Grooveschool
Pop Brixton, 49 Brixton Station Road, London, SW9 8PQ | Daily sessions and ten-week courses Single sessions £12, Memberships £50+ pm
Grooveschool aims to bring music technology tuition to a wider audience, offering affordable and informal workshops to musicians of all ages. Students can learn new skills, work on tracks and sign up for one-to-one sessions. While most of the various weekend and afterschool sessions are designed for students aged 8 to 24, the lunchtime Eat Beats session is adults-only and runs every weekday from midday to 2pm.
Sessions can be attended on an adhoc basis, though you are advised to book ahead due to limited space and equipment. Memberships are a cheaper option and can be taken out for 1, 3 or 12 months at a time, offering unlimited access to the Eat Beats sessions, along with discounts at the Grooveschool store and early-bird access to future courses.
For young people, there are currently two ten-week courses, an electronic instrument ensemble and an introduction to DJ and music technology, available to those aged 8 to 19. The most recent cohorts started last month, and full details for all upcoming courses and workshops, including start dates and prices, can be found on the Grooveschool and Pop Brixton websites, the latter of which seems to be the most up to date.
Futureworks School of Media
Futureworks Main Campus, New Bailey Street, Manchester, M3 5FS | Short courses and three year degrees | Prices vary
Futureworks provides specialised media training, focusing on production in music, television, film and gaming. Students learn practical knowledge, such as media composition and sound design.
The school offers a number of undergraduate degrees to musicians and those interested in sound, including a BA in Music Production; a BSc in Audio Engineering and Production; and a BSc in Game and Interactive Audio. All three courses are full-time and last for three years. It is worth noting that Futureworks is a slightly cheaper option than many other institutions, currently charging the lower tuition rate of £6,765 per year.
For those requiring assistance in getting up to a degree standard, Futureworks offers a two-year part-time diploma, with evening classes held twice a week, particularly suitable for those currently in work. The diploma costs £9,125 in total, with the option to pay in equal monthly instalments for the duration of your studies.
Alongside undergraduate degrees and diplomas, Futureworks also offers short-term courses aimed at teaching specific skill sets, with all paths leading towards accreditation. Of particular interest to musicians will be the Avid Pro Tools course, which can be taken outside the context of the diploma, and the Avid Media Composer course. These take place over two or three days, with prices from £449.
The next open day takes place on 19 May from midday to 4pm. Further details and open day dates available on the website.
Creative Education
Delivered in-school | One-day course Prices vary
Using iPads In The Music Department
Aimed at those already involved in teaching music, this course is designed to help educators develop an understanding of the iPad and the ways it can be integrated into music lessons. Participants will learn new practical skills and pedagogical ideas, such as managing behaviour when a class is using iPads. Modular in nature, the training can be designed around your teaching needs, the number of iPads used in your classes and the current curriculum.
Creative Education will deliver the training at your school or business, priced on a sliding scale. For five teachers, it quoted £960 + VAT, or £1075 + VAT for ten.
Access Creative College (formerly Access to Music)
Campuses In Birmingham, Bristol, Lincoln, London (Kilburn and Shoreditch), Manchester, Norwich and York | One, two and three year courses | Prices vary
With eight campuses across the country, Access Creative provides access to media studies on a huge scale. At each of the campuses, aspiring musicians can study on a number of courses designed to teach media technology skills. These include Sound Engineering, Music Technology and Music Production, with courses lasting two or three years. They are typically less intense than university study, though they do not offer much flexibility, requiring three to four days of daytime study each week. Some courses are offered as foundation degrees, with the option to top up the qualification with an extra year of study to gain a bachelor's degree.
Students aged 18 and above can apply for the Advanced Learner Loan to help cover fees, with Advanced Learner Bursaries available for those who need help with living costs.
