Sam Jones

I have been running a record production company for over 6 years. I have recently moved to Manchester and have set up a studio in the city center. Some of my recent projects include Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys. I’ve co-written tracks with Grammy award winner Corrine Bailey Rae and collaborated with MOBO music prize award winner and Mercury music prize nominee Soweto Kinch. I produced an album for the band Stoney of which one of the singles was awarded Single of the Week on BBC 6 Music, and another was the first free download on itunes. With most of these projects I was accredited with producer points so have an in-depth understanding of how royalty streams work in the UK as I'm a member of PRS.

I've got a first class honors Degree in Music Technology and wealth of experience in the industry to date. Through my experience working in studios I have a vast and expansive practical technical knowledge. I use Logic and Protools software on a daily basis, and I also use Cubase and Ableton Live regularly as a sound engineer. I have a deep understanding of all modern studio production techniques such as the creative use of dynamic processing, EQ-ing and effects. I also have a great deal of studio equipment with a selection of Neve, Neumann and Apogee equipment, which I take into different recording spaces and studios. I work in both 5.1 and stereo mixing. I have a vast understanding of the operation of various digital desks like the Neve Capricorn, Digico, Yamaha M7/LS9, Mackie D8B, and in the analogue domain with desks like Toft, Amek and Tac gear.

I have lectured at the music industry training institute Red Tape Studios in Sheffield, where I ran the NCFE (post 16) courses in music technology and performance skills. Whist running the NCFE program I had to mark homework, coursework and assignments. I also re-wrote the syllabus so that it was more inline with the current industry standards. This has prepared me to be able develop existing and new schemes of work, lesson plans and resources. Due to my association with a variety of recording studios I’ve managed to get fantastic work experience placements for students. These placements have been of enormous value to the students, as I believe the real learning comes from being in the thick of stressful and challenging situations.

While lecturing I developed a learner centered approach to teaching, demonstrating a focus on the individual learners, developing their abilities and skills. In line with current debates regarding the usefulness of vocational versus traditional academic qualifications for 14-19 year olds I believe that teachers with industry experience pose a strong advantage over those with none, and better equip young people with skills to take directly into the workplace.

I can be very flexible with working hours whenever required, and am willing to work evenings and weekends whenever necessary.

Because of my past teaching position, level of training and industry experience I am confident of my ability to teach sound recording, music technology and multi media to BTEC National Diploma level. Recently multi media has been an integral part of Music Technology. I have therefore become accustomed to building websites, writing code for flash and creating video showreels for the use with such media based promotion as Myspace and YouTube.

I have extensive experience running music technology and song writing workshops in schools and youth clubs with an organization in Sheffield called the Musical works. I went to some of the most deprived areas of the city. This was a great environment to craft an effective workshop model to keep the kids constantly inspired and engaged. In many ways I’ve found that being in the studio with clients and being in the classroom with students is a very similar experience.

I have developed tremendous diplomacy and inter-personal skills through mastering the art of keeping a recording session productive but not intimidating. I have learned the importance of giving lots of encouragement, always demonstrating enthusiasm and inspiring artists with creative suggestions but staying focused as too use the time effectively. I both oversee the project in its entirety, yet am amongst every intricate detail of, for example, a guitar line or a vocal melody, or whether a beat fits well or not. I am responsible for calling a session to close, or seeing it as a creative runaway time. I believe that these same skills are transferable to both the teaching and music production professions, and my people and project-management skills are hugely valuable across both.

As a very industrious individual I’m involved in a great deal of project management in the day to day running of a record production company. I deal directly with label managers, artist management, and radio pluggers, liaising budgets and finding the appropriate studios in which to record and mix. These skills have transferred really well into my work within the education sector and have sharpened my administrative skills, comprehensive support to clients and students and being able to keep to deadlines.

I am committed to equal opportunities. I believe in fairness in availability of opportunities for all individuals and always work to ensure this. I can demonstrate excellent customer care and quality assurance in all facets of the role. I have an excellent attendance and timekeeping record and I have demonstrated a professional approach to maintaining appropriate relationships/personal boundaries with students, while working as a lecturer.