Future Sounds: Students Gain Real-World Music Experience at Vertical Rooms

During their work experience at Vertical Rooms, the students were immersed in the day-to-day reality of a professional recording studio. Across the week, they took part in songwriting sessions, collaborative jams, and the development of an original track, contributing ideas, lyrics, instrument parts, and creative direction. With guidance from Pete Brazier and Ben Tobias-Browne, students recorded instruments and vocals, explored arrangement choices, and listened back critically to works in progress to discuss improvements and next steps.

Alongside the creative work, the students were introduced to the technical and practical side of the music industry. They learnt about studio equipment, recording software, and mixing desks, as well as the importance of maintaining a professional studio environment through cleaning and organisation. They also listened to unreleased tracks, evaluating them and offering constructive feedback, helping them understand how producers assess and refine music before release.

Throughout the placement, there was a strong focus on understanding the wider music industry. The students discussed career pathways, education routes, and the dedication required to work professionally in music. By the end of their time at Vertical Rooms, many left feeling more confident in their ambitions, inspired by hands-on experience, and excited about future opportunities within the music industry.

J.J.- Long Road Sixth Form College:
“I had a very interesting time thank you for arranging for me to come”.

Jemimah, John Henry Newman school:
"Spending the week with Vertical Rooms owner ,award winning music producer Pete Brazier and his team has made me feel secure in my decision to study and go onto further education in the Music industry. I have also got to experience many different parts of what its like in the music business and I have left feeling positive and excited for the future!" Leila,  John Henry Newman school: "This week has helped me realise that there are many different careers in the music industry and helped me to recognise the amount of work and dedication it takes to produce records. It has pushed me to make the decision to do further education in music and has opened my mind to the opportunities." Leila and Jemimah said: “We would like to thank Pete Brazier and Benjamin Tobias-Browne for this amazing opportunity and experience!”

Dom, Oaks Sixth Form college:
“For my work experience I was able to work with Pete Brazier and Ben Tobias-Browne at Vertical Rooms in Arrington which is a music studio that produces and helps artists with songwriting and lots more. On the first day I was here I was able to do lots of songwriting , playing guitar and working out problems and issues with the song that we were producing. I was able to work alongside another student doing work experience and create some new ideas and visions for the music , and with the help of Ben and Pete were able to include them in the track. Alongside making music, we have learned how to use certain equipment and recording software, whilst also being taught about the studio and industry as a whole. To finish the first day we ended up dusting lots of equipment and the mixing desks whilst talking about future aspirations. The first day was very enjoyable and was a very good eye opener to the music industry. On the second day , we started with finishing the cleaning from the previous day, before sitting down together and jamming with each other on our instruments, learning and teaching each other new styles and techniques. We then went and sat with Ben and listened to some unreleased songs awaiting production and were tasked with rating and evaluating the songs, giving constructive and positive feedback that could then be worked on. This was very enjoyable as it allowed us to listen to different styles and compare songs that we liked and disliked , with reasoning behind it. To end day three, we went back to the recording booth to listen to our own song and see what improvements and next steps could be made to make the song even better and then it was mixed by Pete and Ben”. 

Daniel, King James Academy, Royston:
“For my work experience, I got the opportunity to work at a music studio called Vertical Rooms near Royston. On the first day I listened to some music Ben had been working on and also spent a good time talking about music, the music industry and getting to know each other. Dom (the other student on work experience days I was there) then arrived and we listened to a track that was being worked on by other work experience students and got the chance to add our input. I recorded some guitar onto that track with suggestions from Dom and Ben. After lunch, I started to clean the mixing desk. On the second day, we were finishing cleaning the other mixing desk and all the keyboards whilst listening to a variety of music while giving feedback. After this me and Dom had a jam on our guitars playing with backing tracks and making cool stuff after lunch, me Ben and Dom listens to lots of tracks and gave feedback on them again as well. Some of them were really good songs. Then we talked to Phil, a successful musician Pete was working with who made some of the sound track to ‘Gran Turismo’ video game, then my teacher came to see what we had been up too”. 

Fin, Swavesey Village College:
“For my work experience, I’ve had the pleasure of attending “Vertical Rooms”, a recording studio and rehearsal space near Royston. Not only has being within the studio been nothing short of sterling, but the people I have met that I’ve shadowed have been excellent.
On the first day, my time was spent getting to know Pete and learn about his studio. This made me feel so comfortable and at home to the point where I could talk about things that aren’t music related. Apart from being within conversation with Pete, I took part in helping with cleaning some equipment such as drum kits, guitars and his amps. Although I didn’t learn anything to do with tech, this set up my next day by eliminating all side projects and giving me time to plan for the main song project. On my second day, I spent time meeting with Pete’s producer colleague, Ben. Ben was a very comfortable character which made me feel at home within the studio. Alongside this, I cleaned around the workplace and featured in some social media posts. I also planned to bring in my own equipment for my third day for some recording. This brings me to my third day. This day contained the most exciting task of recording. Although intended for the opposite, Vertical Rooms studio has made me realise that I want to lean more towards a session musician role, purely because of the connection I had with the producers. Being within the environment made me fall in love more with recording and listening back to what Ben and Pete could mix and make sound beautiful. To conclude, I can only say the best about Vertical Rooms. There is a reason they’ve won awards, been broadcasted by the BBC and all over the world and have been trusted by so many artists, and that reason is because how good they are! ”.
So if you are a student fascinated by music and are interested in a singing, rapping,song writing,production ‘taster session bookings’ or if you believe you are ready for a full recording session just drop us an email and lets make some magic happen!"

 

Pete Brazier - Vertical Rooms Studio.

Pete has written, produced, supported, mixed, programmed and remixed for some of the biggest names in contemporary music including: Faithless, Kyan , Central Cee , Mark Owen (Take That) ,Robert Miles,The Beatmasters, Danni Minogue, Ronnie Canada The Drifters, Sean McGuire, Kawala, Terry Mynott, Kristian Leontiou, One Eskimo ,The Moonshine Bandits, Annie Lennox ,Wez Clarke ,  John Martyn and many more. The song written and produced with the students can be viewed on YouTube if you search ‘You Tube Vertical Rooms ‘

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