will probably not get their money's worth. Those that go in with a genuine hunger for knowledge and training because they live/eat/breath music, will likely get their money's worth and then some(IOW, those people will find a way, no matter what, and the education speeds the process). Plus, its not cheap to give students a multi-million dollar facility to learn and train in.

[cwsand]

The reality of finding consistent work in this business is not a glamorous as these schools make it seem on TV, especially if you have to pay back all the loans you took out for education! I think we all might be in the wrong industry...

[mjslakeridge]

Although my degrees are in business (accounting and MBA), I took a few courses at Houston Community College back in the day just to learn the basics of microphones, signal flow, tape machine operations, mixing boards, etc., and learned a lot. The courses were not expensive at all and the instructors were working studio engineers looking to earn a few extra dollars. The full program was a 2-year associates degree, but I wasn't looking for an additional degree, so I didn't take all of the courses.

[JFreak]

If you want to book me for my expertise, it would cost 7500eur a week. I would say ~10grand for ~half a year is a bargain

[AlexBoyKing]

Originally Posted by cwsand

The reality of finding consistent work in this business is not a glamorous as these schools make it seem on TV, especially if you have to pay back all the loans you took out for education! I think we all might be in the wrong industry...

I agree. Unless you are planning to be an artist or a DJ, forget about the glamour. Even then, it's just hard work and traveling man. Then you have to sit in the studio for hours sometimes. It's good if you enjoy it but there is nothing fancy about it. That's all hype. It's quite 'analog' if I may say - (Takes a bow).

[brianjanthony]

I went to the Institute of Audio Research in 95 for about 10k. Aside from soldering and electronics, much of what was covered no longer exists (tape machines, splicing etc). It could've got me a job (I interned at a place but decided to go home)... and that would've been worth the admission price I suppose. But I didn't decide to stay in NY.

I live in a very small town and parents are always asking me about sending their kids to school for it. I usually tell em that if the kid was never around ANYTHING like modern record making equip/people... it might be worth it. But I also say that the kind of kid that is really into this stuff would do better to
Buy a little setup, find a studio to intern at, and they'll gain infinitely more practical experience.

I let interns from local schools come here. They cover pro tools for a few weeks if that, they go over mic placement even less, and forget about the psychology of dealing with musicians lol. All that stuff is critical... to me at least.


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[Emcha_audio]

Originally Posted by brianjanthony

I went to the Institute of Audio Research in 95 for about 10k. Aside from soldering and electronics, much of what was covered no longer exists (tape machines, splicing etc).

Most high end facilities still have tape machines. In fact tapes and recording heads are still being produced today. There's even a machine that enables seemless tape to pro tools integration where even the editing you are doing in pro tools will be reflected on tape. It's called Clasp. In fact many of the big names, even though they are working within pro tools, still uses tapes today.

So that's a bit erroneous to say gently.

[melloj]

BSc sound engineering and a Masters degree in post production in television and film here, total cost about £26000, £4500 of which I had to pay out of my own pocket up front. That was 5 years ago since I left. Now same courses would cost around £40,000 not including cost of living. What I learned as a student before and after I left was that these schools are businesses and they make promises they cannot keep and lie their arses off about what you need to get in the industry. What I learned pretty quick is that the qualifications I have are not what the industry want. What they want is experience in the field and the only way you can do that is doing it for yourself. Having a commitment, passion and a strong work ethic even when your working for nothing is what will get you far, especially if your young.