Many thanks to Present Day Production and all at School Farm Studios for making this possible.

Day 1 of our PPG3.0 production workshop at School Farm Studios... Recording set up with superstar drummer Affy Green. A huge thanks to Dave West on bass and guitarist Ray Uren. Organised by Mark & James at Present Day Production...

Day 2 of our PPG3.0 session workshops. The merry crew from today and me leading the ‘fun’ backing vocals! - whatever next!!.. 

Day 3 - It's a wrap at School Farm Studios. A fantastic group of attendees to our PPG3.0 recording workshops... 

The full Summary of the Workshop...

Would you like to join me for three days in the studio? 7-9 October 2025 at School Farm Studios in Suffolk. Recording drums (Affy Green) plus bass and guitar on day 1, brass and vocals on day 2, mixing and Q&A day 3. Details below...

Have you ever wondered what it takes to turn a simple demo into a radio-ready, chart-topping hit? Imagine learning the exact techniques used to create that iconic 80s pop sound, and how to seamlessly blend programmed instruments with real, live musicians. This is your chance to stop wondering and start doing.

Join us for a three-day, hands-on production workshop with Phil Harding, a true industry pioneer with over 500 top 40 hits to his name. Alongside renowned engineer Stefano Civetta, you'll take two brand new songs from demo to final release, learning invaluable skills you can apply to your own music.

- What You'll Learn and Achieve

Day One: The Power of a Solid Foundation

• Expert Drum Mic'ing Techniques: Learn two distinct approaches to mic'ing a drum kit — Phil's classic, dynamic-led method and Stefano's modern, condenser-based approach. You'll mic the kit with both setups simultaneously, allowing you to instantly A/B the results in the control room. This direct comparison will help you understand how different mic choices affect the sound and how they respond to EQ and compression, saving you hours in the mix.

• Live Rhythm Section Tracking: Experience the energy of a live rhythm section as drums, bass, and guitar are tracked together. You'll get hands-on experience mic'ing guitar and bass amps while learning the crucial role of DI signals for both safety and creative flexibility in post-production.

• Building the Arrangement: You'll be part of the decision-making process, choosing the best takes and then adding rich layers of keys, from Hammond organs to pianos and virtual instruments.

Day Two: Overcoming Production Challenges

• Mastering Horns and Vocals: Banish the anxiety of recording horns. Former Abbey Road engineer Stefano Civetta will guide you through different mic techniques on a professional three-piece horn section. Then, learn from Phil's decades of experience  recording vocalists. You'll discover how to choose the right mic for the singer, get the performance you need, and overcome "red light syndrome" to capture a polished, professional vocal take every time.

Day Three: The Final Polish

• Mixing In-The-Box with a Master: Phil will mix both songs entirely "in-the-box," so you can easily replicate his workflow and techniques in your own home studio.

• Future-Proof Your Music: Present Day Production's Mark Ashfield will walk you through his approach to stereo mastering and creating a Dolby Atmos mix, ensuring your tracks are ready for the future of audio.

• Your Questions, Answered: Conclude the workshop with a Q&A session with the entire team, where you can get personalized advice and insights.

- A Complete Producer's Toolkit

By the end of this intensive three-day workshop, you'll walk away with more than just memories. You'll gain practical, hands-on experience that will elevate your productions.

You will receive:

• Signed copies of Phil Harding’s acclaimed books.

• A certificate of completion to showcase your new skills.

• The complete multitrack files from the workshop to practice and experiment with.

• Exclusive access to video recordings of the workshop for future reference.