Complaint Review: the recording conservatory of austin - austin Texas

Hello,

This is John Stinson, the owner of The Recording Conservatory.  After carefully scrutinizing our student registry and talking with faculty and staff, we have no other reason to believe that due to the inaccuracy of facts this is NOT an actual student experience.  Rather, it appears to be a calculated and malicious attempt to defraud us by someone with ulterior motives (disgruntled ex-employee, competitor, etc.).  

Everything we teach here is one on one, a mentorship.  We have very close, personal relationships with every student, which leaves the door open for any questions or concerns during the program.  We have looked thoroughly through our student records and have not been able to find anyone who matches these comments or has ever expressed grievances like these.  Students here have direct, personal access to teachers and myself (John Stinson) every day.  Bottom line is that it makes no sense that we would not have known that someone was feeling this way.  We are right here, available and ready to do everything we can to help our students succeed in our program.

We are deeply saddened that any one person would want to try and ruin our reputation here at TRCOA, especially since we are extremely passionate about what we do here.  We are very active in the music industry, and at our world class facility, we are constantly updating our equipment and software for the most modernized recording experience available today.  Please feel free to attend an open house so you can experience for yourself just how dedicated we are, and how happy our students are to be here.  Schedule a tour and come ask us as many personal, detailed questions you would like.  Take a moment and go to trcoa.com/profiles.html to see the personal business websites created by students, the music they have recorded, and their personal words about the program.

We know that there is no way we will be able to please every single student that enters our program, but we work very, very hard every single day to try to.  We also do our best to be as transparent as we can about what we do, and how our program is structured.  We meet with every single student before they enter the program and explain in great detail how our program is structured, the tough nature of the music business, and how the style of our program relates to it.

Due to the anonymous nature of these forums, we may never know who made this post.  It is it is too bad that anyone would use tactics like these.  You will find that our students and clients agree that we are extremely accessible, transparent, and willing to make those who attend our program successful in whatever they may choose to do when they graduate.  With all the hard work and energy that the staff and the students put into this program everyday, its very disappointing to read such slander.

If you have any questions don't hesitate to call us 512.231.0344.

I am personally offended at this review due to its glaring misrepresentation of The Recording Conservatory of Austin. I currently attend the school as of today 8.15.2012.

This rebuttal is written in order to dispel some lascivious accusations that were made by an anonymous user who allegedly attended The Recording Conservatory of Austin (TRCOA). I urge you to read it in its entirety.

TRCOA has been the finest educational institution I have ever attended. A bold statement, however, I am qualified to make it. I have attended and completed two undergraduate degrees  at a top ranked university in the USA (Trinity University in San Antonio) and have attained a Masters degree in International Journalism from the most prestigious school in its field in London, UK (City University). 

Trust me...I have been through the worlds top educational institutions and none of them come close to TRCOA in their wealth of knowledge, care for their students and overall drive to help their students succeed in one of the toughest industries in the world. In brief...no where else will prepare you for the music production industry as well as TRCOA.

I am currently enrolled as a student, and have been for the better part of a year. I am making a living as a recording engineer, mix engineer, producer and performer. All skills Learned from TRCOA. I also work as an assistant to one of the most prolific producers in the country and I work with top label acts. A contact I made through The Recording Conservatory.

The most harmful and inflammatory statement was made in reference to the owner and director of the school, John Stinson's, character. John has not only been a mentor to me, guiding me through an incredibly difficult field, from a complete rookie to a working freelance engineer with top label credits; He is also a friend, taking genuine interest in all of our  affairs both in and out of the studio. If anyone could be considered responsible for my current career development it would be without a doubt John Stinson and the rest of the faculty and teachers at TRCOA all of whom are some of the most knowledgable individuals in the field that I have ever encountered.

The Gear is top notch...the rooms ARE TREATED...our mixes are radio ready. The price we pay for this education in my opinion (see schooling history above) is a bargain. The amount of knowledge and experience that we are able to attain at this school would take years and years of interning, food running and coffee making at a studio...and then there are only so many studios that will take ONE intern. 

The complaint made about the school is unfair, inaccurate and rife with inconsistencies. WE have a very strict substance abuse policy, the violation of which results in immediate expulsion. This also rings true for the faculty as they conduct themselves the most utmost of professional manner.

Thank You for reading. 

I am currently an active TRCOA student, I'm in the process of setting up my own studio, and I am also successfully making a living as a recording engineer and producer in Austin. I owe it ALL to John Stinson and the staff at the Recording Conservatory of Austin.

