The Audio Recording Academy (TARA)

There were some specific things that stood out to me during the program - good accommodations for students with mental/physical health needs, flexibility in program structure and schedule to meet the curriculum requirements (this was evident during my time at the college over the COVID-19 pandemic), and immense attention to student success. The owner, Shannon, cares deeply about each of her students and meets with them periodically over their course of study. The instruction I received at the college was exactly what I was expecting and more. I had a combination of instructors - Jake Jones, Dave Sarazin, and Ray Gould. All were excellent and effective in their teaching, despite having very different styles. They oozed knowledge and excitement about audio, and provoked thoughtful conversation. That said, I think it's important to note that this is the kind of program that requires a high level of effort and enthusiasm from the student to progress in a way that might be desirable to you. This has a positive side as well though - with all the open independent lab time for the students in studio, there's a pretty high ceiling to what you can learn and become proficient doing over the course of the program.

Amazing school and amazing staff all in all. Looked forward to going to every class because I felt like I was getting my money’s worth and the overall vibe there was perfect for me. The school was very flexible with my schedule and worked around my hectic lifestyle which made my schooling 10 times easier and enjoyable. Do not regret attending TARA one bit!

I decided to follow my passion and TARA came along at the right time. I was privileged to have an excellent instructor, great classmates, the facilities are extraordinary and the course content is completely relevant to the industry. “In a nutshell TARA was an essential part of where I am now in my career”

When looking for an Audio Engineering program in Ottawa, I find that the majority of potential students will look to either the TARA program or the Audio Engineering program at Algonquin. While I can't speak for the program at Algonquin, I can confidently say that the TARA program offers a much more personalized experience, with greater access to studio time and resources as a result of the significantly smaller class sizes. The total program at Algonquin is over 100ppl, while at TARA, the classes are broken down into groups of 5-7ppl with a total of ~23 each year. The Algonquin program is longer and seems to cover more topics; however, if you're looking to learn the fundamentals of audio, studio recording, mixing and working in a studio then the TARA program has exactly what you're looking for. With the smaller total enrollment, you have a much easier time getting into the studio - which is where you will gain almost all of you experience. After having graduated from the program, I was able to get a job working at CBC in Radio and television. Granted, I was at the top of my class and took advantage of my studio time and resources to get the most out of my time there, so there was still a lot of effort put in on my end; but that's exactly what this program offers you: an opportunity to make the most of your time and excel beyond the status quo. Through the pandemic, the owner of the studio and head of the school went above and beyond to accommodate everyone at home to continue learning. Shannon has each individual student in mind when it comes to their success and goals throughout each semester. Her motivational qualities and ability to empower you to pursue new opportunities is really what makes the program at TARA really special and personalized.

This year I enrolled in the Applied Audio Recording Program at TARA and will be graduating this September. I would recommend this program to anyone who has an interest in recording, production, mixing, or just generally loves music. The staff at Raven Street are very friendly and always willing to help you with your specifc needs in the studio. I learned so much this year and am now pursuing a career as a full time audio engineer. The studio is the perfect environment to grow as a musician and engineer. Shannon was super accommodating to my situation and has provided me with multiple opportunities to further myself in this industry. I cannot thank her enough for everything she has done for me. If you're interested in attending the program or are in need of a recording session, do not hesitate to get in touch with her. Attending the program was one of the best decision I have ever made!

My time at TARA yielded some of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I was already a self taught guitarist and songwriter recording on my own at home, but this course taught me a professional hands on approach to the tools and workflows used by music and film industry professionals. These practices completely transformed my songs and recordings and brought them to a level I never thought I’d get them to on my own. I had the opportunity to assist in recording actual clients of the studio and I attended some wonderful lectures led by industry professionals currently working in the music and film industries. I also ended up making new friends and was asked to join the TARA house band (currently Almyr Jules) and have recently been in the studio for bed tracks and overdubs for the current class. My time at TARA continues! Class groups are small (mine was a group of 6) so there’s more hands on time in either Studio A or B. The Studio is well kept and has a fantastic inventory of gear. My instructors Jake, Jakub and Tim were down to earth artists and professionals that all had unique and effective approaches to teaching and the owner Shannon takes a personal interest in every student she admits into the program. Shannon helped me find full time work as an A/V technician and a few side gigs as well. I’m extremely grateful for my time at this wonderful place and I’m always happy to go back.

I would highly recommend TARA's Audio engineering program to anybody interested in music and the process of audio recording, editing, mixing, etc. The staff and studio are top notch. it's the perfect environment for an aspiring musician or someone looking to work in the many positions avaliable to you with the skills taught at this institution. Shannon and the staff were super friendly and accommodating to my needs as a student, I even got an opportunity with a great company after graduation all thanks to Shannon's recommendation. Coming to Ottawa for this program was a life changing experience, best decision I've ever made!

I had such an amazing time working with the TARA crew during my time in the program. The staff are all experienced and Shannon, the owner, is the best! Can't begin to describe how much this program helped my music produciton skills. Was able to secure a job in the audio field shortly after graduating as well. Don't have a single bad thing to say about this place, you're missing out if you don't attend!