Recording and Production programme
Can I learn recording and production without doing Duke of Edinburgh?
Music production and recording course for ages 13–21 in Richmond, London. Learn to create, record and mix your own tracks with a coach. DofE optional.
Learn to produce and mix your own tracks with a professional coach, in a real recording studio, a production room or online.
For ages 13–21, with or without Duke of Edinburgh. Ritz Music Studio, Richmond · Since 1996.
- Immersive Recording Studio — A fully immersive session in Ritz's professional recording studio, built around a Neve 8078 console. Your coach leads the session, with Ritz's recording engineer alongside to help produce, so you see how a professional session comes together.
- Ritz Production Room — A production room at Ritz Music Studio with Logic and professional equipment, including KRK studio monitors, so you learn to listen critically and hear the detail and balance in your mixes.
- Online with your coach — Your coach works directly with you on your own computer and home set-up, so you become confident producing independently rather than only in a studio.
- Foundations in the studio — weeks 1 to 3 — Setting your goals. Introduction to a professional studio, signal flow and the DAW. Organising sessions professionally, and starting a first track from an initial idea.
- Building the track — weeks 4 to 6 — MIDI, beat programming and working with virtual instruments. Recording and editing audio. Arrangement, and developing the structure and energy of a track.
- Mixing — weeks 7 to 9 — EQ, compression, reverb and delay. Panning, stereo width, gain staging and creating space within a mix. Critical listening on studio monitors and using professional reference tracks.
- Finishing and review — weeks 10 to 12 — Preparing a polished final mix and exporting correctly. Developing your own production style and sound. Final review of your finished track.
- Bronze — 3 months · 12 weekly sessions. Your goal after 3 months: Create your first finished track. You’ll be able to build beats, record and edit audio, and arrange and mix your first track with your coach. £496 VAT inc per month · 3 monthly payments Enquire about Bronze
- Silver — 6 months · 24 weekly sessions. Your goal after 6 months: Develop your own production style. You’ll be able to make more deliberate recording, arrangement and mixing choices, and build a small portfolio that reflects your own sound. £433 VAT inc per month · 6 monthly payments Enquire about Silver
- Gold — 12 months · 48 weekly sessions. Your goal after 12 months: Produce with greater independence. You’ll be able to plan, record, edit and mix your own productions, with a developed portfolio and the confidence to take new ideas through to finished tracks. £402 VAT inc per month · 12 monthly payments Enquire about Gold
Who is the course for?
Students aged 13 to 21. You do not need to be taking part in Duke of Edinburgh to join the programme.
What will I learn on the music production course?
You cover studio foundations, the DAW, MIDI and beat programming, recording and editing audio, arrangement and mixing. You work from an initial idea to a finished track, with the order and pace planned around your goals.
Can I work on songwriting and recording my own songs?
The programme takes you from an initial idea to a finished track, covering arrangement, recording and mixing. Tell us if your goal is songwriting and recording your own songs when you enquire, so your coach can plan around your goals.
Can I learn how to record in your studio?
Yes. Immersive sessions take place in Ritz's professional recording studio in Richmond, built around a Neve 8078 console. Your coach leads the session, with Ritz's recording engineer alongside to help produce, so you see how a professional recording session comes together.
Is this a course for learning to become a music producer?
It is a coached music production course for ages 13–21. You learn to use the DAW, create and arrange tracks, record and edit audio, and mix your work. The focus is developing your production skills and working towards finished tracks.
Can I take pay-as-you-go music production lessons?
Yes. Individual Music Production lessons have a pay-as-you-go option in Ritz's standard lesson booking system. These are separate from the Bronze, Silver and Gold courses on this page, which use monthly subscriptions. Enquire through the main form if you need help choosing between individual lessons and a course.
Do I need my own equipment?
No. Studio and production room sessions use Ritz's equipment. For online sessions you will need a computer and a DAW; your coach will help you choose and set up free or low-cost options if you don't have one yet.
How long is a session, and when are they?
Every session is one hour with your coach. Sessions are weekly at a regular time agreed with your coach, usually after school or at the weekend.
Can I keep going afterwards?
Of course. Many students continue in the production room or online, or move on to Ritz's recording studio to record their finished tracks.
Is this the same as the Duke of Edinburgh's Award route?
No. This course is open to ages 13 to 21 without an award. Students who want to use music production for the Skills section of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award can read about the optional DofE route, which has its own entry ages set by the award.
Every session is one hour, one to one with your coach. Your programme blends all three, planned with your coach.
The 12-week outline is illustrative, not fixed. Your coach shapes the order and pace around you.
The course itself is open to students aged 13 to 21 and does not require an award. Entry to the Duke of Edinburgh's Award follows the award's own age rules, which differ.
Includes a blend of immersive recording studio sessions, production room sessions and online sessions, agreed with your coach. Paid by Direct Debit on the 1st or 15th of the month. Cancel with 30 days' notice.
All prices include VAT.