Frequently Asked Questions

Is TRCoA accredited?
TRCoA is currently certified by the Texas Workforce Commission and can except the G.I. Bill. We will be fully accredited and will be accepting government grants and loans by 2013.
What does the tuition cover?
Tuition covers the cost of attending TRCoA. Additional costs includes book purchases, external firewire drives and CD-RW's.
Does TRCoA offer financial aid?
The Recording Conservatory of Austin offers student loan style payment plans to qualified individuals for up to ninety percent of tuition costs. Payment plans are four-year terms and are not differed. This means that you would put 10% down when you enroll and then have reasonable monthly payments over about a 48 month payout period.
How long are the programs?
Beginning Audio Engineering and Advanced Music Production each last from 7-9 months. Our entire Recording Arts Program, which includes both Beginning Audio Engineering and Advanced Music Production will range from 14-18 months. The length of the program varies slightly per person due to the fact that every class is taught one on one.
Can I take both the classes at the same time?
No. The Beginning Audio Engineering class must be completed first. Once the student completes the Beginning Audio Engineering class they can take the Advanced Music Production class.
Does TRCoA offer evening classes?
TRCoA's program is designed to work with your schedule. All classes are taught one on one and they can be scheduled for evenings or weekends. Additionally, the studio and editing rooms are open to students 24/7.
Does TRCoA accept international students?
Any resident of the US may attend TRCoA, however, at this time, TRCoA can not provide an international student with a school visa.
What will be my schedule while attending TRCoA?
You will need a minimum of 15 to 20 free, rested hours a week. The time commitment of these hours is not flexible but when these hours are scheduled is very flexible. About 4-6 hours a week will be spent in flexibly scheduled one on one course instruction. The rest of the hours will be lab hours booked by you and will be spent either in assists with other engineer/students or in the studio producing your many assigned studio projects.
Where do I work once I gain a client?
There are many different arrangements under which an audio engineer or music producer can run their business. You don't have to buy any gear. You can simply build "engineer rate" relationships with existing studios. Then you will charge your clients an additional amount for yourself.
When can I come and visit?
To set up a time to visit TRCoA EMAIL (admin@trcoa.com) or call (512) 231-0344. Appointments can be schedule for day, evening or weekends.
When does the next class start?
New classes start every two months. Classes start on the 15th of January, March, May, July, September, and November.
What artists can I use for my project?
For your recording projects, you can bring in any artist you would like. Some students will bring in bands that are in a specific genre for the majority of their projects. Other students will focus on a wider experience and work with artists in different genres or even on such projects as film audio. We will instruct you on how to best meet and approach artists for your recording projects. Austin is all about independent film and live music, artists are always interested in working with TRCoA students.
Can I record my own music?
Yes. TRCoA encourages you to work with different artists but students are free to work on their own music projects.
What kind of music will I be working on?
TRCoA does not require you to focus on a specific genre and in general, will encourage you to work in a wide variety of genres for your projects. The more diverse you are the more marketable you will be.
How many songs can be tracked on a project?
We encourage students to produce one to three songs per project.
What are the studio hours?
The studios are available to the students 24/7. All studio time is booked via a communal calendar.
Do I need to have music or recording experience?
No you do not need to have experience. TRCoA has designed its courses to give you all the tools you will need to go from complete novice to becoming a successful recording engineer/producer.