CityVarsity offers world-class creative and music production courses

If composed well, music has the power to inspire, uplift, entertain and create feelings of nostalgia. We often wonder about the masters working behind the scenes who compose such amazing pieces, and we often forget that these music production professionals have been honing their craft with specialised training that helps them create their magical masterpieces.

As a way to improve production standards, CityVarsity is currently offering some of the most cutting-edge and competitively priced courses in sound engineering and sound production at its Johannesburg (Braamfontein) and Cape Town campuses.

The college is part of the Educor cluster of private institutions of higher learning, which includes premium brands such as Damelin, ICESA, INTEC College and Lyceum, among others.

CityVarsity's short sound engineering and music production programmes offer comprehensive training in audio software such as Pro Tools, Reason and Cubase, as well as courses in arrangement, sound design, post-production and live band recording.

The eye sees, but the ear imagines – Matthias Silbernagl, HOD of Sound Engineering faculty

To enquire about CityVarsity's engineering and music production programmes, click here.

The short courses are designed as a cost-effective way to prepare students for the job market and equip them with the necessary tools they need to run successful businesses in the music and broadcasting industries.

The two campuses also offer a three-year diploma in sound engineering, which CityVarsity Sound Engineering Head of Department Matthias Silbernagl says has no equal in the South African tertiary education landscape.

"We offer a unique balance of theory and practical training to ensure full comprehension and application of the content," he said about CityVarsity's three-year course. "The early years offer complete and holistic training where all these aspects are explored, and in the final year the learners will pick a major, but without neglecting the other electives. Our facilitation structure ensures and allows us to have more contact time with our learners to achieve the standard and desired progress."

Silbernagl also says the lecturers and content developers at CityVarsity come from successful careers in audio engineering and production and could relay real-world scenarios to their students. "The passion runs from the heads of departments to the students receiving our unique offering," he said.

High-tech facilities

Students at CityVarsity's Braamfontein and Cape Town campuses have access to arguably the best audio facilities in South Africa, which have been tailored according to international standards and the needs of the sound production industry in the country and beyond. The campus labs are fitted with ergonomic workstations, with the Pro Tools facilities providing access to countless sound libraries. The Cubase lab, on the other hand, is equipped with instruments such as MIDI keyboards to facilitate music learning and production.

The college also has live rooms, vocal booths and analogue/digital desks where the latest recording techniques are taught. Additionally, the post-production facilities allow for mixing in 5.1 surround sound as well as to master projects using multiple-speaker systems.

Alumni

CityVarsity boasts a host of alumni, many of whom are considered leaders in the music industry. They include Thabang Moleya (director, Happiness is a Four-letter Word), Armand Aucamp (actor, Homeland) and Mapaseka Koetle (actress, Scandal)

"Our department is well rounded and organised to ensure that the students experience meets expectation and that their training and education with us allows them to go into the industry well-equipped," Silbernagl said.

Course options

Short courses:

• ­­­Sound Engineering – Pro Tools (Braamfontein campus only)
• Music Production, Cubase (Cape Town & Braamfontein campuses)
• Sound Engineering: Sound Design and Post-production (Cape Town campus)

Diploma:

• Diploma in Sound Engineering (three-year course in Cape Town & Braamfontein campuses)

For more information about other music industry-related courses, visit the CityVarsity official website.

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