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private school

Spirit Studios

Spirit Studios started in 1980 as a commercial recording studio on Tariff Street before adding courses in 1984 under the name School of Sound Recording, a school that bills itself as 'the UK's first,' a claim repeated in trade press but never independently verified. It relocated to Downing Street in 2004.

Degrees are validated by the University of Lancashire and the institution is accredited by the British Accreditation Council. A short industry course (Mastering, or Music Business, 3 months) is £472.50; a Foundation Year is £7,250/yr; the BA/BSc (Hons) route £9,790/yr; a postgraduate MA Music Production £9,250/yr (all 2026/27 UK rates).

Ten on-site studios and Northern Quarter music-scene pedigree (The Smiths, Stone Roses and 808 State's Graham Massey all passed through) are real draws.

University of Lancashire: Validates BA/BSc and MA degreesBritish Accreditation Council: Accredited since 15 July 2010Music productionSound engineeringDegreeDiplomaShort

At a glance

Price
From £472.50
Location
65-69 Downing Street, Manchester M1 7JE
Subjects
Music production, Sound engineering
Formats
Degree, Diploma, Short
Established
1984 as School of Sound Recording (SSR)
Accreditation
University of Lancashire, British Accreditation Council

Course structure

The formats Spirit Studios sells, and how long each one runs.

Industry course (Mastering or Music Business)3 months, £472.50
Foundation Year1 year, £7,250/yr
BA/BSc (Hons)3 years, £9,790/yr
MA Music Production1 year, £9,250

Worth knowing

  • The Smiths were the first band to use the original Tariff Street studio; the Stone Roses recorded their 1984 demo there, leading to their first record deal.
  • 808 State founder Graham Massey was an early student; Trevor Horn signed 808 State to ZTT after hearing work connected to the school.
  • Recent alumni include Or:la (DJ/producer, founder of label CÉAD) and Tom Leach (Air Studios engineer, credits on Alt-J sessions and the Batman and Fantastic Beasts films).

Notable teaching staff

Marco Migliari

Tutor

Dolby Atmos specialist.

Dan Valentine

Tutor

Released on Manchester's Modern Love label; supported by Björk, Bicep, Mixmag and Resident Advisor.

Frequently asked

What does Spirit Studios cost?

Spirit Studios's prices start from £472.50, correct as of our last check.

Where is Spirit Studios based?

Spirit Studios is based at 65-69 Downing Street, Manchester M1 7JE.

What does Spirit Studios teach?

Spirit Studios teaches Music production, Sound engineering, in these formats: Degree, Diploma, Short.

Is Spirit Studios accredited?

Yes. University of Lancashire: Validates BA/BSc and MA degrees. British Accreditation Council: Accredited since 15 July 2010.

When was Spirit Studios founded?

Spirit Studios was established in 1984, originally as School of Sound Recording (SSR).

Sources

Every detail on this page is re-sourced from the school's own site, not copied from a register or aggregator. See the methodology for how that works.

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