Bristol Recording & Voice Studios

Bristol is a great studio, with great people. I started there taking the Audio Production/Engineering accelarated course program that they offer. I can definitely say that I learned a lot of things that I could have not learned on my own. Our teachers, Dave Locke and Chris Billias are excellent and very knowledgable with over 20 years of experience in the field. One of the best things that I found about the course is the fact that unlike other places, they take a maximum of 6 students in each class, each with their own work station, so it is guaranteed that the instructors will dedicate enough time and attention to each. They teach various DAW's, including Pro Tools, and Reason (which I fell in love with). They are also one of the only places that take interns. I am currently doing my internship there and I am very happy and pleased to say that I learn something new everyday, not just in relation to engineering but also in many other aspects of what a professional music studio is about. Real professional learning experience is what you get being there, and in my experience I can say so far, it has been worth it. more

You can have access to all the best gear, plugins, and instructional manuals, but nothing beats practice. After taking the engineering courses and starting the internship at Bristol, I've found an environment where I can practice my mixing and production skills, pow wow with other interns and the professional engineers for feedback, and take that knowledge into my next mixing project. more

""Voice lessions are legit here. I just graduated from Berklee and LOVED the music/business department there, but I was never given a great method to learn how to sing the way I wanted to sing. When I found bristol, I saw results quickly. Within months my voice was completely transformed. \r \r My band is also recording at Bristol with Chris Billias, and it's sounding so so so good. This place has provided me with everything I hoped for, plus some. I got a great method, a competent teacher, professional recordings, great performing opportunities, and just an overall great quality product. Thanks Bristol!!!""\r A.W. 06/12 more

AVOID THIS PLACE AT ALL COST. BERKLEE IS RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET DONT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY AT BRISTOL......BRISTOL STUDIOS PROVIDE A GREAT EXAMPLE WHY NO ONE FROM BOSTON MAKES IT OUT OF BOSTON...BASICALLY A BUNCH OF MONEY HUNGRY BURN-OUTS WHO HAVE A SLIGHT IDEA OF WHAT THEIR DOING...LOOK AT THE REVIEW DATES THEY CLEARLY SPENT THE 8TH OF JUNE ADDING SOME QUESTIONABLE REVIEWS TO BUILD THEMSELVES UP....I TOOK ONE CLASS HERE PAID 1700 TO TAKE IT AND IT WAS A HUGE WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY... LAME....I ALREADY KNEW MOST OF WHAT THE INSTRUCTOR WAS TRYING TO TEACH, THEIR CLASSES ARE VERY LOW LEVEL AND BASIC ... CHRIS BILLIAS WAS MY INSTRUCTOR, NICE KEYBOARD SKILLS, BUT DEFINELTY NOT WORTH THE 1700 I PAID I SHOULD OF PAID 300 BUCKS...YOUR TIME IS MUCH BETTER SPENT SCOURING THE INTERNET WATCHING VIDEO AND PRACTICING YOURSELF DONT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY AT THIS LAME STUDIO IF YOU WANT A GREAT MUSICAL EXPERIENCE GOTO BERKLEE OR BERKLEE ONLINE ITS THE BEST MUSIC SCHOOL IN THE WORLD....AVOID THE OVERWEIGHT INCOMPETENT ""MANAGER"" JASON AT ALL COST AND WHATEVER HE SAYS GET IT IN WRITING....REALLY AVOID THIS GARBAGE PLACE....BERKLEE MUSIC IS THE WAY TO GO AND ITS MUCH CHEAPER...I TOOK ONE CLASS AT THIS LAME STUDIO AND AFTER THEY GAVE ME A HUGE DEAL 1000 DOLLARS TO TAKE ANOTHER CLASS RIGHT AFTER...I JUST IGNORED THEM BECAUSE ITS SUCH A WASTE OF TIME AND MONEY...NOT FOR NOTHING I DID LEARN A DECENT AMOUNT FROM CHRIS BILLIAS..BUT THATS ME... I PICK UP ON EVERYTHING CANT SAY THE SAME FOR THE OTHER TWO STUDNETS IN THE CLASS....REGARDLESS IF YOU WANT A EXCELLENT OR EVEN A DECENT LEARNING EXPERIENCE STAY AWAY FROM BRISTOL RECORDING STUDIO.... NOTHING COMPARES TO WHAT I LEARN AT BERKLEE more

