![](//www.4rfv.com/images/no_image.jpg)
Do Producers Need Technical or Musical Skills? Award-winning producer Benny Grotto unpacks Rick Rubins recent 60 Minutes comments and weighs the benefits of intuition and formal training in the studio.
By
John Mirisola
January 23, 2023
Image by Elizabeth Friar
When one of the worlds most famous and successful record producers, Rick Rubin, tells Anderson Cooper that he can barely play music and cant navigate a soundboard, a lot of people will start to wonder: What, then, does a producer actually do?
Its the sort of question students come to Berklee every year hoping to answer for themselves. But what the faculty here understand, and what they pass on in class and in the studio, is that theres no one way to be a producer. What works in one session, or with one artist, or for Rick Rubin, doesnt work for everyone. And if you havent already launched the careers of LL Cool J, Public Enemy, and the Beastie Boys from your dorm room, you might benefit from the Swiss Army knife-style production versatility and critical ear that come with a more formal education in the studio.
Benny Grotto
Image by James Jay Fortin
In light of this recent conversation about what sorts of skills and savvy lead to success as a music producer, we caught up with Boston Music Award-winning producer Benny Grotto, a professor in the Music Production and Engineering Department and co-owner of one of Bostons premier recording facilities, Mad Oak Studios, to ask him about what can and cant be taught about the job, and how his own Berklee education influences his approach in the studio.
In a recent 60 Minutes interview, Rick Rubin said that he doesn't really know how to play music, that he can't work a soundboard, and that what he is paid for, as a producer, comes down to a combination of his taste, his confidence, and his ability to express his perspectives to the artists he works with. How does Rubin's approach to his work square with your own understanding of the job of a producer? I think if you ask five different producers how to make a record, youll get twenty-five different answers. Theres no correct way to produce, and most of us have multiple ways of approaching the task. Artists tend to find producers who work best to fit their needs; if Ricks clients dont need a producer who is also capable as an engineer, then certainly theres never been a need for Rick to learn that craft. Indeed, an argument could be made that hes making a very smart move by hiring the engineering task to more specialized, skillful individuals, freeing himself up to focus on musical concerns.
Let's take one step back: how do you hear Rubin's approach to production influence the records he works on? It seems to me that a key part of Ricks success has been choosing the records he works on. Hes covered so much stylistic and sonic ground over the years, but one thing has always remained consistent: the artistic quality of the talent he works with. Whether its Slayer or Neil Diamond, Rick works with the best. So I guess Im kinda turning that question around, and considering how the records he works on influence his work.
Record Studio-Caliber Music Anywhere
Benny Grotto recommends five gear upgrades for building out a personal recording toolkit.
You're a formally trained musician-you came to Berklee and studied music production and percussion. How has that training influenced your path as a producer and the kinds of things you're paying attention to in a studio session? (Or, to be more direct: what are you able to pick up on that Rick Rubin can't, and does that give you an advantage?) I cant say what Rick Rubin doesnt pick up, because Ive never worked with him! But my background-particularly as a drummer-tends to prejudice me towards the rhythmic. Im generally paying particular attention to groove and feel, and to a degree (depending on genre or the needs of a particular piece of music), rhythmic accuracy. I suspect Rick-while not a trained percussionist-possesses a keen enough ear that he is capable of the same, when the material demands it. So to that end, Im not sure theres necessarily an advantage there. That said, with my fluency in music theory, instrumental technique, and so forth, I may be able to more easily communicate modifications of performances or compositions to the musicians I work with, and that perhaps does indeed offer a distinct advantage, at least in terms of providing a more direct path to the desired outcome. This is certainly critical on the more budget-limited projects I work on. So yes, theres an advantage there with regards to my specific line of work. Though Id hasten to point out that Ricks productions have sold a helluva lot more copies than mine!
Do you see advantages in Rubin's more feel-based philosophy? I think the feel-based approach is, frankly, the best approach to making great records. My mentor, the great Sean Slade, certainly prioritized that on every session I ever worked with him, though as an experienced musician himself, he was able to temper that approach with more hands-on and technical input. Thats a potent combination, and its one I think is quite common amongst successful producers.
