208 Workshops at MTSU Give Youngsters Training in Recording Techniques

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 28, 2006
EDITORIAL CONTACT: Ryan York, bororecording@gmail.com

IF YOU LOOK CLOSER, IT’S EASY TO TRACE THE TRACKS OF MY YEARS

(MURFREESBORO) - If some of the students in the John Bragg Mass Communication Building look a little younger than usual this semester, they’re probably youngsters enrolled in the Youth Culture and Arts Center’s second slate of recording workshops.
The pilot project, which began last fall, was such a success that its creators decided to continue the program. Classes are taught by Ryan York, a 21-year-old MTSU student and teacher of guitar, bass and drums lessons at Chambers Guitars and Musical Instruments in Murfreesboro.
“A lot of the kids that know a lot about recording already are kinda self-taught, and so there’s a lot of gaps that they’ve missed in their foundation,” York says of his fall pupils.
For a fee of $125 per student, kids ages 12-17 were introduced to cassette four-track recording on portable equipment in two classes each week. This semester, York plans to alternate cassette four-track instruction with digital eight-track, computer recording and electronic music. All proceeds will help pay for the equipment.
The Youth Culture and Arts Center (YCAC) is the brainchild of many of the same people behind the Southern Girls Rock & Roll Camp, which has been held on the MTSU campus for the past four years. Both the camp and the center are sponsored by Youth Empowerment Through Arts and Humanities (YEAH!), a nonprofit organization Though YCAC is a conceptual work in progress, a brick-and-mortar all-ages community-centered venue is the goal.
“Murfreesboro just has a complete void,” York observes. “We’ve got four or five major high schools in the area, lots of kids that would like to go see their favorite bands play. There are hardly any places in Nashville, which is hard to drive up to anyway, especially if you’re 15 and you’re hoping Mom will take you.”
In addition to shows and events, workshops in screenprinting, painting, drawing and other arts are in the planning stages.
Although none of these opportunities were available for York when he was in high school, he was lucky to be the son of two musicians who met while performing in a rock band. At age 12, York began playing music with his father. Even so, York is the first to admit that his college recording industry classes have filled a vital gap in his knowledge base.

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WORKSHOPS
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“I see so many kids that want to get into the recording program but can’t because they don’t know anything about it,” York says. “That’s because there aren’t many opportunities until you get to college to learn it.”
Registration for the initial spring workshop, which will begin Jan. 18, continues through Jan. 11. Registration for the Feb. 15-Mar. 11 workshop will open Jan. 15 and continue through Feb. 9.
For more information about the workshops, contact York at bororecording@gmail.com. To learn more about the Youth Culture and Arts Center, go to http://www.youthculturecenter.org. A workshop syllabus may be accessed there by clicking on “Workshops” at the bottom of the page.



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