Musictech College

At a Glance
Name: Musictech College Contact: Debbie Sandridge, director of admissions Major Courses of Study: Recording and Production, Music Performance, Music Business, Motion Imaging Degrees Offered: Associate of Applied Science (AAS) in Recording Technology, AAS in Music, AAS in Motion Imaging, AAS in Music Business, Advanced Professional Musicians Course, Diploma Programs in Guitar, Bass, Percussion, Keyboard and Vocal Music. Through a direct-transfer agreement, Musictech students can continue on to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at Augsburg College Accreditation: National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and licensed by the State of Minnesota Higher Education Services Office Main Technology Platforms: SSL, Trident, KRK, Digidesign/Pro Tools, AKG, Neumann, Otari, Blue Sky, Sony, Mackie, Lexicon, RADAR and Yamaha Tuition: $7,150 average per semester; four semesters required for AAS Financial Assistance: Federal Pell Grants, EOG and Family Educational Loans; Minnesota State Grant, Self Loan and State Work Study; Minnesota Indian Scholarship Fund, JTPA, Veterans Administration, DRS and Musictech Scholarships.

Musictech College is a leader in contemporary music education, attracting the finest students and faculty both nationally and internationally. Over the past 17 years, the college has developed one of the most advanced recording and production programs in the country, alongside a prestigious school for professional musicians. Musictech College offers an Associate of Applied Science degree in Recording and Production Technology, as well as AAS degrees in Music Business, Motion Imaging and Music (for guitar, bass, drums, keyboard, vocals, brass, woodwinds).

At Musictech College, recording students follow a curriculum crafted by industry professionals, including multi-Platinum record producer and engineer Chopper Black and veteran engineer, producer and musician Scott Jarrett. Musictech College’s new 100,000-square-foot campus includes the region’s largest recording complex, with nine studios, a MIDI lab, a Pro Tools lab and a synthesizer lab for group learning and theory classes. Each studio at Musictech is designed to provide training on equipment found in the range of professional recording environments. From the most advanced all-digital 5.1 surround equipment and an SSL board to more traditional analog consoles and processing equipment, recording students at Musictech have hands-on experience on a wealth of gear found in professional studios worldwide.

Most importantly, students at Musictech can reserve private studio time to hone their craft on personal recording projects. “It’s a dream lab,” says Scott Jarrett, head of the Recording and Production department. “On their first day at Musictech, students are working on some of the best equipment in the industry, and then they have the opportunity to use it after-hours. It makes me want to go back to college.”

By their third semester at Musictech College, recording students are working with Chopper Black in Studio 1, which features an SSL 6048 G-Plus with Total Recall; Lexicon, Eventide, TC and Yamaha effects processing; Avalon and Aphex dynamics; and recording to an Otari MTR-90 analog or directly to Pro Tools. Studio 2 houses a Trident Series 80B console and has a performance space identical to Studio 1 with a Kawai grand piano. The all-digital Studio 3 boasts a Sony DMX-R100 automated 5.1 surround console, Blue Sky monitors and recording to an iZ Technologies RADAR 24. Studio 3 shares a performance space and isolation booth with Studio 4, where first-semester students cut their teeth on all-digital equipment using a Ramsa DA-7 digital console.

Musictech launched a new Motion Imaging program this year, opening an additional creative realm to students with training in digital photography and video, multimedia design and nonlinear editing. Beginning with the fall 2002 semester, Music-tech will also offer a diploma program in Live Sound, utilizing a new 300-seat recital hall. Students also gain hands-on experience in professional venues—from clubs to arenas—throughout the Twin Cities.

“We have worked for 17 years to create a great place for musicians, producers and engineers to come together and practice their craft,” says Jack McNally, president of the college. “And with a new campus, new equipment and some of the best faculty in the nation, our future looks brighter than ever.” •