THE SCHOOL OF SOUND presents a stimulating and provocative series of masterclasses by practitioners, artists and academics exploring the creative use of sound in media and the arts. The SOS presents an integrated approach that relies on understanding traditional thinking, contemporary techniques and the broad range of creativity that informs sound production in both entertainment and art. And fundamental to the presentations and discussions is the relationship between sound and image - be that on screen, through performance or in space.

Directors, sound designers, composers, editors and theorists working at the highest levels of film, the arts and media show us the soundtrack from unexpected perspectives. They reveal the methods, theories and creative thinking that lie behind the most effective uses of sound and music. If you work in film, television, commercials, radio or multimedia - whether in entertainment or the arts - this event will convince you of the extraordinary potential of the soundtrack.

First held in 1998, the SOS presents a programme that is as useful for the screenwriter or director as it is for the sound designer and composer. The presentations apply as much to feature filmmaking as to documentaries, animation or gallery presentations. Sound in storytelling, sonic environments, human sound perception - the topics range from the practical to the aesthetic to the abstract during these intense four-day meetings.

In its previous editions, the School of Sound has attracted delegates from over 25 countries. Join us for our ninth event in 2011. At the School of Sound you will not learn about hardware or software. But we can introduce you to the ideas of creators working at the cutting edge of sound production and inspire you to say, "I never thought of working that way."

To get a flavour of what happens at the SOS, look at the Previous Speakers, 2009 Programme and 2007 Programme pages on this site.