Anyone who has a foot in the industry already knows about PAVI: they are one of the most talked-about music schools in the city. Even if you’re new to the business, I’m sure you’ve seen their various advertisements on billboards or while riding public transit.
Before coming to PAVI, I had no real experience in the music industry to speak of. I had a digital keyboard and a microphone at home that I played around with, but the instructors at PAVI taught me how to really use them.
My Experience
The Audio Engineering and Production program covers essential courses such as Audio Engineering (split into 3 sections, keeping you in the studio all year long!), Record Production, Digital Audio Workstation, Live Sound, Audio For Video, and more. Together, the 12 individual courses in the program give you a well-rounded knowledge of the music industry with a focus on Engineering/Production.
I was expecting a very narrow and specific program, but I’m glad I was wrong!
I was expecting a very narrow and specific program, but I’m glad I was wrong! Not until I had attended a few classes did I realize how useful courses like Music Theory & Songwriting were to an Engineer who did not have any musical training! Every single course brings something to the program, and it would be incomplete without them.
My favorite teacher taught one of the most interesting courses in the program: Boris made a GREAT Studio Design & Maintenance instructor! He is a brilliant engineer with a lot of experience in the field, both as a professional and a free-lance engineer/audio technician. He made the boring technical parts of the program interesting and showed me that the technical side of audio engineering is critical and absolutely necessary.
Class sizes are typical: 32 students per theory class (8 students per studio session). The class sizes are very manageable: they make for interesting discussions, but they are not so large as to interrupt the lessons. The studio lessons are amazing! 4-hour mixing/recording sessions in one of Vancouver’s best recording studios adds much educational value. Since my graduation, PAVI has granted their students 24-hour access to both of their studios at no additional charge.
You get a quality 12-month program for a good price.
The Verdict
I definitely recommend this program! It’s the best bang-for-your-buck audio school in town: you get a quality 12-month program for a good price. Not only are the instructors experienced, but they are real people in the business and are relatable to the young student wishing to enter the industry. No other school gives a better well-rounded knowledge of the music production business than PAVI. All of the course material is relevant and does not stray away from the overall focus of engineering/production. The price is quite decent and even the average student will be surprised at how easy it is to get a scholarship!
Within 2 months of graduating from PAVI, I found a part-time volunteer position at a recording studio. I bounced around to a couple of studios during the next year only to realize I had changed my mind about becoming an engineer. In the mean time, I easily landed a job at Tom Lee Music while I thought over my options. Never did I have a hard time finding work in the music industry. But do not be fooled: it takes hard work! You must be willing to put in time and effort if you wish to succeed.
I do not regret choosing PAVI at all. The people were amazing, both staff and students. The vibe that PAVI gives off is great! Everyone involved is professional and knowledgeable, yet practical and realistic at the same time. If you’re looking to gain a general knowledge of music production, or want to sharpen your engineering/producing chops, this is the program for you!
(14 votes, average: 3.36 out of 5)
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