Garnish Music Production School

Truly and amazing and unique experience and by far the greatest of my entire life. Greatest value (cost and quality) around.
I have written reviews in the past for Garnish, but I have just completed both the Electronic Music Producer’s Program and the Pop Songwriting Program for the year and thought it was time to not only update but give and entirely fresh review as this place has grown tremendously.
Let’s face it, in today’s age of everyone wanting to be a producer/​DJ, school’s have popped up all over the place and it’s no longer as difficult to find the mentoring or support as it was in the 90s so long as you can can put a bit of money into it. LA is no different and there are some GREAT and some OK school’s out here in LA. I have my opinions on all, but I would say by far Garnish is the best and quite possibly the best on the entire coast.
I started in April 2015 with a DJ 101 course, simply because I’m not great with electronics and hardware and I wanted someone to help me get to it faster. Knowing music, having an outstanding music library, beat matching etc, yeah… I got that. I was quite impressed to be taught by Josh Garcia, aka Modus, who is a huge up and coming producer/​DJ in the techno world. Techno being one of my genres of choice, this was truly wonderful! He is serious too, my small class of 3 went straight into it, going back to back on the CDJs all night (we were given an option of CDJs or controller, unanimously we all wanted CDJs and I believe this is generally what is taught anyway but like most things at Garnish just tell Dave Garnish, the incredible owner, what you are looking to learn and he make sure you get what you need).
I had my surgery dealing with a cancer and other things towards the end of the course and I was even more shocked yet quite pleasantly that both Dave Garnish and Josh repeatedly checked on me in the weeks following the surgery. I mean really? That was amazing and I felt already more like I was forming friendships not just doing business.
After my recovery, I knew I needed to make Garnish my home for a while. Being in that environment with people who are truly motivated to get out there and make or spin good music and the energy of the studio, I just wanted it to be home. So in September 2015, I took the plunge and signed up for the Electronic Music Producer (aka EMP) program. It took me a while to decide if I wanted to do that or the Songwriter Program also offered there, but I figured, I’d start out with one and the sign up for the other later. This will be important later in the review.
The program was outstanding! I went from barely being able to use a Mac (and when I say barely, I could power on the computer and get to the internet and that’s about it), to being able to easily navigate Ableton, Logic, sound design using various synths (including analogue, wavetable and digital synthesis), do some mixing and light mastering. Am I totally a pro yet, no… but I have ALL the tools I need now to be successful. I definitely know I got a head start on others that don’t opt to take a program.
Dave Garnish goes out of his way to make sure the students are comfortable and getting their needs met. For instance, a lot of the other students were more into pop, future bass and hip hop than myself so classes were kind of geared towards that (I mean let’s face it if you are intelligent you can take any tool and make what you want to convey out of it, so I was never worried). However Dave knowing that I was a darkwave, techno, tech-​trance and trance type of producer made sure he brought mentors in that could direct me in my style of music (enter Josh Garcia again… yay). Also another student asked for a microwave in the lounge, Dave had one in the VERY next day. Just amazing.
Another amazing thing Dave also offered us and is doing this for ALL EMP and SMP (the Songwriting program) students for a while is to combine the programs. You don’t have to take the combined version, but to do Songwriting, I just had to stay for class 1 more day a week, for 4 weeks each trimester. It was INCREDIBLE and I have written quite a bit of lyrics now to my own productions as well as singing on my own tracks now. It was a dream come true, all for the price of 1 so I didn’t have to pay for or go through another full year program.
The staff is incredible. Thank you Matthew Engst, Jake Adriano, Darryl Swann, Nico Builderback, Mike of Penthouse Penthouse and Casey K amongst many other talented producers and songwriters who we were blessed to be mentored by all along. I am very close to having 2 EPs done and releasing a few singles this fall and I could not have done it so quickly without this program.
I have made friends for life, and will be back for other courses, simply to be around the place. I LOVE YOU SO MUCH GARNISH! Proud Garnish Alumni for life!!! If you are serious about your fast growth in your music, come here!

I had the most excellent experience at Garnish. I came into the class knowing absolutely nothing about Logic, and when the course ended in 4 short weeks, I feel able to start producing! The teachers are great, the class was small so I got individualized attention, and the content was very useful. I definitely recommend this class to anyone who works in music in any capacity: musician, singer, producer, engineer, ect.

If you take music seriously, this is the place to go to.

It’s never to late to make your passion and dream come true!!!
Been listing to electronic music for about 20 years (I’m 37 years old) and always wanted to make my own truck/​music
I made some research and find garnish from my first phone call to my last day of my course (Ableton live) every thing was smooth easy and on the professional side !!!
I’m very happy I made the decision to steady at garnish!
Highly recommend
Thanks guys!