Are there things a producer can do to preserve or cultivate that sort of intuitive ear even after their brain's been trained to scan for rhythmic and harmonic structures? I would hope that such intuition is second-nature, and remains so regardless of a producers existing training. Theres no reason these things cant coexist.
Related Categories
Keyed In
News
Most Popular
Image by Elizabeth Friar
Do Producers Need Technical or Musical Skills? Award-winning producer Benny Grotto unpacks Rick Rubins recent 60 Minutes comments and weighs the benefits of intuition and formal training in the studio.
Latest
vivi rincon is one of seven featured performers at th
More from Berklee
26/07/2024
Berklee Alumni Nominated for 2024 Emmy Awards Twenty-one Berklee alumni received Emmy nominations this year for music composition, sound mixing, and sound editi...
23/07/2024
Alum Notes: Spring/Summer 2024 The most recent news from your fellow alumni.
July 10, 2024
Emily McGuire B.F.A. '18 of Glendale, CA, found a new love f...
18/07/2024
Faculty Notes: Spring/Summer 2024 Recent accomplishments, releases, and events by Berklee faculty.
July 8, 2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee Assistant Pro...
18/07/2024
Jim McNeely and Miguel Zen n Named the 2024-2025 Ken Pullig Visiting Scholars in...
18/07/2024
Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the t...
16/07/2024
Dr. Judith Christie McAllister Joins Gospel Performance Summer Program as Artist...
15/07/2024
Berklee Alumni Publications Win CASE Awards The magazine Berklee Today received a gold award and podcast Pass the Mic earned bronze from the Council for Advan...
11/07/2024
Berklee NYC Honors Largest Class of Master Scholars at 2024 Commencement Grammy and Tony Award-winning alum Charlie Rosen delivered the commencement address a...
09/07/2024
Legendary African Musician Youssou N'Dour Receives Honorary Degree at Berkle...
08/07/2024
Berklee City Music Celebrates Three Decades Empowering Young Artists The program has given generations of musicians-sometimes within the same family-the tools...
08/07/2024
Renate Rohlfing Awarded Mass Cultural Council Grant The music therapy faculty member will use the grant to help foster more opportunities to create in-person co...
06/07/2024
Berklee Online Offers Courses to Students in Juvenile Justice Centers To date, Berklee Online classes are offered at nearly 30 such centers across the United ...
06/07/2024
Working to Make Music More Accessible to All New technologies and changing attitudes mean more disabled musicians are playing instruments.
By
Adrian Ananta...
29/06/2024
Students Help Bring Nona Hendryxs Dream Machine to Life at Lincoln Center A group of electronic production and design majors created sonic landscapes for Hend...
28/06/2024
Dr. Trineice Robinson-Martin Named Chair of the Ensemble Department A renowned vocalist, arranger, and educator, Robinson-Martin is known for developing innov...
26/06/2024
LGBTQ Student Group to Hold Inaugural Pride Music Festival Lavanda, founded by student Emma Whitney, will host Camp Fest, an outdoor music festival and commu...
15/06/2024
What Exactly Is Dad Rock? 21 Songs that Explain the Totally Not Embarrassing Gen...
14/06/2024
Dr. Lenora Helm Hammonds Named Dean of the Professional Education Division A renowned jazz vocalist, educator, and Berklee alumna, Hammonds is known for her i...
13/06/2024
Final Exams or NBA Finals? For These Boston Conservatory Students, It's Both Two commercial dance students joined the Boston Celtics dancers for a memorab...
05/06/2024
Taylor Swifts Global Popularity Explained (Berklees Version) Music business, songwriting, and live production faculty weigh in on what makes Taylor Swift unst...
05/06/2024
Professor and Two Alumni Receive Fulbright Awards Faculty member Stacy Mattingly and alumni Shanelle Villegas and Lili Chey Warren have been selected for Fulb...
05/06/2024
Music and Sustainability at Berklee and Beyond Integrating sustainability practices into music not only helps address environmental concerns but also contribute...