My voice completely changed after going through the Bristol voice program! I was taught the classical and musical theater method but always wanted to sing like Mariah Carey and Christina Aguleria. I struggled as a singer for the longest time and couldn't figure out how to sing like them. I would try to mimic their full voice and would end up hurting my voice in the process. It was really frustrating because I wasn't one of those people who just figured out how to place each tone of my voice on my own. It wasn't until working intensively with Ric Poulin, the program creator, and working on my voice dedicatedly as a member of Jada that I really found my voice. I became obsessed with learning the technique and fell in love! I finally had a technique that I could learn and use and I could finally sing all the songs I've always wanted to sing. The first song in my repertoire was ""How Come You Don't Call Me"" by Alicia Keys and after working with the voice program (especially working out my full voice) something just clicked one day and I was able to sing those big notes fully and in a way that competes with Alicia Keys! I never thought I could pull that off, but with this vocal program anything that you want to achieve vocally can be done. That's the beauty of it! Since then I have immersed myself in the program and have never felt so confident about my vocal skills. I know exactly what is going to come out of my mouth every time I sing and I have the ability to quickly and efficiently learn a new song with ease. Its incredible! ~ Lauren O'Keefe, member of pop/r&b recording group JADA more

My name is Erin Ollis and I am a twenty year old singer from Holden, Massachusetts. For the past seven years I have been trained within my schools to sing classically, which tied me down to singing opera, some folk songs, and classical songs that had no true meaning to me. During high school, my choir performed with country legend, Kenny Rogers. While sharing the stage with him, I watched him sing and interact with the audience. I knew that I wanted to be just like him one day. For my first year of college, I attended Franklin Pierce University, where I declared a major in voice performance. While at Franklin Pierce, I was chosen to be in the University Singers, which was the top choir at the college. A few months into the year, I began noticing that the choir wasn’t doing as much performing as I hoped for. I had to make a big decision on whether to stay at Franklin Pierce and stick it out with less performance, or change my life with a completely different career. During the summer of 2010, I made the decision to not go back to Franklin Pierce. I didn’t want to give up my dream of singing, so I began searching for a voice teacher that would help me further my career with music that I wanted to sing. I came across Bristol Studios MetroWest and their instructor Patrice Peris in college and luckily saw that she taught with Bristol Studios in Boston, so I knew that taking lessons with her would benefit me. I immediately picked up the phone to call her and after my first lesson with her, I knew that I made the right decision. After a couple months into taking lessons, I ended up changing my entire voice. With the help of Patrice, I have been able to do performances that I never thought I would be doing, like competing in the ""New England Country Star Search"" and placing 3rd in Worcester's ""Who's Got Talent!"". I have also become more comfortable interacting with crowds and I even began writing my own songs. I am overjoyed with the progress I have made throughout the last few months, and I hope to achieve more of the goals that I have set for myself and move forward as a pop/country artist. I plan to continue taking voice lessons through Bristol Studios because they have helped me to step outside my comfort shell and strive for what I’ve always wanted, which is to be a true performer. more

I am a small town girl from Dunstable, MA, where there are more dairy cows than people. Ironically this is not a joke. Our town follows its country roots, hence my exposure to country music legends such as Johnny Cash, Dwight Yoakam, and Patsy Cline. I began voice lessons at the age of six and have wanted to be on stage ever since. Rather than list my personal achievements, (and I'm happy to say there are now many), I want to begin my story in March 2010. I had been attending Bristol Voice & Recording Studios for a few years. My career really began to blossom while a personal hardship was occurring in my life. My husband of 5 years left for a trip to visit his parents in Louisiana and never returned. I was determined to make this negative life experience into a positive one. I knew right then that I would wholeheartedly pursue my dreams of becoming a respected singer/songwriter. I acknowledged that it would take time and the right programs for me to develop, so I signed up for any class that would help forward my goal of becoming a renowned artist. Bristol offers vocal training, choreography, artist development, and numerous seminars. However, Bristol Studios is more than merely an educational and music facility; they are a family. Every person at Bristol has supported me in one way or another. Ric Poulin is an inspiration. He has a keen ability to care for every artist and allows you to develop into the artist you want to be. I recently have worked with Ric on a single called ""Walk Alone."" He knew the songs' symbolism to my life and was able to compose music to portray my emotions through each chord. Now I must include Laura, because if you have ever been in her presence, you can feel the passion she has for music. Her exuberant smile is inviting and her intelligence is well developed in many areas of the music industry. Ric and Laura's passion and knowledge flows throughout the staff. Their positive outlook towards life and a career is infectious. I call them my family because they obtain all the attributes a supportive family would have. They embrace you for who you are, never allowing you to give up. I have worked with Lauren and Brent on vocals, choreography with April, Artist Development with Patrice, and a program unique to me called ""Drill J"" cause he's the guy who keeps all the balls rolling. Thanks J! In order to avoid the cliche ""I have turned from a caterpillar into a butterfly"", I could easily say that I have turned from a caterpillar into a Luna Moth, because if you have ever seen one, they are large green moths unique in themselves and yet they still flutter and fly with pride. more

