This page is dedicated to providing course-specific information relating to your start with us in September. New information will be added to this page over the coming weeks and we will inform you when this becomes available

Will lessons begin on Monday 12th September?

No, your first week at dBs Institute will be Induction & Freshers' Week and will focus on getting everyone prepped for their first week of study and engaging in a range of workshops, guest lectures and other activities. You can find more detailed information on the dedicated Induction & Freshers' Week page.

What do I need to bring for the start of term?

It is essential that you invest in some good quality headphones (as opposed to ear buds) and bring these with you to all sessions as you will no doubt be spending many hours listening. It is a good idea to also carry with you a portable USB storage device to enable you to backup and transfer projects between dBs and home.

Is there anything I should be doing between now and when I start?

As recommend by Ben in his welcome video, spend your time watching as many new films as possible so that you develop a stronger understanding of analysing the sonic content. Continue to hone your skillset, be that in composition or sound creation, and try to experiment with some new techniques. You will be learning using both Logic Pro X and Pro Tools, so if you're unfamiliar with either software, we'd recommend downloading their respective free trials and gaining a basic understanding of how they work.

Additionally, we've provided a list of books and online resources that will be useful in preparing for your start at dBs.

There are a couple of books you may want to try and get a look at before the start of the semester. Just to get you in the mindset of what the course is going to be about;

• Wierzbicki, J. (2009). Film music. New York, N.Y.: Routledge.

• Davis, R. (2010) Complete Guide to Film Scoring: The Art and Business of Writing Music for Movies and TV, Berklee Press

• Holman, T (2010) Sound for Film and Television London: Focal Press

*It’s important to note that there isn’t any expectation that you’ll buy these books before starting your course. However, if you would like to do some reading in preparation, these are a good place to start!

Here are some online resources which will also be useful as a taster for the sorts of things we are going to be looking at when the term starts:

Software

• Pro Tools Trial: https://my.avid.com/get/pro-tools-trial

• Logic Pro X Trial (Mac only): https://www.apple.com/uk/logic-pro/trial/

Websites

• Filmmaker https://filmmakermagazine.com/

• Soundsnap: https://www.soundsnap.com/

• Sight and Sound: http://www.bfi.org.uk/news-opinion/sight-sound-magazine

• BBC Sound Archive: https://sound-effects.bbcrewind.co.uk/

• dBs Institute YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dBsSoundMusicInstitute

• dBs Insider

If you are currently holding a conditional offer and do not achieve the results you needed please contact us as soon as possible to discuss your options.

Call us on 0117 325 9290 or email admissions@dbsmusic.co.uk