Slam Academy, Minneapolis

Slam Academy offers training in electronic music and digital arts from instructors with real-world experience, whether as DJs, music producers, composers, performers, audio engineers, or sound designers. (Some even claim ownership of all those titles on their creative résumés.) Their expertise is also backed up by a state-of-the-art facility in the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District, which houses three teaching studios, a mastering suite, a synth room, and space for a full-sized concert.

Within these rooms—and, in some cases, online—the instructors lead hands-on courses in all things electronic music. Whether they're teens or adults, students can learn about production, beatmaking mixing, mastering, sound design, DJing, music theory, and composition while utilizing the best tools in the business, including Ableton software and turntable hardware. Courses also feature built-in lab time so that students can put concepts to work under the guidance of Slam Academy interns.