Tell us about your production journey so far – how long have you been producing? What drew you to it in the first place?
I started my production journey in March 2020. The world shut down and because I wasn’t commuting to work every day anymore, I decided to take that time an invest into music production and get back to what I really had a passion for.
Week 1 of the course focuses on artist identity and positioning. Did this make you analyze your sound in any way?
100% did! The biggest lesson I have learned so far in music production is sound choice. When creating a track and using references, you can hear each sound, whether it be drums, stabs, bass, etc. Building your track around those sounds will help you stick to the idea of the refences and complete what you are trying to make.
What other modules really stood out to you throughout the 12 weeks?
Week 3 on making basslines was a game changer for me. I had struggled a lot in my early production days and wasn’t able to create good basslines. Learning the different techniques with operator, sampling, using drums, etc. helped me understand how to create a good bassline that stood out.
How important was the A&R feedback throughout your journey?
The weekly A&R was a huge benefit for me. Taking everything I learned that week and prior weeks and creating my track was amazing. Having Ben and Pete provide feedback on my weeks assignment really helped me understand what I was doing right and wrong. That feedback was crucial to getting better and understanding what goes into making a good song.
How happy were you with the track you made over the course of the 3 months?
My finished track was great! I have even played it while DJing at clubs. The vocals I did use would have been tough to get cleared so after the course, I went back into the track and tweaked the song and will be released with a record label in 2023.
What do you think was unique or different about the Production Certificate compared to other programmes/schools out there?
What stood out in this course is having great teachers. I have taken other courses when I first started music production and this course really helped me get out of bad habits I started creating and get back to basics. Not to mention, my sounds quality increased drastically and was signing tracks right after the course completed
How would you compare your production ability/knowledge now, compared to when you started the course?
It has been a full 180. There is so much I have learned and improved on being part of the production certificate. Learning not only about music production but also Ableton was a game changer. Before this course, I knew the basics of Ableton and couldn’t get my music signed. Taking this course I started getting music signed and can take an idea and get right into Ableton and start creating it
Has your ability on Logic/ableton improved since you’ve taken the course?
This course drastically improved my skills in Ableton. I learned Ableton taking the online Toolroom Courses and then Production certificate brought it to another level.
Did you manage to connect and built relationships with other students on the course?
Its been almost a year since I completed my Toolroom course and still speak to a handful of people in the course. I become real good friends with one of the other students across the globe and are working together on a collaboration for next year.
How would you rate your tutors?
If I had to rate them from a 1-10, 10 being the best, I would give them a 12. Because of them I am where I am in my music journey and am currently taking Creativity Unlocked because I learned so much from them. Once this is completed, I will probably be taking the mastering course as well.
What was the single best experience you had on the programme?
Having A&R feedback weekly was crucial to my success. You can take a course anywhere online or in person but not having that feedback weekly can make you get into bad habits. Understanding what I was doing was what I needed to help me progress my knowledge about music production.
On a scale of 1-10, how likely would you be to recommend this course to other producers?
10! Whether it be someone new looking to do music production or someone with years’ experience, this course will help you get better. If its opening Ableton for this first time or getting back to basics to rebuild your workflow to help you make better music.
As a graduate, what are your thoughts on the Toolroom Academy overall?
Without Toolroom Academy I wouldn’t be where I am at in my music journey. The ongoing opportunity I have to learn here is priceless and looking forward to continue learning from the great mentors at Toolroom.
