Schools

Mixing it up Students mix it up in sound class

Equipment is scarce, but teens squeeze in a wide range of skills in Zephyrhills High's sound engineering class.

By MICHELE MILLER, Times Staff Writer
Published September 19, 2007

ZEPHYRHILLS

The sound booth is primitive at best and actually doubles as a band storage room. When there are classroom assignments to complete, 18 kids often have to crowd around three shared Macintosh computers and one sound mixing board.

Microphones and earphones are passed back and forth. Taking turns and working together is a must.

Still, the interest and the effort is high in the sound engineering class that Russell Schmidt has cobbled together so students at Zephyrhills High can have another unique musical experience.

"We're a little short of equipment in this class so we have to improvise," said Schmidt, adding that for better soundproofing he drapes a donated horse blanket over the brass instruments that are stored in locked metal cages.

The sound engineering class, the first of its kind in Pasco County, has been four years in the making. Schmidt, who typically teaches band classes, Advanced Placement music theory and instrumental technology, came upon the idea when he read in a professional magazine about a sound engineering class that was being offered at another high school.

"I wanted to offer a class to students who aren't typically in band or chorus but are interested in music," he said. "And I thought, 'There's no reason we can't do that here.'"

Soon Schmidt was collecting equipment bit by bit, with help from the Band Boosters, the School Advisory Committee and by dipping into his own budget. Last year he ran a pilot program that generated a lot of student interest and helped the class be up and running this year.

And just as he was hoping, most of his students - all but two - are new to him this year.

The sound engineering class gives students tastes of different facets of the music-making business - from reading and understanding the language of a recording contract to eventually recording their own compositions and laying down the tracks for a CD, said Schmidt.

"We'd like to be able to sell those CDs and put the money back into the program," Schmidt said.

But that's a ways off.

Last week, students were busy learning the basics. They usedApple music software called GarageBand to record and lay down tracks to go with a two-minute video of the school's football team.

Their assignment was to use different music to change the mood of the video - from sinister to joyful.

"I want them to see how background music can change the whole flavor of what you're watching," Schmidt said.

That was difficult for Marquis Williams, 17, who was searching through the GarageBand program for asinister drum beat with classmates Ryan Aurie, 17, and Chris McCarthy and Brandon Champion, both 16.

"All the drumbeats are too up-tempo for us," said Marquis.

Not to worry. They got it by the end of class.

The sound engineering class could be a valuable stepping stone for those who want a career in the business.

"I'd like to go into movie directing, producing and stuff, and I thought that this would help," said senior Lauren Cannette, 17, the only girl in the class. After graduation, Lauren said she hopes to attend Full Sail in Winter Park. "I love this class. It's exciting, it's fun."

The class also could come in handy for guitar players and good friends Nick Bane and Joshua Nickelson, who are a bass player short of forming their own band.

"It gives you experience in something you might actually go into," said Nick, 17. "It lets you see what a recording contract looks like. It shows you the whole business, not just a part of the business."

"It's an awesome class," said Joshua, 17. "And it gives us guitarists a chance to play, which is always good."

Fast facts

To help

Zephyrhills High needs more equipment for its sound engineering class. Items needed include two Macintosh computers and mixer boards totaling about $7,000. To help, call Russell Schmidt at (352) 524-6233 or (813) 794-6233.

[Last modified September 18, 2007, 20:23:07]