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You know how the cavernous bass of your favorite house track makes you feel? Say, the taut stinging bounce of a neo-classic big beat anthem like Basement Jaxx's "Run 4 Cover"? Or what about your first time hearing the brooding yet soulful downtempo rhythms of a group called Massive Attack? And how often have we all fantasized about adding an epic, singular contribution to the pantheon of great modern music? Maybe studying with the people behind the Massive Attacks and Basement Jaxx of the world is a good start.

Like many of us, UK native John Burns wanted to create memorable music but was limited by his basic production skills. Rather than continuing to blindly tinker away on his own, he enrolled in Point Blank Online Music School based in the United Kingdom. Point Blank is the premier music production school voted “Best Music Production and DJ School” by DJ Magazine readers for half a decade. The robust faculty boasts production and songwriting credits with the aforementioned Massive Attack, Chemical Brothers, Iggy Pop, Mary J. Blige and more of your favorite artists. In 2007 he enrolled in Point Blank’s MIDI programming course with an instructor who has produced for trip-hop icon, Bjork.

Juggling a full-time job with his musical aspirations, John opted for the flexibility of online courses, which allows him to finish tasks and read class notes on his own time. While flexibility and reputation were Point Blank Online Music School’s initial appeal, John found that the school’s most valuable amenity was the ability to access the wealth of knowledge of some of the world’s most skilled beatsmiths. John’s course work was largely practical, hand-on assignments and he received detailed feedback on why a certain composition didn’t work. Essentially he got award-winning, chart-topping artists to clue him in on the nuances that separate the bedroom producers from the body rockers; an asset he calls “invaluable.” Even if he doesn’t become the next Brian Eno, John recognizes the overall merit of the course noting, “it’s helping me progress my hobby and…if something professional comes out of that obviously, that’s what I would like. But even if it doesn’t…I still would not have regretted doing it because Point Blank has progressed me with my music production skills.”

John’s experience is exactly what Point Blank Online Music School tries to replicate with every student. London is a bit of a commute for US-based producers so Point Blank developed online courses that bring the school to aspiring artists from Brooklyn to Kansas. Point Blank Managing Director Jules Brookes notes a high level of interactivity, including weekly chat sessions, audio examples and song templates that strives to engage students and not feel like passive web surfing. John definitely agrees, noting that “you come home from work and sometimes you’re tired but when you’re interested in it and when they make it interesting through quality materials, [either] the online materials or the conversations that we have every week online, then it’s actually something I look forward to.”

Despite the viral nature of the course, students still get the distinct benefits of a school based in one of the world’s most progressive music capitals. As Jules explains, “there’s a UK sound which unites most of the tutors here. You’re getting a chance to get involved in that sort of British approach to production, which is a unique approach. You’re getting a chance as a student to look over the shoulders of UK producers as they are working and you get a kind of snapshot into tips and tricks and techniques that they use to produce music.”

While Point Blank Online Music School hones actual production skills the school also gives students the chance to realize their dreams through a publishing deal with Universal Music and has published thousands of student songs. Students go on to a range of music professions from managing clubs to becoming established DJs but Jules’ favorite success story is that of DJ Assad who scored a no. 14 hit on the UK charts with “Let’s Work It Out” while still enrolled at Point Blank. Ultimately, as both Jules and John agree, Point Blank arms you with the technical skills to realize your creative energy. With the ability to masterfully manipulate the latest in music production technology or advance your songwriting skills, Point Blank Online Music School gives you the chance to be an artist and not just dream about it.