10 Best Music Production Schools In Los Angeles

Explore the 10 best music production schools in Los Angeles, plus a bonus online music production course.

Los Angeles has long been a bit of a music mecca, home to major label records, a thriving underground scene and some of the best opportunities in the country. But before all that, the city offers some of the best schools to learn how to produce music.

Below, find our definitive list of the best music production schools in Los Angeles.

If you you need a space to work on music production projects independently, Pirate has affordable recording studios in Los Angeles, with two locations to choose from — Silver Lake in the Eastside or West Adams in South Central. Perfect for honing your craft or meeting up with collaborators.

1. Musicians Institute

Location: 6752 Hollywood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

Founded in Hollywood in 1977, the Musicians Institute has been training aspiring musicians in all things sound ever since, offering comprehensive courses in areas such as music production, audio engineering, and music business programs in Los Angeles.

Types Of Courses: The Musicians Institute offers all types of courses including Music Production, Music Industry, and Music Performance. A full list can be found on their website.

Notable Alumni:

• Michael Romanowski
• Ross Hogarth
• Joe Barres

Cost: BA/MA start at $8,244 per quarter, with many financial aid and scholarship opportunities available. More information can be found on their tuition fee page.

How To Apply: Admissions must be made through the online application form, and are further subject to an audition or interview, depending on the program.

2. UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music

Location: 445 Charles E Young Dr E, Los Angeles, CA 90095

Part of the renowned University of California, Los Angeles, the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music was founded in 2007, thanks to the renowned musician and philanthropist Herb Alpert. It provides new alumni with a comprehensive music education and has proven itself to be one of the top music production colleges in Southern California.

Types Of Courses: The school offers a wide range of music programs and courses, including undergraduate and graduate degrees in fields such as Musicology, Ethnomusicology, Composition, Performance (instrumental and vocal), Music Education, and the Music Industry.

Notable Alumni:

• Sara Bareilles
• Rivers Cuomo
• Michael Giacchino

Cost: Courses start at $31,049 per academic year (9 months), not including scholarships or financial aid. Prices vary depending on whether you are a California resident or non-resident and on your choice of living on campus, off-campus, or commuting. For a full breakdown of prices, go to the UCLA tuition fees page.

How To Apply: Undergraduate admissions can be found over on their website. Details of graduate admissions can be found via their graduate portal.

3. Los Angeles Recording School

Location: 6690 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90028

The Los Angeles Recording School is a division of The L.A. Film School and has been offering education in audio recording and music production since 1999. They have state-of-the-art recording studio equipment and industry-expert faculty, providing you with the training you need in all aspects of production.

Types Of Courses: The LA Recording School specializes in audio recording and music production, offering 18-month and 36-month courses for audio recording and 18-month courses for production, respectively. They are also renowned as one of the top film scoring schools in Los Angeles.

Notable Alumni:

• Dave Pensado
• Ariel Rechtshaid
• Sam Barsh

Cost: Prices start from $39k for music production courses, not including financial aid/scholarships. Full estimated pricing breakdowns can be found on the LA Film School tuition fee portal.

How To Apply: You’ll need to apply through the LA Film School applications portal, and may need to submit a portfolio or attend an interview.

4. USC Thornton School of Music

Location: 840 W 34th St, Los Angeles, CA 90089

The USC Thornton School of Music is part of the University of Southern California and boasts a rich history dating back to 1884. It's one of the premier music schools in Los Angeles and the entire United States. Many of Los Angeles' burgeoning artists are alumni of this institution.

Types Of Courses: The school offers a wide range of music education, including composition, music production, and music technology.

Notable Alumni:

• John Williams
• Glen Ballard
• James Horner

Cost: The flat-rate tuition starts at $66,640 per academic year. USC offers numerous financial aid and scholarship programs, which can be found on their website here.

How To Apply: Admissions are highly competitive, requiring auditions and interviews. They can be made at their application portal.

5. Los Angeles College of Music

Location: 300 S Fair Oaks Ave, Pasadena, CA 91105

LACM, founded in 1996, has earned a reputation for its contemporary music education. The college provides intensive courses in various aspects of music and offers multiple opportunities for performance, with industry experts teaching the courses.

Types Of Courses: The college offers multiple music-related courses, including an intensive 3-year BA in Music Production and Recording, which teaches students the complete process of producing, mixing, and how to master a song.

Notable Alumni:

• Andrew Synowiec
• Jimenez Brothers
• Pete Griffin

Cost: Full pricing can be found on their tuition and fees website, with prices starting at $34,200, excluding scholarships and financial aid.

How To Apply: Applications can be submitted through their admissions portal, which includes an audition and a form. Applicants can apply twice a year, in both the winter and fall.

6. Recording Connection

Location: 2855 S Robertson Blvd, Beverlywood, Los Angeles, CA 90034

A unique approach to music education, Recording Connection places students with one-on-one apprenticeships providing intimate training. On top of this, tuition is lower than comparable music schools.

