HCTC offers new Online Audio Recording Certificate at music school

Music students in the studio in Hyden are Lindsey Branson, Tanner Horton (standing), and Ryan Davidson.

A new Online Audio Recording Certificate will be offered by Hazard Community and Technical College for students enrolled at HCTC s Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music (KSBTM).

The announcement was made March 17, by Dr. Jay K. Box, Kentucky Community and Technical College System president. When the music school started, Dr. Box was president of HCTC.

The idea for this new certificate began in spring of 2013 when Program Director Dean Osborne and Assistant Professor JP Mathes discussed steps to advance the program, so classes could be offered outside the traditional on-campus venue. The idea for the On-Line Audio Recording Certificate was born. With the support of Academic Dean Anna Napier, the certificate was approved by KCTCS. Addition of this certificate to the program was in response to a trend whereby more and more individuals are interested in setting up recording studios in the home for audio recording and mixing. This applies to all kinds of audio, including the spoken word, podcasting, radio, as well as music. The possibilities are endless, noted Dean Osborne.

HCTC President Dr. Steve Greiner noted, The HCTC KSBTM Online Recording Certificate is the only one of its kind being offered anywhere. HCTC is the first to develop this approach. Classes for the On-Line Audio Recording Certificate are offered via Blackboard course management system, skype and ProTools software.

The certificate coursework can be completed in one semester. The student may complete all course work without any on-campus attendance requirement.

Upon completion of the Certificate, students will have the basic knowledge to set up and operate a functional audio recording studio in their home for their use and will have obtained skills to obtain employment in their field of audio recording.

On-Line Audio Recording Certificate program classes were offered for the first time in the spring of 2015 and has students enrolled from Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, West Virginia, Massachusetts and Japan. JP Mathes will be attending the 26th International Conference on College Teaching and Learning later this month. He will be the recipient of the Innovative Excellence in Teaching, Learning amp; Technology Award as well as presenting the On-Line Audio Recording Certificate program to this international audience.

KSBTM students receive instruction from faculty such as Bobby Osborne, an icon of the profession, as well as Program Director Dean Osborne and world traveled musician JP Mathes. Another recognized musician in the profession, Scott Napier joined the faculty in fall 2014. Scott is teaching the first International KSBTM student via skype to Japan. Kathryn Jenkins was one of the first students to graduate from the KSBTM program and later earned a bachelor s degree in audio engineering from Middle Tennessee State University. She also joined the staff of the program in fall 2014 as an Instructional Specialist and works with students in the programs state-of-the-art recording labs as well as being instrumental in the Online Audio Certificate course and has responsibility for development of online courses.

The Kentucky School of Bluegrass and Traditional Music is a unique professional studio artist program located in Hyden, Kentucky at the Leslie County Center of Hazard Community and Technical College. The program has been in operation since 2006 and offers an Associate in Applied Science degree and certificate programs. Students take advantage of courses in the history of bluegrass and traditional music, songwriting, individual string instrument, and recording and ensemble performance.