If you think about any artist you currently have on rotation on any of your Spotify or Apple Music playlists, there's a good chance their based based in Los Angeles than anywhere else in the world. LA really is the home of the music industry and there's perhaps no better place to start and progress in a career in music production. What’s so attractive about the city as a destination for aspiring music producers is the prospects of employment are matched with endless learning possibilities. The sheer volume of music production classes available across the city makes learning all the more accessible and allows artists to really niche down and find their sound through a variety of specialised classes. You'll find music production classes all across LA at ICON Collective College, LAAMP, IO Music Academy and many more. To make life that bit easier for you, we’ve compiled a list of the top classes here in LA so that you can have an easier time finding the best fit for you.
| School | Courses Offered |
|---|---|
| ICON Collective College of Music | - Music Production Program (12 months) - Ableton Live Program (6 months) |
| Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP) | - Music Production Program (12 months) - Ableton Live Program (6 months) |
| IO Music Academy | - Building Blocks (3 months) - Making Waves (3 months) |
| Garnish Music Production School | - 360° Garnish Music Academy (18 months) - Ableton Producer Program (4 months) |
| Point Blank Music School Los Angeles | - Music Production & Sound Engineering Diploma (6 months) - DJ/Producer Certificate (3 months) |
| Musicians Institute | - Certificate in Music Production (6 months - 1 year) - Bachelor of Music in Music Production (3 years) |
| Los Angeles Recording School | - Associate of Science in Music Production (18 months) - Bachelor of Science in Music Production (36 months) |
| UCLA Extension Music Production Program | - Music Production Certificate Program (1 year) - Pro Tools Certification courses (duration varies) |
ICON Collective College of Music
For many of us, 2005 might not seem all that long ago, but it marks twenty years since ICON Collective College of Music first opened its doors. In an industry as fast-paced as music, you could consider it a lifetime. In this time, the school has become one of the most well-respected institutions in the world. Nobody is excluded from their classes, as they enable musicians, DJs, artists, and entrepreneurs to pursue creative lifestyles and become skilled at modern music production tools.
One of your main concerns will be the guidance you’ll receive throughout your time there. You’ll be glad to hear that each program has valuable mentorship hours and uses Ableton Live as the main production software. The curriculum teaches industry agreements, touring logistics, and entrepreneurial skills needed to manage artists. So, when you do get around to graduating from the course, you’ll have a good understanding of the key skills required in the profession and experience using the most in-demand DAW. This is something that's taught across most music production classes in the US.
Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP)
If location is something you weigh heavily on when it comes to finding classes in the city, The Los Angeles Academy for Artists and Music Production (LAAMP) might just tick the box for you. When students dream of learning music production in LA, they likely envision doing it in the heart of Santa Monica, and that's exactly what this little gem offers.
At LAAMP you will be creating music in the studio every day. You will team up with talented artists, songwriters and producers chasing your next great song guided by our absolute top-level mentors.
Learning Opportunities
Students get to work directly with industry giants - Mikkel Eriksen and Tor Hermansen of Stargate Music participate in weekly sessions. LAAMP's complete curriculum covers everything in modern music production. Students learn to become skilled at DAW templates, vocal chains, comping, mixing, and song structure.
There really is so much that goes into making any song that makes it to our radios at home. Learning all about toplining, melody creation, and the art of creating memorable hooks will help you endlessly as you embark on your career after graduating.
The course also stands out among even some of the other elite music production classes in Chicago that feature this since it goes that step further, covering business topics like record deals, publishing, touring, and music video production.
It’s also refreshing that students learn through collaboration and real-life experience, something that goes a long way when it comes to picking up those practical skills that will help land you a job when it's all said and done.
IO Music Academy
You might have guessed that we wouldn’t be all that long talking about the best music production classes in LA before IO Music Academy was mentioned. If you were to go around and ask music producers in the city what their top picks were, you can expect many of them to mention this academy.
If you were to go a step further and ask why, they will likely tell you just how valuable the small class sizes are when it comes to getting personal attention and guidance from accomplished faculty members. You may also be glad to hear that you’ve got quite a few options available to you here. There are several specialized programs ranging from three-month individual courses to extensive 24-month detailed programs.
Your time will be spent optimally seeing as you’ll be familiarizing yourself with industry-standard tools from the very beginning. Production courses use Ableton Live 12, while DJ courses work with Pioneer DJ's rekordbox software. If you’re on the fence about learning here, you might be swayed by the idea of having unlimited studio access and monthly private lessons for the entirety of your time taking classes here.
Garnish Music Production School
Any skill can be learned with enough trial and error. Garnish Music Production School certainly accelerate the rate which aspiring music producers learn the skills they need to succeed in the industry. This is largely thanks to the mentorship that students have the privilege of availing of throughout their time at the school, working directly with accomplished hit makers.
You might also want to check out the music production classes they have in Atlanta.
Here, the class sizes are also limited to just eight students, giving you countless opportunities to get the attention and guidance you need to progress your practical skills.
