“What Is Good Sound? Critical Listening + Your Production Q&A”

Building Your Foundation for Critical Listening

Why do some home recordings sound more compelling than expensive studio productions? The answer isn't in the gear—it's in the listening.

This workshop explores how successful recordings serve their artistic vision through intentional sonic choices. Using listening examples from the Beatles to modern bedroom pop, you'll develop the fundamental listening skills and practical framework needed to make intentional production choices that support your creative vision, whether you're working in a studio or recording at home on a laptop.

This isn't about technical perfection or expensive gear. It's about understanding that recording is creative interpretation, and giving you the confidence to make deliberate sonic choices that tell your musical story effectively.

Plus, get your specific questions answered. After building these foundational listening skills together, we'll dive into your recording and production questions, whether you're struggling with vocals that don't sit right in the mix, wondering how to set up your monitoring at home, or trying to solve any other challenge in your current projects.

No engineering background required. Just bring your ears, curiosity, and your questions.

About the instructor: Matthew Agoglia is a mastering engineer based in Beacon, NY. He's worked at Avatar Studios (now Powerstation Berklee NYC) and Masterdisk, and with artists including Emmylou Harris, James Taylor, and The Divine Fits. He's passionate about sharing 20 years of music production insight with other musicians, focusing on how production choices serve artistic vision over technical perfection.

Let’s think about ‘recording’ as creative storytelling, not documentation.

Join us for this super insightful and hopefully inspiring recording workshop.

$75
Jan 18 2026
11am-2pm
Instructor Matthew Agoglia

Questions? play@beaconmusicfactory.com