Types Of Courses: Recording Connection connects students with personal mentors, matching them based on their applications. They offer courses in Ableton for music producers and engineers, beat making, and general music production. Additionally, they are renowned as one of the best hip-hop production schools in LA. For more information, please visit their website.

Notable Alumni:

• Sylvia Massy
• Ross Hogarth
• Joe Barresi

Cost: Prices start from $14,000 to $16,000, but there is flexibility in the pricing. For more information, please visit the tuition fees page on their website.

How To Apply: To apply, students can inquire through the admissions website, and they will have the opportunity to go on a guided tour of the studio they might be studying in.

7. Beat Junkies Institute of Sound

Location: 5130 San Fernando Rd, Glendale, CA 91204

Founded in 2017 by the LA DJ crew Beat Junkies, the school was established by DJs, for DJs. They provide everything you need to enhance your craft and boost your confidence in DJing and production, all taught by the best in the business.

Types Of Courses: They offer various types of courses, whether you're a DJ, producer or DJ/producer, including DJing (ranging from beginner to advanced), a course in Ableton, and courses designed for children.

Notable Alumni:

• DJ Babu
• DJ Melo-D
• DJ Rhettmatic

Cost: Prices are available upon request, and you can schedule a meeting with one of their course advisors to find the best course at the most suitable price for you.

How To Apply: Applications are open to everyone and can be submitted through the courses section of their website.

8. 1500 Sound Academy

Location: 8729 Aviation Blvd Ste 1, Inglewood, CA 90301

1500 Sound Academy was founded by Grammy-nominated production duo James Fauntleroy and Larrance Dopson in 2020, offering contemporary music production education.

Types Of Courses: The school provides courses in music production, songwriting, and music business, emphasizing modern industry practices. Whether you're a novice in DJing or production, there are courses suitable for every skill level. These courses are an excellent way to enhance your skills and maximize your studio time.

Notable Alumni:

• Larrance Dopson
• Brody Brown
• Ray Romulus

Cost: You have two enrollment options: the full program, which includes all six courses for $12,500, or individual courses, each priced at $2,250.

How To Apply: Applications can be made over on their website.

9. Point Blank Music School

Location: 1035 S La Brea Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90019

Point Blank has been offering diplomas and courses in music production and audio engineering, including online classes and courses in various cities worldwide. The LA campus is situated in Central LA, conveniently located near multiple Pirate studios where you can further develop your skills.

Types Of Courses: The school provides audio production, music production, and DJ courses in diploma format, catering to all skill levels.

Notable Alumni:

• Goldie
• Monki
• AlunaGeorge

Cost: There are two enrollment options: Full diplomas start at $5,200 per semester. You can find detailed information on their tuition page. Scholarships and financial aid options are also available.

How To Apply: Applications can be made over on their website.

10. ICON collective

Location: 100 E Tujunga Ave #100, Burbank, CA 91502

ICON Collective offers a range of courses in different subjects, including Music Production, Vocal Artistry, and Music Business. The LA school has been operating since 2005 and has equipped numerous alumni with the skills and knowledge needed to establish successful careers in their respective industries, including one of the best Music Business programs in Los Angeles.

Types Of Courses: ICON Collective provides a diverse selection of courses, including Music Production, Vocal Artistry, Music Business, and online options.

Notable Alumni:

• Jauz
• NGHTMRE
• Slander

Cost: Their flagship programme is $27,555, with full online courses from $14,995.

How To Apply: Applications can be made on their website and require a submission of music and a consultation.

ONLINE OPTION: Berklee College of Music

Whilst Berklee College’s campus is on the other side of the country, in Boston, Berklee does online courses in Music Production and others to get you shaped up and refined in your practice. Plus, it’s all online so you can easily split time with work, practice time, and online education. Plus you get the highly respected name behind you.

Types Of Courses: They have a complete variety of courses in Music Production, specific instruments, Orchestration, Music Theory and more.

Notable Alumni:

• Quincy Jones
• St. Vincent
• Esperanza Spalding

Cost: Individual courses start from $1,545 with credit - and you can take separate courses dependent on your interests and specialty. They can definitely add up if you want to do all of them!

How To Apply: Anyone can apply, you can buy specific courses and one paid you can enroll and access your education. All of their online music courses are listed on their website.

How To Choose The Right Music Production School For You

With a variety of options available across the city from fully beginners to BA/MA’s in your chosen passion, music production education isn’t a one size fits all approach, but a Los Angeles music education is one of the best you can get.

The school’s listed above offer a variety of options from community focused to institution, and there should be something to suit everyone. Before you apply for some of the best music production schools in LA, be sure to get in some studio time at Pirate's LA recording studios. Pirate also offers music production courses at their studios or online if you want to get a head start.