Studentsat the controlsof Kajem Studios

by Adam Greenberg assistant a&e editor

Helming the controls of a worldclass recording studio might sound like a difficult task to achieve, but Cabrini College students are doing it.

Through a cooperative program with the Kajem Recording Arts Program, Cabrini offers students the chance to learn about the music industry, from production to promotion to management, while also earning college credits

A "bands-on" approach and real world experience are the key aspects of Kajem's courses that Steven Geer, the director of the recording arts program, emphasizes. He said that the classes are structured so that students "watch" then "do."

The courses offered include introduction to audio engineering, applied audio engineering, introduction to MIDI (musical instrument digital interface), record production, engineering three or automated mixing, booking, marketing, and promotion and music business management

When it comes to the production courses, there is no classroom. Students learn in the recording studios, which include a variety of professional studios in the Philadelphia area.

The fact that these are professional studios is vital to gaining real world experience, according to Geer. Students learn on multimillion dollar equipment that is used to produce professional recordings everyday.

One of the participating studios in the Kajem program is Sigma Sound Studios, where albums by a diverse group of artists such as David Bowie, Dru Hill and Billy Joel have been produced. The neering class covers the basics of recording, according to Geer, while the applied engineering class works on refining those basics. He said that the engineering three class focuses more on the art and aesthetics of recording. try, while the music business management class untangles the legal issues that are important to understand to succeed. The music business management course is taught by a working entertainment lawyer, according to Geer. ternship is as important as the classes. studio has also provides audio production services for other mediums such as advertising and movies. Some of their film credits include. "Twelve Monkeys," "Philadelphia" and "Beloved."

"It's a rite of passage. You have to go through it," he said.

Besides performing "grunt" work, Geer said that as an intern, a person will get into the studio and most likely get the chance to prove themselves in the recording arena.

Gordon Rice, a staff engineer at Sigma Sound Studios and Kajem's instructor, started out as an assistant at the studio and worked his way up, eventually running his own recording sessions.

Even if a career is not the goal, Geer said that the cost of the courses is low enough that people can afford to learn more about the work behind the music. For Cabrini students the cost is incorporated into the school's tuition.

Anthony Scalfaro, a junior, has taken some of Kajem's courses and is pleased with what he bas been able to learn.

Other studios participating in the recording arts program include Sonic Studios and Studio 4, which Geer considers two of the top studios in the area.

The introduction to audio engi-

Geer said that the record production class delves deeper into how to shape sounds and the record producer's roles and is taught by Grammy-nominated producer Mitch Goldfarb. The MIDI course emphasizes the cutting-edge electronic and computer based studio tools. The booking, marketing and promotion course offers insights into the business side of the music indus-

Will these classes help someone secure employment in the music industry?

While Geer acknowledges that the 'biz can be tough, he said that the Kajem program gives students the experience and skills to succeed if they are persistent.

"It's not as glamorous as people think," Geer said.

In order to establish themselves, Geer said that performing an in-

"I think it's an excellent program," Scalfaro said. "If you're a communications major, you should check into it."

Scalfaro enjoys the "hands-on" approach and the uniqueness of the program.

"It's a break from the norm," he said.

Anyone interested in the Kajem Recording Arts Program can call Steven Geer at (610) 525-0682 for more information.