Alumni like Pete Waidson and Michael 'The Fox' Gleeson reached major milestones with releases on prestigious labels like Toolroom Records. You’ll also want to hear how Industry leaders like Ableton, Arturia, and Apple, support the academy's programs. This is always a strong indicator that students at the institution are working with current industry-standard tools and software.
Point Blank Music School Los Angeles
Another school that has stood the test of time is Point Blank Music School which has been running for 29 years. Keeping the doors open is one thing, but establishing itself as a global if you want to visit the campus for yourself or venture down for one of their open days you can find it at 1035 S. La Brea Ave.
The reputation that the school has built can be credited to innovative courses and the strong industry connections it provides students like yourself with.
While their music production program is what it's most celebrated for, they also offer classes in Vocal Performance, DJing, and Audio Engineering.
So, you can imagine the kind of collaboration and networking that goes on on any given day on campus. Meeting others in the same or similar industries as you can be inspiring and can blossom some invaluable professional relationships.
Another major attraction would be how Point Blank combines detailed technical training with real industry experience and networking opportunities. This balanced approach enables the school to turn passion into professional success so effectively.
Musicians Institute
The next option that we are going to put under the lens is the Musicians Institute, a school that simply has to be in the conversation when discussing music production education in Miami or Los Angeles. You certainly won’t be short of space seeing as the main complex spans 60,000 square feet and stays open seven days a week to give students like yourself unique access to its facilities.
Musicians Institute (MI) was established in 1977 by renowned jazz guitarist Howard Roberts, who aimed to provide aspiring rock and roll musicians with a conservatory experience. Initially, the school only offered guitar lessons, but it quickly expanded to include other instruments and music-related programs.
You won't have to run the risk of having your personal laptop heat up the more complex your projects get in classes, as you’ll be able to work on Mac workstations in multiple DAW labs. These will of course come loaded with complete software suites like Pro Tools, Logic Pro X, Reason, and Ableton Live Standard, so there’s no need to worry about licenses or anything like that.
When browsing the curricula of a range of programs, one thing that you’ll want to keep your eyes peeled for is their focus on real-life applications. This something the Musicians Institute makes sure of, having students learn to compose musical soundtracks for visual media, film, television, and games. Their Programs combine traditional techniques with modern approaches to meet today's industry needs. So, rest assured you’ll be in high demand if you were to make it through your music production classes here.
Los Angeles Recording School
The Los Angeles Recording School, a division of The Los Angeles Film School is yet another option you’ll want on your shortlist of potential schools to take music production classes at. Its original design focused on hands-on experience, and it now offers an Associate of Science Degree in Music Production that requires 60 credit hours.
You don’t need to read into any course prospectus to see just how much of a focus they place on practicals; it’s very evident even after a short walk through their campus. For starters, they have a purpose-built facility for the Recording School with 14 professional recording studios, that's an amount that will be tough to beat by any other school not just in the city, but the country.
So, if you were to enroll as a student here, you’d have access to two SSL Duality studios, two Foley/ADR suites, a Neve Genesys Black studio, and an API 1608 Studio, not bad right? It’s tough to narrow down any one thing that might persuade you to study here. Instead, the attraction lies in the school combining technical training, industry connections, and career support that will help you launch the career you want in music production and audio engineering.
UCLA Extension Music Production Program
Finishing on a strong note, we have UCLA Extension's Music Production Program. This is going to be the go-to option for any students who are looking to master both the creative and business aspects of music production. If you know you want to study music production but don't want to spend all your time cooking up in the studio or wish to develop crucial management skills that will help you steer your career in the direction you like, then this should resonate with you.
The program fits different learning styles with courses that are available in-person, live online through Zoom, or through online sessions. It also allows you the option to work through it at a pace that suits you, so if you’re in a rush to pick up the qualifications, you could get through the classes in 9 months, or if you wanted to take your time or learn alongside a job you can do it over three years.
The program costs include a $200 application fee, about $6,705 in tuition, and $550 for materials.
What better way to demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills they require than earning experience on an internship? This is something that the school organises for you through its industry connections, allowing students to gain practical experience in music industry roles of all types. It's on par with the music production options in NYC.
Learn Music Production in Los Angeles
As you can see, there are plenty of options available for aspiring music producers in Los Angeles. Not only will you be spoiled for choice when it comes to schools offering classes, but you’ll also have an expansive community of students and industry professionals to learn from. Some of the greatest talents in music met right here in LA and you could be next. You’ll have no difficulty finding producers at the same level as you who are more than willing to collaborate with you on projects and share ideas with you.
Superprof has steadily become the favorite option for music production students in LA looking to pair up with experienced tutors. The platform provides quality tutors who have been vetted for their experience and qualifications, ensuring you get the education possible. Music production students across Los Angeles will tell you that private tuition is the best route to go down and that Superprof is the best place to find it.
By now, you should have a good sense of why Los Angeles leads the way as a prime destination for aspiring music producers. There aren’t too many places where you can come across so many classes that feature professional-grade studios, advanced equipment, and software collaborations that help students meet current industry standards. So, take your time and make sure to land on a program that best serves your interests and goals as a producer.
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