When I stepped into Bristol Studios 6 years ago I was a girl with a dream and an okay voice. I had just completed college and was at a loss of how to pursue my life long dream of performing. I watched numerous people around me gigging out but was uncertain of how to even get things going. With a quick search online I found Bristol Studios, it seemed to be exactly what I was looking for, so I booked my free voice lesson. I can recall walking into the studio in awe of what a cool place it was. I meet with Brent, senior vocal coach, and was hooked. Not long after starting lessons with Brent, I attend an Artist Development Seminar hosted by the owner/director Ric Poulin. I thought the voice program was AMAZING, but sitting there in the room I was captivated and blown away by this beautifully organized Artist Development chart showing the exact path to success. I started meeting with Ric and taking a look at where I was in relation to where I needed to go. Lets just say I needed a lot of work, but Ric was always encouraging and everyone at the studio was motivating and positive. Brent continued to help me create a distinct sound that was all my own, which is priceless. For years I had taken lessons but was not hitting the notes I now am able to. Bristol has the type of atmosphere that always allows you to grow as an artist, without any petty stuff. One of my fondest memories is my first style shoot - I thought it went off really well. I mean come on now, a brown blazer and jeans is cool right? I've come so far developing my own style since then! Looking back it was the first step of many that would help me morph into the artist I am today. Now, six years later, I have accomplished so many of my personal goals and have really found who I am. I continue to be amazed at what I have learned and continue to learn. Dreams give us hope which give us the drive necessary to achieve our dreams, I have Bristol to thank for this. -Patrice Peris Pop/R&B recording artist more

I have learned so much being in the voice program at Bristol! I came from a musical theater and opera background and was trying to sing pop. I knew I was missing something because it hurt to sing that way!!! I had to find a vocal coach to help me become a pop singer! I looked around and didn't have much luck. One day, my dad found Bristol Studios in the Yellow Pages and shortly after that I began studying voice with Bristol Studios owner and producer Ric Poulin. I learned so much from him and my voice changed for the better in only a few lessons! Because of the pop-gospel technique taught at Bristol, I was now able to sing my favorite pop songs with the right technique and was finally pain free! Performing in the group Jada, I have had to keep my vocal stamina up. The voice method has really helped me become the singer I've always wanted to be! I would highly recommend to any aspiring singer or performer that they check out all that the studio has to offer!! It's a one stop shop for acquiring and strengthening your artistic abilities! It's also a safe, fun and creative environment that has really become a second home to myself and my bandmates! I wouldn't be where I am if it weren't for my experiences here! Mad props to the Bristol team! ~ Jacyn Tremblay, member of Jada more

I have been studying at Bristol Studios since 2004. The fact that I am still here should say something all in itself about how great the program is. I remember in the summer of 2003 being at Faniuel Hall and seeing girl group JADA perform. (A group put together by Ric and Laura Poulin- owners of Bristol Studios). All I could think was ""I want to sing like them!"". Shortly after, I began taking weekly voice lessons at Bristol. By the summer of 2004 I was enrolled in the artist development program at Bristol as well. Through the program I have developed (if I may say so) into a kick-butt vocalist and all around entertainer. I learned first hand all about the business side of the music industry and how to market myself. I even landed a record deal in 2006 with Universal. The singer I've become is a direct result of my studies at Bristol. When I arrived, I had only a minimal classical and theater backround, and now because of the gospel/pop method offered at Bristol I can sing practically any song I choose. I have a sense of confidence in my skill that I never had before and I feel so great about performing. When I hit the stage, I feel fierce and I have no problem rockin the crowd because of really developing myself through the program. I would suggest it to any person I know - regardless of musical genre - because the program is designed to give the individual the opportunity to really become the best artist they can be. more

I came to Boston to attend a local music college. While studying there, I decided that I would like some one-on-one training in a separate studio. I found Bristol because of its nearby location. I met with Craig and instantly knew that Bristol was the right place for me. It was a great learning environment. I took engineering courses for several months before returning home to Charleston, SC. I am now working at a recording studio that was started by Marc Bryan, the guitarist from Hootie and the Blowfish. We are planning on opening two more studios in the area, one of which will be run by me. more