Pointblank Music School didn’t start with a grand plan. It started with someone booking a studio session and asking how the gear worked. From that unassuming origin in 1990s London, it has grown into one of the world’s most respected music education institutions — with campuses in London and Los Angeles, a full online platform, alumni like Patrick Topping (named world’s best DJ), Felix Jaehn (No.1 across 11 European countries), and Paula Fairfield (Game of Thrones sound design), and a TEF Gold rating for teaching excellence. We sat down with Managing Director Jules Brookes to talk about how it all happened, where AI fits in, and why vibes matter more than you’d think.

Can you tell us about your role at Pointblank Music School?

Jules Brookes — Managing Director

I am the Managing Director, Jules Brookes. I help steer the company through the treacherous waters of UK higher education and the music industry.

What inspired Pointblank’s founding mission, and how has it evolved over the years?

Jules Brookes

The DIY music explosion of the 90s meant people could have more control over the music making process — using Logic or Cubase at home. MIDI was an incredible thing at the time. This led to people who booked sessions in Rob’s studio asking him how to use the gear. This in turn became a course and people started booking just for the course rather than studio time. It all went from there and grew into the leviathan music school we are today, specialising in undergraduate degrees in music production and related arts and sciences.

Pointblank has collaborated with notable artists like Leona Lewis, Goldie, and Aluna. What makes the school appealing to both up-and-coming and established talent?

Jules Brookes

The high standard of the lecturers — they are all people from within the music industry with genuine credits with massive artists. So they know what they are talking about. This makes people feel at ease that they are at the right place.

How does Pointblank approach teaching real-world music production skills, and what distinguishes your curriculum from others?

Jules Brookes

The curriculum is practical and hands on, written by current practitioners in the music industry and with input from major manufacturers like Ableton and Focusrite. This is how we achieved TEF Gold for Teaching Excellence from the Office For Students. There is only one specialist music school with this distinction — Pointblank.

With campuses in London, LA, and online, how do you ensure students receive a consistent and high-quality learning experience across platforms?

Jules Brookes

We centralise our learning as it all comes from our VLE (Virtual Learning Environment). We write the lesson plans — we don’t leave the teachers to get on with it like everywhere else — so we know there will be consistency across locations.

What role does industry feedback and mentorship play in shaping your programs?

Jules Brookes

When we created the BSc (Hons) Music Software Engineering degree, we consulted teachers, students, other universities, and industry manufacturers. They gave us the criteria they felt would create useful graduates who they would hire in their companies. So we mapped the learning outcomes to meet those requirements. We also provide mentorship via 1:1 time with lecturers, and industry figures like Kwame Kwaten, the A&R director of our record label, who meets with students on a weekly basis.

Are there any success stories from Pointblank alumni that stand out to you?

Jules Brookes

Patrick Topping did rather well. I remember when he was named the world’s best DJ — that was a special moment. Or when Felix Jaehn went to No.1 across 11 countries in Europe with his version of “Ain’t Nobody.” Another one was when Paula Fairfield won several awards for writing the sound design for Game of Thrones. There are many standout moments — these just popped into my mind.

How is the school adapting to current trends in music production, such as AI tools or genre shifts?

Jules Brookes

We are teaching AI and how to use it within our courses. It’s been a bit alarming as you hear the scare stories but as usual we have got stuck right in. I personally signed up to SUNO to have a go and see what the fuss is about. Left to its own devices, AI isn’t doing anything — it needs a human to help shape it. But organic music and not homogenisation is what we need. Don’t forget you are a human being!

What do you look for when choosing collaborators, partnerships, or promotional platforms?

Jules Brookes

People, companies and products who are switched on, in tune with the industry, with positivity and energy. Vibes!!!

What upcoming projects, expansions, or initiatives can we expect from Pointblank in the coming months?

Jules Brookes

Having recently been awarded £1.7m in funding to spend on high end equipment, Pointblank is currently giving its already highly impressive facilities another makeover. Our facilities include Neve and SSL mixing consoles which no other school does, among many other state-of-the-art features — all in place by April 2026. Pointblank is already recognised as TEF Gold standard for teaching and learning. Watch this space as we apply for Degree Awarding Powers of our own — this will mean that Pointblank has the authority to validate other schools’ degrees like a university. A major step forward for us and for the students we serve.