Studio training courses
Run by our Colleges Music Coordinator and Vanbrugh Rock Tutor, Steven Burton, these sessions guide you in learning how to use the Garage Recording Studio, attached to The Garage practice space.
Once you have been signed-off to use this space, you will be able to hire it to make your own recordings, record your band or earn some money by recording other bands.
Do the course consisting of a 3-hour Introductory Theory Session, 6-hour Practical Practice Sessions (until you feel confident) and a 6-hour Sign-Off session. This is priced at £20 for Garage members and £30 for non-Garage members. Experienced Studio Engineers who don't need any training can get signed off by signing up to a Fast-Track Briefing Session.
See below for dates and links to sign-up, or email college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk to register your interest about future dates.
All training takes place in The Garage Recording Studio, next door to the Warren on Vanbrugh Way (the purple garage doored house opposite the Information Centre on Market Square).
Complimentary hot drinks are provided at The Warren and there is a kitchen you can use.
Introductory Theory Session - recommended starting point for beginners.
Learn about the basics of recording and how the equipment works in this introduction session.
We recommend that all students new to studio recording start off with this session before advancing to the practical session. These sessions are theoretical with some demonstrations. You won't actually get to have a go yourself until you advance to the practical session, but it is really helpful to understand the basics of what you are going to be doing when you start recording a band.
Book by using the links below:
Semester 1, 2025 - additional dates may be added so please ask if you cannot do these
Practical Practice sessions - 6 hours practicing recording a band
If you have attended the Introductory Theory Session OR used recording studios before AND you understand the theory of what you are doing, but need to get some practical experience, you can advance straight to the "Practical Session". This is a six-hour session practicing recording a band, including learning to set up and take down equipment, recording various instruments including drums.
Semester 1, 2025 - To be announced
A single additional place is reserved to assist other students during their sign-off sessions.
Contact college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk if you want to be on the waiting list for any of the following sessions:
To follow
Sign-Off Sessions: to qualify for using the studio by yourself
When you feel confident enough to record by yourself, you can request a sign-off session. This doesn't mean you are going to know everything - you learn more by practicing than you will just by attending the training sessions - but this will be the point at which you can confidently be left in charge of the room and you have some idea of what you are doing.
We will organise a band (or you can arrange with a band you know) for a six-hour recording session where you will be responsible for the recording, under supervision.
We usually try to do this in pairs so you have a buddy to work with.
If our tutor is happy that you can confidently run the studio then you will get a course sign-off certificate and can then hire the facility.
Dates currently reserved for this are to follow.
If you are keen to reserve a sign-off slot, or are feeling confident about this following a practice session, please contact college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk.
Fast-Track Briefing sign-off sessions, for experienced sound engineers to get signed off to hire the recording studio
For experienced sound engineers, we run single sign-off briefing sessions, to introduce you to the specifics of the Garage Recording Studio as well as the rules of use.
After completing this session, you can hire the studio to record yourself, record your own band, or maybe even earn some money recording other bands.
These tend to last around 45 minutes but if the trainer does not think you have sufficient experience to run the studio yourself then they will suggest you sign onto some of the training sessions.
Semester 1, 2025
- We currently have no sessions scheduled for this but please email college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk if you want to ask us to set one up.
Payment
Once you have reserved your place on your preferred session(s), please secure you place by making your payment via our online store.
You are asked to pay for the full course, even if you feel you have sufficient experience to skip the Introductory Session, and go straight to the Practical Sessions. However, if you have not completed the course by the end of the academic year or you decide you no longer want to proceed with the course, then we will issue you with a partial refund, depending on how many sessions you have booked on.
Free Recording Session for Your Band?
If you have a band and want to get some free recording, we are always looking for bands to practice on for both our practical and sign-off sessions. You'll get copies of your tracks and an opportunity to get a sense of what being in a recording studio is like. Contact college-music-scheme@york.ac.uk to register your interest.