POINT BLANK MUSIC SCHOOL Point Blank: An Introduction POINT BLANK MUSIC SCHOOL POINT BLANK MUSIC SCHOOL Introduction WWW.POINTBLANKLONDON.COM ”If you‘re serious about your music, What is Point Blank? We select outstanding talent from the Point Blank is the place to be...“ Established in 1994, Point Blank started music industry as instructors, training Pete Tong MBE, internationally renowned BBC Radio One DJ/ out as a commercial recording studio be- them to teach our courses in a consistent broadcaster and global music industry figure for over 30 years. fore evolving into a hands-on teaching manner across all subjects. The students facility, and later becoming the world’s study in state-of-the-art studios on the If you are thinking about studying at Point ”Best Electronic Music School“ as voted latest equipment thus creating a perfect Blank, then no doubt you will be keen to by the readers of DJ Mag. The School learning environment. The courses are know who we are, what we do and what offers bespoke tuition from London, Los accredited with internationally recognised you get out of studying with us. The aim of Angeles and online with personalised academic qualifications and since we this leaflet is to provide you with key infor- teaching to intimate classes. Our goal started sharing the music industry’s secrets, mation about Point Blank Music School and has always been to harness and de- over 50,000 students worldwide have answer any initial questions you may have. monstrate the creative process of ma- chosen Point Blank as the best place to king music at the highest level. study music production, sound engineering, music business, singing, radio production and DJ skills. 2 // www.pointblanklondon.com www.pointblanklondon.com // 3 POINT BLANK MUSIC SCHOOL Student Success Student Opportunities We’re proud to say that 85% of our Dip- We have an excellent network and As part of the Point Blank experience, loma graduates have gone on to gain maintain an active dialogue with em- we offer students at the London school successful employment in the industry ployers in the industry to give our stu- free music career advice sessions with within the first year of completing their dents and alumni the best opportuni- professional music consultant Kwame studies. Our students have also achieved ties. Our strong industry connections Kwaten of Ferocious Talent Manage- No.1 success in the UK and International ensure that unique internships, studio ment. Kwame has steered the careers singles charts as well as across music placements and competitions generally of many successful artists including platforms such as Beatport and Juno become available on a weekly basis. Dido, Rumer and Laura Mvula as well Download. Our graduates include Leona From these, we have had many graduates as scoring No.1 hits himself as a produ- Lewis, Goldie, Aluna Francis from No.1 who have gone on to work at studios in- cer (Shola Ama) and artist (D:Infuence). act AlunaGeorge (see opposite), Radio cluding Abbey Road, become in-house Kwame’s feedback and advice is an in- One DJ and Channel 4 presenter Gemma sound engineers for labels such as Mute valuable tool for our students. Cairney, Radio One DJ Edith Bowman, Records and find work at radio stations Interscope Records A&R Dave Rene such as Radio One and KISS FM. You can find more information on these FEATURED AlunaGeorge and other successful industry figures. types of opportunities on our daily digital STUDENTS Aluna Francis is one half of top UK duo AlunaGeorge. She studied music By studying at Point Blank, students join magazine Point Blank Plus. # 1 production at Point Blank and then took off to massive chart success with our network of music producers from all ”You Know You Like It“ to NME’s Best Track of the year and UK No.1 hit over the world. You can see our ever- plus.pointblanklondon.com ”White Noise“ which she performed live at the Brit Awards with Disclosure. growing list of student successes online. Aluna’s talent has taken her a long way – we are proud she studied her art with Point Blank. 4 // www.pointblanklondon.com www.pointblanklondon.com // 5 POINT BLANK MUSIC SCHOOL Educational Approval Point Blank is accredited by several Every year we have achieved top marks important educational and regulatory upon inspection: you can view the full bodies. All of our London and online Di- reports on our website. You can rest assu- ploma courses are accredited by either red you are receiving a top class education. Pearson/Edexcel or Middlesex University and students receive an internationally ”The quality of the curriculum, tea- QAA Reviewed recognised qualification upon successful Quiality Assurance Agency ching and learners’ achievements is for Higher Education completion of their course. The most excellent.“ comprehensive course we offer in London Independent Schools Inspectorate, 2015 is worth the equivalent of 3 ”A“ levels (120-420 UCAS points), making our courses ”The review team has confidence in an ideal progression route to university Point Blank Ltd’s management of its or a job in the industry (see Featured responsibilities for the standards of the awards it offers on behalf of its Course for more information). The school awarding body and organisation.“ also undergoes regular inspection by the Quality Assurance Agency, 2014 Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) and the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI), both of which are government ap- proved bodies. 6 // www.pointblanklondon.com FEATURED STUDENTS #2 PAULA FAIR- FIELD Paula Fairfield is an award winning Sound Designer who has worked on a host of movies and TV shows Lost, Sin City, Tropic including Game of Thrones, Thunder, Predators and many others. We spoke to Paula about her work and what prompted her to study music production online at Point Blank. Please introduce yourself. What is audio and photographic art. One summer I niest parts and then building it. I get a rush always advertising the need for low or no-pay I were) and b) I work exclusively to picture. What are the advantages in taking an your name and where are you from? got an apprenticeship at the National Film every time I watch a completed sequence sound for short films etc and that is a good way The Point Blank courses definitely put me online music course? My Name is Paula Fairfield. I am originally Board of Canada and worked as an assistant against picture. It is so much fun and I get to get opportunities and meet people. way outside my comfort zone, and that’s a For me it’s always a time thing. Especially from Canada but have lived in Los Angeles to an award-winning picture and sound editor. paid to do it. What’s not to love? The hardest good thing! in this industry with multiple clients changing for 11 years. At that time, film was still edited on magnetic part is dealing with tight budgets and dead- What prompted you to take a course their minds and schedules all the time, tape stock, moviolas and Kems. As I waited to lines. Sound is pretty much the last process with Point Blank? What appealed to What has been the best thing about it’s hard to plan anything. With an online Can you tell us a little about your job? cut edited magnetic tape pieces of sound in filmmaking and by the time we get the you about these courses? the course so far? course, I can sit down when I have a minute I am a supervising sound editor and desi- into prepped tracks, I watched in awe at the project, everyone has run out of money and I have owned Ableton Live for a while and Surprisingly, I find myself making music and poke away at a lesson and then get gner for feature film and TV. I have been sound editing my boss was doing. I had no time. Consider what contribution sound ma- have never had the time to get into it. I tried and really, really enjoying it. It’s very libe- back to my work. It’s fantastic! working in the commercial industry for 15 idea this was how sound for movies was kes to the movie experience and then con- once but because it is such a different way rating. It makes me work in a totally diffe- years and before that I ran a media center done. So when you ask ”Is this what you sider that we often find ourselves fighting of thinking, it wasn’t immediately apparent rent way. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as Thanks Paula! See you soon... for artists in Canada, worked as a picture always wanted to do“ the answer is ”No. for 1/2% of the entire film budget (yes you how to use it in the half hour I had here much as I have so far - I sit down in the eve- and sound editor for artists and also made I didn’t know this job existed“. At the risk read that right!!!). and there to look at it. I had some time ning to work a little on an assignment and I my own multi-media based video, film and of sounding corny, the process of adding this summer and thought it would be fun look at the clock and it’s 4am and have to audio works. sounds to image was so magical and I got What tips would you offer someone to finally learn it. Similarly, Reaktor has tear myself away. I may not be brilliant at completely hooked. who is interested in working in this always eluded me as it seems like you it but I am loving it.