The Blackbird Academy was the best schooling experience i've ever had, period. Not only will you learn all the "book Knowledge" required to be an audio engineer at the highest level but you will also learn invaluable lessons about studio recording culture while forming relationships with industry pros in an ACTUAL professional recording studio. The Blackbird Academy is doing audio education the right way and i'm so thankful that I went!
If you are super rich and don't have to worry about money then this doesn't apply to you...
I was there in one of the first classes. The time in class was awesome, however, I would not recommend it for beginners. Extremely high end audio equipment and in depth conversations about complex audio technicalities will leave any beginner to mid level student completely lost. If you have thousands of dollars to spend on an "experience" where well known musicians and engineers come by and speak for an hour once a month, then this is the place for you!
My main issue was with the process after graduation. You are welcomed to work for free as an intern at the studio, but shouldn't expect to be treated as you were when you were a student. Not to mention, there are very few opportunities available for those who aren't in the top 2 students of the class. Even at that, your best bet is becoming an intern, working for free hoping that you will be paid some day after spending $20k+ on your 6 month education.
Interning at Blackbird was a nightmare when I was there. There was a man named Rich who was in charge of the interns and treated us poorly. Funny enough, Rich later filed a lawsuit against the studio (an easy google search will find this info) although he was in fact one of the worst people there. I was once denied a HUGE opportunity because Las Palmas made a mistake on an order that I gave to John McBride. To hear that I missed an opportunity to meet with a super producer seeking an assistant because a restaurant didn't add extra queso made me the most angry I've ever been in my life.
John and Martina seem to have good hearts, but I can't help but think this is a money grab. There were too many red flags to list. I wish I would have gone for a month and met everyone then saved the rest of my money and spent it on studio equipment for my own studio.
I must mention this - Mark Rubel is one of the most sincere and informative people I have ever encountered. He is truly the highlight of the program.
I can honestly say that I regret spending the money that I did on Blackbird.
I had just graduated high school before coming to The Blackbird Academy. I knew exactly what I was going to do with my life, I knew exactly what i wanted my future to look like, I wanted to go into the profession of a audio engineer. But the LAST thing i wanted was to go to a big university, spending all of my time and money studying for math tests or writing essays and doing assignments for other classes that Idid not need in my life or had no use for that knowledge, then maybe spending two or three hours a day in the audio class that I actually wanted to be in. My thought process was "why do I need to waste my time concerning myself with other subjects? why would I not want to dedicate as much time and effort as I was physically and mentally able to towards being an audio engineer?". After looking at several college opportunities as a nineteen year old kid fresh out of high school, the options were overwhelming, but then I stumbled upon The Blackbird Academy. As i researched more into this program, I noticed that classes are taught by real professionals who have been in the audio career all of their lives, so many known artists work with and trust Blackbird, and there are no other subjects to sidetrack you from the audio engineering course. Blackbird has taken the knowledge that i came into with, filled it to the brim with tons of useful information and converted it into a professional grade tool that I am able to use daily in the audio engineering field.
The best school I could have gone to for what I want to do. Amazing teachers who have real world experience and know exactly how to teach it to students. Would recommend to any aspiring audio engineers of any kind.
There is nowhere like The Blackbird Academy, I assure you. John McBride, Director of Blackbird Studio and The Blackbird Academy, has gathered the all star staff. An acclaimed number of highly experienced, established members of the community not only sit across from the students, but, guests of the highest caliber and achievement are constantly invited to speak, record, mix, and master. I came to The Blackbird Academy with little to no practical knowledge of the technology, techniques, or professions that encompassed the Music Industry. Although I had a strong foundation in music itself, having played for, almost literally, my entire life; I began to question myself. Life is meaningless, to me, without music. For several years, I put my sticks down, defeated by my own objections to happiness. Only by good fortune was I struck; by a coincidence of being at the right place, at the right time, I met a strangely humble man. The referral to Blackbird, literally, changed my life. The Blackbird Academy has given me the tools, hands-on experience, in-the-box training, technical knowledge, and the connections to stand proudly in the career field that, both, inspires and motivates me. A big, Thank You, to the staff at blackbird for encouraging and nourishing success.
-Tony Lundberg
Blackbird Academy has helped me grow tremendously as an Audio Engineer. If you're considering enrolling at this school, it could be the best decision you'll ever make - It definitely was mine. Industry professionals are constantly popping in-and-out, utilizing and appreciating everything that Blackbird has to offer. The entire studio (from microphones to outboard gear to all of the studio rooms) is available for the academy. This school is 'the real-world experience'. The Academy also provides tremendous support for their soon-to-be graduates and helpes them land internship/work opportunities all over the globe!
Blackbird Academy is the place to be!
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