The Concept Of Audio Engineering Education

Q: I am attending school for audio engineering. The first year I learned a lot of the basic concepts of signal flow, dynamics, and time based processing gear and that helped. Now that I know all of that, I have to *rot* through two more semesters of monotony. I have an internship and I think I've learned more there than I have in school in the same ammount of time. I feel like im getting jacked because I definetly WONT have any sort of job placement or hookups. I got my internship on my own after TRYING to get help from the school career department (which is a joke) and I know when I eventually get a job as an engineer in this field the school won't have aything to do with it.. except for the fact that a) they DID teach some basics and b) the school and the students' combined ignorance and stupidity will inspire me. I understand that getting a degree in something (anything) is a good idea but I dont really understand the concept of going to school (i.e. paying almost $50,000) to learn how to record bands without ganenteed job placement or anything like that. And I guess that's my point.. is the concept of goign to school for audio just about guys in suits making money from well-off baby boomers and thier children? Or are thier intentions in the right place?

A: -you must be going to MTSU, right? Just a guess, because what you describe is pretty much them. Keep your head up though and hit the streets. Promote yourself and your skills not the school you went to. -Unfortunately it seems that education in audio or anything entertainment industry oriented relies on the perceived glamour associated with the biz. What they don't teach you in school is how to get through the bad days - truth is that no school can teach you that - you learn that one in your own way on your own time - don't bet the farm on fulfilling your dreams of fame and fortune in a business where quality requirements and wages are both on the decline - an underlying truth about how things in "the biz" work is that there's generally a lot going on but not much really happening - It's best to learn the reality of things before you commit your life to something - better to know the truth of it at 25 than at 40 or 50 - I'm offering a series of seminars at my studio that look at hard facts surrounding music, audio and money to see how many takers there might be out there - what does anyone think?

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