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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.
Welcome to the MA Music Production & Sound Engineering degree
Welcome to the MA Music Production & Sound Engineering degree
It's an incredibly exciting time, not only because we're less than two months away from welcoming you to dBs, but because you will make up our very first cohort for this brand new MA programme. Over the next year - or two if you're studying part-time - you will be expanding your knowledge in sound, developing new and existing skills and deepening your expertise for this subject.
Our staff at dBs are all as passionate about music, production and sound as you are, so while they'll be sharing their expertise with you, they're just as - if not more - excited to see how you apply that knowledge in your own work.
In your first month at dBs, you’ll be introduced to two modules; the first being the Production Principles module, where you’ll learn to master two chosen DAW platforms. You’ll also be introduced to the Advanced Mixing module, where you will learn a range of advanced techniques, as well as ways to improve your productivity and workflow.
Now is a great time to fill in any gaps in your knowledge to ensure the smoothest of starts come September. If you've been away from education for a little while, or perhaps aren't familiar with some of the key softwares such as Pro Tools, the summer is a great opportunity to get back into the mindset for learning. Please take advantage of the reading lists and online resources further down this page if you're looking for some inspiration and guidance.
Course preparation FAQs
Course preparation FAQs
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. While some things will only be available in-person, we are aiming to make as much of the offering available online. You can find more detailed information on the dedicated Induction & Freshers' Week page.
What do I need for the start of term?
Many of your sessions will take place in either the studio environment or in one of our IT suites. As such, 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?
If you're returning to education or perhaps feel you have some gaps in your knowledge, use the time between now and when you start to get back into the headspace of producing music, rediscover some fundamental techniques and begin exploring some new ones.
Below we've provided a list of books and online resources that will be useful in preparing for your start at dBs.
Suggested Reading*
Suggested Reading*
Books
Ariel (2017) Augmenting Alice: The Future of identity, experience and reality
Baden and Wimpenny (2014) A Practical Guide to Arts-related Research. Sage
Bell and Waters (2018) Doing your research project: a guide for first-time researchers. 7th Ed.
Bennett, Bates, (2017) Critical Approaches to the Production of Music and Sound, Bloomsbury Academic Dyer, Gregersen and Christensen (2011) Innovator’s DNA: Mastering the Five Skills of Disruptive Innovators. Harvard Business Review Press
Csikszentmihalyi (2013) Creativity: The Psychology of Discovery and Invention. Harper Perennial
Cage (1939-2009) Silence: Lectures and Writings, London: Marion Boyars
Given (2008) The SAGE Encyclopedia of Qualitative Research Methods. Sage
Magnusson (2019) Sonic Writing: Technologies of Material, Symbolic, and Signal Inscriptions. Bloomsbury
Academic, Bloomsbury Publishing Inc.
LaBelle (2018) Sonic Agency Sound and Emergent Forms of Resistance. Goldsmiths Press
Pressfield (2012) The War of Art: Break Through the Blocks and Win Your Inner Creative Battles Schafer (2006) The Soundscape: Our Sonic Environment and the Tuning of the World. Destiny Books
Journals
Buisine, Guegan and Vernier (2017) Technological Innovation in Group Creativity. Springer
Journal of Interdisciplinary Music Studies Print ISSN: 1307-0401. Online ISSN: 1306-905
IASPM@Journal (International Association for the Study of Popular Music) ISSN: 2079-387
The Journal on the Art of Record Production (JARP) http://arpjournal.com/ ISSN: 1754-9892
Leonardo Music Journal ISSN: 0961-1215 (print); 1531-4812 (web)
*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!
Useful Resources
Useful Resources
In addition to this, here are a few websites which I believe it would be useful for you to explore. In particular, look out for the videos on specific tools and techniques, as well as interviews with notable producers, sound engineers and artists. Many of the themes from these will be touched upon as you progress through the course and I’d be surprised if you cannot find anything of interest:
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/
Online Journals
International Computer Music Association: https://quod.lib.umich.edu/i/icmc
eContact: Online Journal for Electroacoustic Practices: https://econtact.ca/
Music Composition as Research discussion: Full article here
Dancecult: Journal of Electronic Dance Music Culture: Full site here
Orpheus Institute/Norwegian Academy of Music (Oslo): https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/155614/155615
Websites
Tape Op: https://tapeop.com/
Sound On Sound: https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques
Pensado’s Place: http://www.pensadosplace.tv/category/into-the-lair/
dBs Institute YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/dBsSoundMusicInstitute
Other information
Other information
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
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