24/05/2024
Boston Conservatory Plays a Leading Role at the 41st Annual Elliot Norton Awards With six wins and eight additional nominations, the Conservatory's theate...
22/05/2024
Berklee's Summer in the City Brings Free Concerts to Boston Area The series will feature Berklee students, faculty, and alumni performing at popular venue...
21/05/2024
Dr. Ray Seol Awarded Grant for Creative Individuals from Mass Cultural Council The grant will expand his Seu Aprendiz project designed to help individuals bui...
15/05/2024
Berklee Artists to Perform at Major US Music Festivals this Summer and Fall The Berklee Popular Music Institute arranged placements at top festivals including...
12/05/2024
Berklee Honors Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa at Commencement This years honorary doctorate recipients were recognized for their profound influence as...
10/05/2024
Berklee Announces 2024 Songs for Social Change Contest Winners Student songwriters shine in the annual contest that recognizes music with a socially conscious...
10/05/2024
Meet Graduates from Berklees Class of 2024 Members of this years graduating class reflect on their proudest moments at Berklee and look ahead to whats next.
...
10/05/2024
Berklee and Audio Engineering Society to Host Symposium on AI in Music The inaugural AES International Symposium on AI and the Musician will highlight excitin...
08/05/2024
Q&A with Visiting Artist Lei Liang The acclaimed composer discusses his collaboration with Boston Conservatory, his work as a research artist, and what it mea...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
02/05/2024
Two Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
By...
30/04/2024
Next Jazz Legacy Announces 2024 Cohort of Women and Nonbinary Awardees The program was created by New Music USA and the Berklee Institute of Jazz and Gender J...
27/04/2024
Berklee's Music and Health Institute Launches Community Health Musician Cert...
25/04/2024
Berklee Student Riko Sasaski Named 2024 Yamaha Young Performing Artist The accomplished saxophonist secured a spot among the elite winners of this year's ...
24/04/2024
Berklee Online to Hold 2024 Berklee Onsite Music Conference May 31-June 1 The in-person conference is open to Berklee Online students and the music community ...
18/04/2024
Krisha Marcano Announced as Dean of Theater for Boston Conservatory at Berklee The theater educator, choreographer, and performer will join Boston Conservator...
18/04/2024
Berklee's Yoon-Ji Lee Receives Guggenheim Fellowship Lee, an assistant professor of composition, creates music based on unconventional and nonlinear struc...
17/04/2024
Simone Pilon Appointed Executive Director at Berklee Valencia Pilon, who has served as Berklee Valencia's interim executive director since March 2023, has a...
17/04/2024
FINNEAS and Ashe Talk Confidence and Collaboration in the Music Industry Days before his sister Billie Eilishs new album announcement, producer and songwriter...
12/04/2024
Youssou NDour to Receive Honorary Doctorate at Berklee Valencia's 2024 Comme...
12/04/2024
Berklee and Electronic Arts Celebrate Annual EA Day The second annual EA Berklee Day celebrated women in the screen scoring industry and presented the Electro...
11/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Honor LaChanze and Lar Lubovitch at Commenceme...
11/04/2024
Berklee Hosts Leading Artists and Entertainment Pros at Annual Career Jam Grammy-winning producer and singer-songwriter FINNEAS and hitmaker Ashe BM 15 headli...
10/04/2024
Ledisi, Q-Tip, and Gilberto Santa Rosa to Receive Honorary Doctorates at Berklee...
05/04/2024
Berklee Honors Three Outstanding Artists at Alumni Achievement Awards Natalie Toro, Gustavo Borner, and Mark Kelley were recognized for their achievements in ...
05/04/2024
Berklee's Africana Studies Department to Host its First Annual Symposium The inaugural event will feature scholar, political commentator, and author Dr. E...
04/04/2024
Boston Conservatory at Berklee to Present Five Iconic Works at Spring Dance Conc...
04/04/2024
Morton Subotnick Named 2024 Herb Alpert Visiting Artist for Electronic Productio...