Learn from the best at dBs Institute

Explore your creativity under the tutelage of industry experts this September at dBs Institute. Find out more about our incredible teaching faculty here.
Good teaching has the power to change lives and shape futures. No matter how self-motivated you are, the inspirational power of a patient and practised teacher should not be underestimated. 

That’s why, at dBs Institute, we place such a sharp focus on the quality of our staff. We understand that students perform best when they feel heard and are working with lecturers who have real-life experience; people who have been there and done it themselves. This quality of staff is why, in the latest National Student Survey, 90% of our students were positive about the calibre of teaching at dBs.

If you want to find out what makes our staff so special before applying to one of our courses through Clearing, we’ve highlighted just some of the faculty across our campuses. Read on to find out more!

Music Production

Phoebe Pope

With more than 15 years of production, performance and composition experience under her belt, followed by a further six years in education, Phoebe Pope joined dBs Institute as the BA (Hons) Electronic Music Production course leader at our Manchester campus with a dizzying array of practical knowledge and industry heft. Now, she’s using all of that knowledge and experience to help our music production students sharpen their skills and get ready for their journey in the music industry.

“I love learning new techniques and approaches to production and performance. With the ever-evolving development of technology, there is always something new to learn.”

Phin Head

Phin Head is a legend at dBs Institute’s Plymouth campus. Having taught here for more than 20 years, he’s been a huge part of our story and how we’ve got to where we are today. He’s not just part of the furniture, though, Phin is the co-founder of the international Eurorack design and manufacturing company Stochastic Instruments and has been working in music and academia for decades. Heading up Plymouth’s Modular Research Group, he recognises the importance of innovation within the field of music technology and has helped to inspire students and alumni, like Dan Legg, to start their own Eurorack companies!

“My greatest pride is nurturing the next generation of professionals in the field I’ve dedicated my career to.”

Gill Sargent

There aren’t many students at dBs Institute’s Bristol campus who haven’t been assisted through their degrees by the inimitable Gill Sargent, who helps our students navigate and execute their honours projects. Before teaching at dBs, Gill was involved in several educational institutes across Bristol and Bath, including Basement, where she taught a young Roni Size how to sample and witnessed him becoming one of the biggest names in UK Drum and Bass.

“I just love music. I couldn’t pinpoint a specific niche within it. I just love it all.”

Pete Day

BA (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering students in Plymouth have a certified legend to call their course leader. Pete Day is a recording and mixing engineer who has worked with some of the biggest stars of the 80s and 90s, including Kylie Minogue, Rick Astley, Donna Summer and… Power Rangers! All of that work resulted in 13 top-ten hits, including six number-ones, some of which are still proudly hung in the halls of our Plymouth campus!

"I started at PWE Studios in February 1987 working as a Tape Operator where I honed my skills using analogue systems. During that time, I had the opportunity to edit recordings from Kylie’s first tour of Japan and within three years of starting, I became Stock Aitken and Waterman’s chief engineer.”

Natalia Mamcarczyk

A common theme at dBs is that, once people join us, they never want to leave! Several of our teaching staff used to study here, including Natalia Mamcarczyk, who now lectures on our degree courses and specialises in immersive audio, which she discovered during a sound artist residency in French Pyrenees and has honed in the Dolby Atmos suite at dBs Bristol.

“I like music and sound to challenge the human condition, and ask questions that fall beyond the comfort zone.”

Sound & Audio

Kyle Marriott 

One of the newest members of the dBs Community, Kyle Marriott is our National Lead for BSc (Hons) Live Sound and, like many of our other Live Sound teaching staff, he’s completely obsessed with sound system culture. That obsession has led him to found two companies, design sound systems for annual stints at Burning Man and now he’s imparting all of that knowledge to our students for his latest adventure at dBs.

“I love hearing and seeing the impact that events or venues have had on people’s lives. The difficult work of choosing the best options and making them all play well together is so worth it when you see those smiling faces in a crowd.”

Jasz Pike

If you’re interested in the science and immersive nature of sound design, dBs alumni and BA (Hons) Sound Design course leader Jasz Pike can help you to realise your ideas. Taking a philosophical approach to his craft, Jasz enjoys creating meaningful, interactive experiences for games and installations.

“A lot of our students have amazing ideas, and I really enjoy trying to put them on the right path with regards to using audio and interactive experiences so that they can bring them to life.”

Skye Walters

Skye Walters, a BSc (Hons) Live Sound module leader and technician at our Bristol campus, feels most at home when she is behind a mixing desk and has collected an impressive range of credits as a live sound engineer at gigs and corporate events. As an ex-dBs student, she knows what it takes to make the transition between study and industry professionalism and helps our Live Sound students do the same.

“I love seeing artists having an incredible time and giving their absolute all during a performance. When an artist feels good, the audience gets to have the best time.”

Jamie Bird

It’s not often you get to work with your heroes, but dBs Bristol’s BA (Hons) Music and Sound for Film & TV course leader Jamie Bird has managed that as a film composer working with the likes of Geoff Barrow. As a synth-mad Vangelis aficionado, working with the composer who brought us the excellent Ex Machina score, was a great professional experience and he’s helping our current students find similar opportunities during their studies.

“It is a genuine honour and a privilege to interact with so many talented students. To be in a creative space like dBs is such a gift.”

Game Development & Design

Max Taylor

National Lead for Games Max Taylor is, unsurprisingly, crazy about gaming and loves games with a strong narrative design and convincing world to explore. Alongside his role at dBs Institute, he’s also an independent game developer and freelance 3D artist, so he can bring real-time knowledge and industry experience to our BA (Hons) Game Art and BA (Hons) Game Development: Programming students who are hoping to join him in the industry.

“I love seeing students develop, both creatively and professionally, across the courses. Seeing how their perspective on their own work and the work of others matures as well as how they perceive the games and media they consume is amazing.”

Greg Jamieson

Greg Jamieson, our BA (Hons) Game Development: Programming and BA (Hons) Game Art Course Leader across Bristol and Manchester, has been working in the gaming industry, as well as higher education, for years. His CV includes roles spanning multiple universities across the South West, production houses, and freelance artist positions. Like many of our other lecturers, he co-owns his own company, so he can bring up-to-date industry insight to our students.

“I love seeing people progress and evolve as practitioners, watching them make the most of their time and resources to realise their creative vision.”

William Sawyerr

If you’re interested in the mechanics of gaming; software development and building experiences for people to enjoy, you won’t be able to learn from anyone much better than our very own William Sawyerr, who is a BA (Hons) Game Development: Programming module leader based in Manchester. With a keen interest in the development of artificial intelligence and how it can be applied to software and game development, William loves witnessing the spark of understanding in his students and helping to guide them through the intricacies of programming and design.

“I got into game development because I wanted to develop worlds that offered people empowering experiences.”

These amazing tutors, and many others, could be yours this September! Apply through Clearing today and choose dBs Institute.