Colorado Recording Schools or Mentorship?

Are you presently residing in Colorado and have a dream of being the most successful record producer or engineer in the music industry? If so, have you began looking for the Colorado recording schools that are available?

If you’ve already done your assignment, then you have probably figured out that your best option is the University of Colorado — Denver. It appears to be the only reputable college in the state that offers degrees in recording.

This fact is ironic, and to a certain extent appalling, given that Colorodo, and Denver in particular, is home to a burgeoning music industry. Several home-grown bands and talents have gone on from here to make it big and because the recording industry in this area is also reputable, some are even coming back. The popular band OneRepublic (best known for their smash hit «Apologize») has its origins in Colorado; they even came back to Denver to record their latest release Waking Up.

Now, the question is: with the reputation of Colorado and the availability of top-notch recording facilities there, why is there not sufficient resources to educate people on this field? Why aren’t there several Colorado recording schools?

Or, consider the possibility that it might be the wrong question to ask. In learning this craft, is getting a formal education the best route?

Again, the story of OneRepublic may provide us with an answer especially the story of frontman Ryan Tedder. Many now see Tedder as the falsetto-singing guy who plays «Apologize» on the piano. On top of this, be aware as well that Tedder is a veteran producer. Also known as «Alias,» Tedder has written and produced tracks for high profile artists like Jennifer Lopez and Leona Lewis. How did he learn the art of producing? The band’s website mentioned that Timbaland hired Tedder to work for him — this was way before OneRepublic was formed, when Tedder appeared on an MTV show. And as for this, the website appropriately describes such an experience as «being taken under Timbaland’s wing was a dream come true for Tedder. He calls the next two years in studios from New York to Los Angeles to Miami ‘Producer 101’ because it was like going to college for production.»

It isn’t clear if Tedder attended a recording school, but in his interviews, he stated his time in Timbaland, which is a studio — and not a school. It was this mentoring experience that taught Tedder how to produce.

The point is, the recording industry is mostly a learn-by-doing craft, and several people who learn to produce or record have learned it in a hands-on environment. Even better is when, as in Ryan Tedder’s case, an industry professional guides you through the learning process.

Maybe, Colorado doesn’t need several formal Colorado recording schools; perhaps what Colorado needs is a system of industry mentors who will teach the skill to others because this is where the real education occurs.