When I started the program I knew and was informed that this would take a lot of hard work and dedication if I was going to make it in this business. John Stinson and TRCOA has done nothing but provide the knowledge, skills and opportunity for me to be successful. Enrolling into the Recording Conservatory of Austin is literally the BEST decision I have ever made. If you are looking to get into the music industry and want to make a career out of it I would recommend TRCOA to you. This school does everything to help you get the upper edge on others in the business. Everything is there served to you on a platter. If you put the hard work into it you will be successful. This program is MORE than worth the money. You will find no better program or opportunity out there.

As for John Stinson, this guy puts everything he has into this program and school. John is so hands on with everything and is always there for you with any questions you have. John is so passionate about what he does and only wants to see you be successful. He is a great guy and a true inspiration of what it means to work hard and to be successful in this business. I owe my career to John, if it wasn't for him I would not be where I am today. Thank you John and Staff at TRCOA you guys have truly changed my life. I can't thank you guys enough.

WARINING - Very long article. Read at your own time.

NOTE: I'm writing on my experience at this school from my own prospective. Hopefully this will help anyone who plans on attending this school, but better yet, just save their MONEY and TIME!

The first time I found out about The Recording Conservatory Of Austin was online. With more extensive research and no negative reviews online compared to the others, has led me to think that this school was the ONE!

So I called the number on the website to schedule for a personal tour. The person who answered the phone was very friendly and informative. Later I found out that person is the owner of the school. John Stinson.

Before I showed up to the conservatory, I was imagining how the campus looked like and how ecstatic I was to embark on this new learning experience.

After 15 minutes of driving around the area, I finally pulled in to a drive way to see a brick house with a gravel parking lot.

I walked to the front and rang a doorbell and no one answered. Called them back and they told me to come around the side. John Stinson opened the door and introduced me to the main control room, B control room, and C Room, which is pretty much a closet. The live room is a big open space with a ton of reverberation and windows the reveal the beautiful view. Though the view  automatically sold me, I also couldn't help but to notice something fishy about Mr. Stinson's persona.

We sat down in a room and john stinson informed me about the curriculum and answered some of the questions I had. I felt that I'm being sold. And Though I had a gut feeling about signing up for a school that is apparently someone's house, I decided to give it a chance. Big mistake.

It might look enticing for a person who has never seen equipment like this before, but it is pretty much masked garbage. The
rooms are not treated. There is not an analog control board anywhere to be found. The gear looks old and worn out.

My first day was with john stinson. He never shows up. I call his cell phone at least 10 times. I go home. An hour later he calls me to tell methat he wants to reschedule and that he forgot about our class. The next day I showed up and he was there. He tells me that he and his wife had an argument and he had to watch after his kids.

After my unfortunate first class with john stinson, I was set up with another teacher for my recording techniques classes. My music theory class, which is part of the curriculum was next. I show up to an apartment, where my instructor was with another student. While I was waiting for them to get done, I see remnants of pot on the coffee table.

Though the unlimited studio time was the best part, I felt the whole program was unorganized. the textbooks you buy (or waste money on) are not used in  the classes. The work is pretty much copied and pasted on to a worksheet. There is no grading system. There were times when the instructors would not show up. There would be times when I would hear the instructors talk about how unorganized this "school" was. I have also heard John Stinson talk with a few students about his financial decline with the school and personal life.

They have an open house where they invite random guest to come every month, along with a special guest speaker. There is food and alcohol accommodated! The bad part is that i found out that this is when they graduate the students. A friend I've made through the program graduated during one of theses open houses, and it was very awkward! John Stinson congratulates my friend and pats him on the back, then that's it! He also seemed pretty drunk. Very unprofessional. I even saw one of the staff print out the diploma papers and frame it right before graduating all of the students!

After a few months, I decided that this school was not worth the time and money, so I decided to drop out. Even though I was no longer part of the program, Mr. Stinson still hounded me for money like a collection agency. He plays the nice card, but I found out through time and from the staff that he is a greedy and stiff business man with no personality, who will do anything in his power to take your hard earned money! Please keep it in your wallet!

In a nutshell, there was some valuable information and helpful seminars that I obtained from the recording conservatory of austin, but I would not recommend this school to anyone. You will waste your time and hard-earned money!

*I once asked John Stinson if he knew who Kings of Leon was, and he did not know. How can a person teach someone about modern music if they don't listen to it? Let alone not listen to any music!

I hope this helps any person or parent that plans on enrolling their kid or themself to this school! Don't make the same mistake that I did!

For a man in his mid thirties, I should have learned from my mistakes on decision making in the past, but life teaches you that you are always learning no matter how old you are!

Thanks for reading!