Anyone have advice on the technics academy in manchester? im thinkin i cant go wrong on it...wat u say?

The School of Sound Recording (SSR) has been training music and audio industry professionals since 1984. Situated in the heart of Manchester, it has deep roots in the city鈥檚 famous music scene and strong connections with the industry across the world.

The School of Sound Recording is a Digidesign Authorised Pro School. We are also a City & Guilds and National Open College Network (NOCN) assessment centre. We deliver courses funded by Jobcentre Plus and the European Social Fund (ESF).

For students not eligible for funding, a wide selection of private courses is also available.

Strong support is given by a some of the music industry's market leaders. Musical equipment giants Roland and software developers Steinberg use the school as an official training centre. Legendary turntable manufacturers Technics oversee all DJ training under the banner of the Technics DJ Academy. SSR also work in conjunction with Digidesign to deliver Pro Tools education in the UK

Technics DJ Academy

Whether you have a love of music and the desire to start playing to an audience, or you鈥檙e a DJ already and wish to extend your skills, improve technique, and learn about becoming a pro, training at the Technics DJ Academy can help you master your art.

Our DJ Courses offer a comprehensive range of learning from the basics of DJ skills to advanced technique, for mixers, for scratchers and for the digital DJ. They also offer training in promotions and events, electronic music production, Reason, CDJs, Serato and Ableton.

Our facilities host some of the finest DJ equipment available (see facilities page for a full breakdown) enabling our students to learn and practice on truly professional kit.

As a student on our DJ Technique course, you will have access to all the equipment you need to play, produce and promote your music, specialist guidance from tutors and inside advice from a wealth of guest lecturers.

For those choosing a shorter course, you can delve into all these facilities as you see fit 鈥?from just a couple of hours up to long term one to one tuition, you can tailor make your own course.

In a college filled entirely with DJs, producers, performers, sound engineers, programmers and musicians, there can be no better place to develop and perfect your skills, and with ongoing support, one to one care and tuition from industry professionals, you'll get all you need to move from aspiring DJ to inspiring DJ.


Our six month course teaches all the skills required to be a professional DJ, starting from the basics. As well as the core skills of mixing and scratching, which are taught comprehensively from basic to advanced level, we also train students in:


Equipment knowledge and set-up
DJ technology (incl. CDJs, Serato Scratch & multi-format performance)
Electronic music production (Reason, Ableton, Serato Scratch & Wavelab)
Set construction
Demo recording and presentation
Self promotion
Organising and running an event
Networking
Club & bar culture

The course includes 3 main modules: DJ Technique, Events & Promotion and Electronic Music Production, which lead to a unique Level 3 City & Guilds qualification (written by Academy staff in conjunction with C&G and Technics). Seminars and workshops are combined with weekly individual one-to-one sessions, ensuring that you get the right level of hands-on tuition.

Course Structure
The course runs for 6-months (24 weeks), and includes 6.5 hours per week core study time including:


2 hour skills lecture
2 hour events lecture (3 month module)
2 hour electronic music production lecture (3 month module)
2 hour group workshop
30 minute one to one
An additional 14 hours per week personal DJ Booth time (guaranteed)


Course Tutors
All of our staff are working professionals and experienced tutors.'DJ Technique' is delivered by two main tutors. Andrew 'Masta' Wong (aka Chengy) takes students throught the 'DJ skills' module, while Kelvin Brown teaches both the 'Events and Promotion' and 'Electronic Music Production' modules.

We also provide guest tutors throughout the course. Regular guest tutors include Graeme Park (Hacienda, Cream, Key 103), Mark OD (Metropolis),
G-Kut (UK ITF), Petrae Foy (God鈥檚 Kitchen, Garlands, Pink Cat Records), Phil James aka 'Jus Phil' (Excentric 鈥?GK, Turnmills), Rich Ashley aka 'Vext' (Electrosluts, Fuse, Fusetrax), DJ Trixta (multideck turntablist, cubist, 6-deck world record holder), Elliot Eastwick (Paper Recordings).

[For full profiles of tutors and guest turors, click here]

Course Modules
> > DJ Skills
Technical ability, set selection and creativity are the hallmarks of any good DJ. Our tutors use their experience and know-how to guide you from the very basics, developing your skills as the course progresses.

You will learn how to set up and maintain equipment correctly, gain experience on a range of mixers 鈥?Allen & Heath, Pioneer, Rane and Formula Sound - develop beat-matching skills and advanced techniques such as effects processing, scratching, multi deck mixing and beat-juggling.

You鈥檒l get advice on how to craft your set and incorporate creative techniques, developing an individual style and sound. You鈥檒l also learn to use and incorporate CDJs (Pioneer 800 MkII s & 1000 MkIII s, & Technics SLZs) as well as Serato Scratch live and Ableton.

The DJ Technique module includes the creation of a mix CD, which we will teach you to use to promote yourself and your skills.

> > Events and Promotion
Training isn't confined to the studio. What every DJ really needs is an audience and to be a successful DJ you need to be aware of the industry around you and how best to promote yourself within that environment.

Our events tutor, a professional promoter, will help you to create and put on your own club event and get involved with all levels of organisation and promotion throughout the process.

We will teach you how to promote your night, how to design and distribute your flyers and how to manage the event itself.

You鈥檒l perform along with your group at a Manchester club or bar to the public, with the benefit of help and analysis throughout. Essentially we give you the stage and help you run the show.

> > Electronic Music Production (EMP)
DJs are now seen as producers, remixing tracks, producing and writing their own music, and using their compositions as a way to boost their profile and their set, as well as earn 鈥?sometimes the bulk of their - income.

The production element of the course will give you an introduction to music creation. Using Reason software you will learn how to structure a piece of dance music, how to use synthesisers, sampling and sequencing, wave editing, effects (EQ, filtering) and how to remix and master your tune.

By the end of the module, you will be able to write, produce and master your own tracks to CD.

> > Digital DJ
Digital technology has changed the DJ industry. Even the most hardened vinyl junkies are now realising the potential of CDJs and live production tools like Serato, Ableton and Final Scratch. DJs can play exclusive, unreleased music straight from CD-R which can be burned in only a few minutes, and edit and manipulate tunes on stage, mixing MP3s with CDs and vinyl.

Serato scratch live allows real time manipulation and scratching of MP3 files using time-coded vinyl and a hardware interface.

Ableton allows DJs to synch up loops and combine them to create mind blowing mixes, and new compositions in the studio. Our course now delivers training in CDJ mixing, Serato and Ableton.

A good friend of mine has highly recomended this to me.
From what ive heard its second to none and i know it has an epic reputation.