Located in Nashville, TN
Located in the music mecca of Nashville, TN, your teachers are professional audio engineers.
Veterans' Benefits
Be ready to start work as a Live Sound Engineer or Studio Engineer in as little as 24 weeks.
GI Bill® approved
Career-ready in 24 weeks
1,000+ satisfied graduates
Put your benefits to work.
World-class gear
No ordinary classrooms, and unprecedented gear.
100% hands-on
Being a part of the world-renowned Blackbird Studio, your education will be 100% hands-on in one of our nine world-class studios or our 14,000-square-foot live production facility.
Four start dates a year
Start when you’re ready.
Career upon graduation
After ten years of teaching, we are known for producing top-notch graduates in the industry. We currently have a 94% placement rate for our Live Sound graduates and 70% for our Studio Engineering grads.
Start your career here!
Book a call
GI Bill® approved.
The Blackbird Academy is approved to accept GI Bill® education assistance for our Live Sound Engineering and Studio Engineering programs by the Tennessee State Approving Agency (SAA) for Veterans, a division of the Tennessee Higher Education Commission.
“GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)”
Included benefits.
- Chapter 30 MGIB
- Chapter 31 (VocRehab)
- Chapter 32 VEAP (Vietnam Educational Assistance Program)
- Chapter 33 Post-9/11
Dependents’ and spouses’ benefits
- Chapter 33 Post-9/11 TEB (Transfer of Eligible Benefits)
- Chapter 35 DEA (Dependent Educational Assistance)
Helpful Information
What we need before you start
Before you are eligible to start classes, The Blackbird Academy must receive a copy of your Certificate of Eligibility (COE) as well as a copy of your DD-214.
Getting approval
It takes approximately 60-120 days for the VA Office to approve claims for benefits and issue your COE. The earlier you prepare and submit your paperwork, the more likely you are to receive your benefits in a timely manner.
From service to the studio.
The military taught you discipline. We’ll teach you the craft. Through immersive, hands-on training alongside industry professionals, you’ll gain the knowledge and confidence to begin a career in audio engineering. The right way, the Blackbird way.
After getting out of the Marine Corps, I knew I still wanted to pursue something in the music industry; it was always a dream of mine. With Blackbird Academy Live, I was able to get a great baseline on live music and the industry itself; they lined me up for success. Every fee was covered via the GI Bill, and now I work at Clair Global in the ACS department building effects racks!
After my time in the military, I wanted to go to the Blackbird Academy because I wanted to be a tracking engineer, and I knew it was the fastest and most realistic route to make that dream come true. The six-month program was more appealing to me than a four-year program because it started right off with hands-on. Going to the Blackbird Academy really taught me how to speak the language of music in audio.
I chose Blackbird because I did not want another empty training certificate when I could get hands-on experience under professional engineers in a world-class studio. I enjoyed the transition from being an instructor and advisor to being a learner again, and picking up the art and science of pro audio alongside a motivated team of students. The faculty expects hard work, but treat us with respect and values our life experience. My closest friends in my post-Army life have come directly from my experiences at Blackbird.
Ready to start?
Join the next generation of audio professionals. Talk to our team and find your way in.