We Are Moving The Needle & pointblank LA have partnered this year to offer not one, but two full scholarships designed to support and give back to the next musical generation. This scholarship opportunity is exclusively open to women, non-binary, and trans individuals, emphasising those with a demonstrated commitment to production and engineering. The successful applicants will have all tuition costs associated with their chosen program track covered.
Scholarship Program Tracks Offered
- Music Production & Audio Engineering Diploma: This program will supply you with all the skills you need to begin any career in the music industry including music producer, recording engineer, film/TV composer, sound designer, music arranger, artist/performer, studio manager, A&R/label manager, and many more.
- Music Production & DJ Performance Diploma: Our 12-month Music Production & DJ Performance Diploma will prepare you for various roles including music producer, mixing engineer, sound editor, artist/performer, resident/touring DJ, and many more. You will learn a broad range of skills from music fundamentals to advanced production techniques. The courses are designed and taught by industry professionals who have decades of experience working in the music industry.
- Music Production & Sound Design Diploma: The 12-month Music Production & Sound Design Diploma incorporates a broad range of skills such as production, beatmaking, composition, sound design, remixing, composing for film & TV, electronic music performance, mastering, and lots more. Developed and taught by professionals who’ve worked with artists such as Skrillex, Pharrell, Amy Winehouse, and more, this cutting-edge college-level program will teach you how to take your music to the next level and create a professional-grade portfolio of tracks.
- Music Production & Vocal Performance Diploma: This one-year diploma in Music Production and Vocal Performance offers a thorough and hands-on exploration of key areas, including live vocal performance, studio recording, rapping, vocal production, songwriting, and mixing. Designed and delivered by industry experts, this innovative program provides essential training in vocal techniques, performance skills, songwriting, recording, and mixing. By the end, you’ll be equipped to produce a professional portfolio showcasing your impressive vocal work.
We Are Moving The Needle
We Are Moving The Needle is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting women in the recording industry, including audio engineers and producers. Their mission is to drive meaningful progress by empowering women with the education, equipment, and mentorship they need to excel in this field.
They offer resources and assistance to individuals at various stages of their careers—from those just starting their education to those currently navigating the challenges of a predominantly male industry. Their initiative was inspired by the USC Annenberg Inclusion Initiative’s study “Inclusion in the Recording Studio,” released on March 8th, 2021, which highlighted that only 2% of producers and audio engineers are women. This revelation led GRAMMY-winning and eight-time nominated mastering engineer Emily Lazar to establish an organization to address this disparity. While the study focused on a male/female gender binary, We Are Moving The Needle is committed to inclusivity and welcomes participation from all individuals.
How to Apply
The scholarship winner will be announced prior to the start of our next term, beginning on Monday, January 13, 2025. Complete and submit your application on the We Are Moving The Needle website by Sunday, November 3 at Midnight. Students seeking to enter one of the 4 Diploma programs stated above are required to complete the pointblank Diploma Program Entrance Evaluation. This includes two music content submissions which must be provided as URL links to downloadable files (hosted on a cloud server such as Google Drive, Dropbox, or WeTransfer) of original musical tracks you have created as the sole music producer. Each track must be at least 2 minutes in length and a standard audio format of WAV, AIF, or MP. Applicants must be 18 years of age or older and possess a high school diploma or the equivalent. Due to the volume of applicants, not all applicants will receive a response. If you have been selected to interview for the scholarship, you will be contacted directly by We Are Moving The Needle.
Good luck!
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