Recording arts in a pandemic
Hands-on experience doesn’t always have to be an in-person occurrence anymore. For high school students in Mr. Rafael Estrada’s Video Production and Sound Recording class, coming together is especially important to grasp new tools, techniques and to practice collaboration. But when COVID-19 forced public high school students across New York State to learn remotely, Estrada and his students took it all in stride.
“I just didn’t have the face time to teach linear, going unit by unit, anymore,” Estrada said. “I had to organize ‘super units.’ While the students must work on a project longer than usual, they gain more from it as I weave in concepts on their remote days.”
Over the course of four weeks, Estrada covers multiple units. “Usually, I like to craft my own tutorials. However, by relying on existing software tutorials from the manufacturers I can then focus my attention on individualizing instruction and providing more one-on-one time.”
For Sydney Doane, a senior at Williamsville South High School who recently received a scholarship to SUNY Fredonia, she says the format is working. “Connecting with each other over technology isn’t that big of a challenge. We just can’t get together or walk the halls to get footage like we used to,” Sydney said.
One of Sydney’s favorite projects has been creating sound effects and mixing audio to run alongside a popular “Avenger’s” movie. She also enjoyed creating a teleporting, or walking through walls, feature seen frequently in “Harry Potter” movies. During a recent visit she was perfecting a hologram effect in her video.
Across the room from Sydney sat two socially distanced students collaborating on an original audio production project. Kevin Leon-MacLeod of Kenmore West High School wrote the music with help from fellow student producer Jonathan West of Lancaster High School. Both hope to work in the field after graduation. Kevin is currently employed as an audio engineer where he records other’s vocals for a business titled Struggle Clothing.
Estrada, who wears a second Apple watch dedicated solely to supporting his students, takes every opportunity to impart his knowledge on how the industry operates. From personal stories to talking in industry lingo, he wants his students to be prepared for employment. Together with Mr. Marc Hunt, Avid Certified Expert and Erie 1 BOCES instructor who started the Video Production and Sound Recording program, the pair provides the only certified Pro Tools Training Center at the high school level in New York state.
By the end of the course, all students will have the opportunity to become certified Pro Tools users/operators,” Estrada added.
The Video Production and Sound Recording program is available during the normal school day to high school juniors and seniors in Erie County at Erie 1 BOCES Harkness Career & Technical Center.