Recital recording is an important element throughout the Music Engineering curriculum. Freshman first assist upperclassmen as they record recitals and concerts for the Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music Recording Services. Students use a recording studio in Gusman Hall to record live concerts ranging from small jazz groups to symphony orchestra. These CD recordings are given to performers and also stored in the School’s recording archive. In addition, many of these concerts are streamed live from the Frost School of Music web page.
As they acquire expertise in the art of recording, students take on additional responsibilities until they make all artistic decisions for the recording of live events. These musical events can range from solo piano to large symphony orchestra, from an electronic music ensemble to a concert jazz band. In addition to on-campus recording, students may enroll in an internship course for experience in professional environments; this is subject to availability, and the student’s proficiency. Most internships take place over the summer months.
While the focus of the studios is the recording of music performances, both as live recitals, and studio sessions, they are also used as working laboratories to develop new audio technology. Students use the studios as hands-on laboratories to provide them with practical experience in real-life music engineering situations, providing both reinforcement of theoretical education, and practical skills.
Following graduation, many students elect to work in the professional recording industry as recording engineers and producers. Many graduates have risen to the top of their profession, recording albums for artists such as the Rolling Stones, Michael Jackson, the Allman Brothers, Prince, Madonna, Sheena Easton, James Brown, Boyz II Men, Los Lobos, the Wallflowers, L7, Gloria Estefan, and many, many others.