“We have people in Prosound who have been in the sound industry for many years and have the most amazing wealth of knowledge. The question was: What can we do with this knowledge?”
The launch of a Sound School by leading pro-audio company Prosound is set to fill a gap in the market with its highly-focused, practical sound courses. Lecturer and sound engineer Izan Greyling says that although South Africa has many colleges where people can study sound, there is a lack of short, part-time courses with an emphasis on the practical application of knowledge.
“In most areas of study, there is a vast discrepancy between academic learning and the real world, and this is particularly true for sound,” Greyling says. “It’s a bit like trying to learn to drive a car by reading a textbook. Often, sound students struggle to apply the theory they have learnt into practice in the real world.”
A non-profit initiative, the idea for the Prosound Sound School was inspired by a desire to contribute to the industry. “We have people in Prosound who have been in the sound industry for many years and have the most amazing wealth of knowledge. The question was: What can we do with this knowledge?” Greyling says. “That was the origin of Sound School – it’s our gesture of giving back to the industry that has given so much to us.”
Greyling has 10 years’ lecturing experience, and was Head of the Department of Entertainment Technology at the Durban University of Technology prior to joining Prosound. Prosound has a high number of schools and churches among its nationwide customer base, and the company identified that many of these clients had never been taught to use their sound equipment properly. Most are professionals with full-time jobs who volunteer to contribute to amateur dramatic and concert productions. However, the course is also suited to musicians, DJs and sound students looking to ramp up their practical knowledge.
The first course was held in February and March this year, and was attended by 25 people who learnt about sound systems, sound theory, stage and system set-up and live mixing. The course also includes practical training in terms of setting up bands for actual gigs. According to Greyling, the four-day courses will be held twice a year at Prosound’s premises in Roodepoort, which has access to equipment of international standard. Food and refreshments are also provided.
“We concentrate on giving the students an opportunity to apply what they’ve learned,” he says. “For example, if they learn about compressors in the morning, they will use a compressor in the afternoon. On the final day of the course, the students set up a stage and sound for a band, do the sound check with the band, and run a show in front of their parents and friends. It’s a great way to experience the pressure of a live gig!”
Greyling stresses that, while the course is ideal for amateurs and hobbyists, it is only one step on the journey towards becoming a professional. “It’s not a magic panacea – after all, it takes a couple of years to become a sound engineer,” he says.
Already, Prosound is in discussions with colleges to present the course to their students.
For more information on the courses, contact lisa@prosound.co.za.
Written By : Muse Reports