I just want to say thank you to Dave and PJ at Garnish Music Production School Los Angeles. I just finished the mixing/​mastering course winter school. It was an amazing one-​week course. I came in knowing a fair amount but now I feel like I truly understand the concepts and will be able to apply them so much better to get my music to sound professional. I think there is no other program in the US that compares to this in terms of bang for the buck! I would highly recommend anyone considering doing mixing/​mastering on their own to come spend a week here. You will be very happy you did. Thank you!

I heard about this school from an Alpha Pup producer and immediately jumped on it. The teachers are chill and are very «hands on.»
They’ll answer any questions you’ll have wether it’s about the program or anything in the music industry.
Took an Ableton live course and now I feel ready for the mixing and mastering course.
Tons of knowledge can be taught to you. I recommend this school to people who feel confident with their music and want to take it to the next level.

Was recommended to Garnish by a very successful colleague in the music industry, So far I have taken one course the advanced music production which was amazing there were different teachers that were very well versed in the course content as well as could give insight on the industry based on the fact that they were also successful producers themselves. I noticed a huge improvement in my productions since taking the course and have already enrolled in another class !

I just completed the Ableton intro and the EMP six-​week course simultaneously. Having trained myself in Logic a year back, it’s incredible how much more confident I feel in being able to craft and write a track after taking those courses.
I come from the free-​tutorial training world, which is a great way to get an understanding of a DAW, but the value in having extremely knowledgeable instructors (whose music I totally dig) is priceless. Something I would have spent hours on trying to figure out can be answered in a minute. Overall, both courses are jam-​packed and well paced, so take copious notes and have fun being creative.

This school is way cool. I was about to go to MI, take a bunch of extra stuff that I didn’t need and end up with thousands in loans just to learn Live 9 until I found this little gem. Small classes, good instructors, GREAT PRICE. Good looking out Dave for bringing this school «across the pond»! I recommend it.

This school is a one-​of-​a-​kind gem. The classes are small so you get a one-​on-​one training. They are taught by industry professionals so you are getting the latest information. We took four classes last Summer and now my son is getting asked to mix by musicians with studios who need someone who has good mixing knowledge and skills. The cost is extremely competitive as well. We will be going to Garnish again. Dave is also a really nice person. I highly recommend the school.

Great way to get your music production moving ahead. I learned a lot about all the inner workings of the DAW program, and even am composing my first original song now. Thank you!

I could not recommend this school enough!!! All the teachers including the owner, listens to every detail of what you want to get out if the school and build you to achieve your goals. Since I’ve graduated the Ableton class, I haven’t been able to stop. I hope they add a max for live class soon

I had the opportunity to attend Garnish LA on its first evening courses & enrolled in Pro-​tools and Logic course in 2013, both classes & instructors are awesome! the instructors & Dave take the time to coordinate and assist with whatever area is needed for improvement, classes are intimate for one-​on-​one learning. I am looking forward to enroll in the EMP course this year 2014 & possibly other courses! many thanks! Garnish Music Production School!!!

Los Angeles got very lucky this year when the Garnish Music Production School from London decided to open a branch on Melrose in Hollywood.
This music production school is geared for professional musicians and deejays looking to improve their skills on Ableton, ProTools or Logic. The school has a variety of courses that are small as well as the possibility for one-​on-​one instruction.
The instructors are all professional musicians and experts on the software or subject they are teaching. I think two of the instructors are Grammy winners which is kind of cool.
Anyhow, if you are looking for the best value and a way to improve your skills so that you can make the most awesome music in the world this is the place to go.

Really enjoyed my experience here. Friendly instructors that I made friends with too. This place really helped me brush up on my production skills!

I’ve attended the Electronic Music Production course at Garnish School in Melrose, Hollywood in 2013 and it was one of the good experiences from this year. I really recommend Garnish and the staff, all very helpful and friendly. The staff was formed by all kinds of great music producers of all kinds of electronic music both from England and the US. I made great connections, and due to that I will take the Mixing and Mastering course next year.
Oh by the way, Garnish offers a great deal in education compared to other schools covering the same subjects.
To end this review, It has a very independent feel which I think is very realistic to the current days of the music industry.
Totally recommended and looking forward to meet some cool people there again.

Small classes or one-​on-​one tutoring, incredibly qualified instructors, and a wide range of topics to cover whatever branch of the music industry you’re interested in. Any class you take here will prepare you for real world situations.

Well educated teachers and staff. Garnish is a Boutique music production school from London now centrally located in the heart of Los Angeles on Melrose Ave. Garnish offers a variety of courses, covering the basics of producing dance music to advanced courses on mixing and engineering in a personable creative space. Highly recommend for those seeking a career in music production…