I am a 24 year old College graduate who’s had a dream of working in the Music Industry since the age of 18. As each year of College passed I grew farther apart from what I was actually going to school for, and fell more in love with the Music Industry. Once I graduated with a degree in Information Technology, I knew this wasn’t what I wanted to do…..so I set out on a dream. I found an affordable training program that would give me the opportunity to gain experience working in a studio, and really being a part of real deal sessions with real clients, and not just my friends working on independent projects at home. I have been recording music for 5 years, but this was nothing like what I was doing at home. I am learning the Music Business as a whole, from the Preparation of setting up sessions before paying clients come in and work, all the way up to Mastering the finished project and the effective ways of distributing the client’s product to the public/record labels. I intern at Audible Images in Pittsburgh, PA about 1-3 days a week (1 day we go over my weekly lessons), and it has really been a dream come true. I am experiencing the daily life of an Audio Engineer, and really understanding and getting a hands on feel for how the Music Industry works in a Studio setting. I have had exposure to multiple genres of music (although Hip Hop is my main focus); I have set up sessions for rock bands, large ensembles, such as orchestra’s, and hip hop sessions as well. I have had exposure to the Preparation, Recording, and Mix down Phase of the Recording

Process. I have actually had the opportunity to sit down and just talk to clients about whatever. It is great to get to know someone and really understand why they are here, and why they do what they do. Everyone has a story to tell, but they all tell it in their own way. This is just the

beginning for me, and I hope there is an opportunity out there where I can actually get paid to work in the Music Industry once my training is complete. 2-3 years ago when I was recording and releasing music heavily I thought I was tasting a dream, but now that I have been exposed

to the everyday life of an Audio Engineer, gaining real life studio experience, I can now say that I am finally tasting a dream, and it tastes damn good. Whether it is working as an Engineer, Studio Technician, or even more on the Business side of the Industry, I just hope there is a future for me in the Music Industry in the years to come.