Music majors at IU Southeast are striking a chord with the music technology courses outside the classroom.
Located on Fern Valley Pass in Louisville, TNT Productions studio has been used by IUS students to have advanced audio technology courses during the past year.
Tim Haertel, president and chief engineer of TNT Productions, has been an adjunct lecturer at IU Southeast for five years.
Haertel teaches the advanced audio technology courses in the studio to better allow the students to understand the process.
“The studio allows them to work in the atmosphere,” he said.
Students go to the TNT Productions studio for advanced audio technology courses which are taught in a laboratory style class.
Haertel, who has worked at IU Southeast for four years, enjoys the time in the classroom.
“It keeps me in touch with new generations and what is going on in music,” he said.
Students are taught through several programs on how to edit and construct music files while learning the electronics and programs.
Students are encouraged to buy a hard drive to make the transition between the studio, home and class easier and more efficient, as the studios are now all computer based.
While the choice of music major does not seem quite the conventional choice, Haertel said he looks forward to teaching students the practical ways to go about working in music.
“I look at this as like training for the job,” he said.
The students are often seen in the studio as professionals. Bringing in sample music they are working on also allows Haertel to teach to their interest.
While Haertel said the three choices in music are to give up, let it be a hobby or go professional, he wants students to understand what it means to network and also how to run a business or be self-employed.
While the study is technology based, it is an art.
“You don’t have to have all the science or music theory,” Haertel said.
The use of the TNT Productions studio off campus is cost effective for the university.
“There isn’t many possible ways for IUS to construct a studio like this on campus,” Haertel said, in reference to space issues.
The electronic music studio, located in the bottom level of Knobview Hall, is two stations for classical and other types of music with video editing capabilities.
Students can use the studio for audio work using programs, such as Pro Tools, to their convenience for projects related to class or not.
While it is not acoustically great, the studio on campus does offer students the convenience of using the programs at a closer location.
With ongoing changes in technology, the studio is based through the computer.
Pro Tools is the most commonly used software for audio technology, Haertel said.
He said 80 percent of studios more than likely use the program.
Other programs the students are learning are Sibelius, Finale, Final Cut and Digital Performer.
“So much good recording is done on the computer now,” Haertel said.
Along with the TNT Productions studio and the electronic music studio, the Recital Hall in Knobview is being recently renovated to allow recordings of larger groups, including chamber music.
Haertel is also the executive sound engineer for the IU Southeast-based recording label, New Dynamic Records.
By JESSICA MEYER
Staff Writer
jessmeye@ius.edu