As you walk past the Glenholme Music Building, the sound of pianos, drums, guitars, and voices fills the air. Day and night, students participate in music classes, rehearsals, private lessons, and even their own recording sessions, thanks to the recent addition of a digital recording studio. According to Robert Fappiano, a Glenholme technology instructor and the head of studio production, “the new digital recording studio has created quite the buzz at Glenholme. There are so many eager students wanting to schedule time in the studio.”

Over the past few months, Mr. Fappiano has been busy recording student soloists, singing groups, and instrumentalists, along with a few special guests. “The interest has been incredible – both from students and faculty,” he said, “all expressing excitement that this incredible resource is available for the students of the school and the community.”

Dreams of having a state of the art digital recording studio began several years ago, as the school sought new ways to support Glenholme’s flourishing Arts Program. Once two adjacent rooms in the Music Building became available, the plans for a recording studio were set in motion, and construction began shortly thereafter.

The studio, which had a soft opening in the winter of 2010, rivals most college facilities with a recording space, a master control room, and an equipment room. “The recording studio is the ideal environment for instruction,” Mr. Fappiano continued. ”The students are producing quality recordings from singles to full length CDs.”

Mr. Fappiano added, “Over the coming months we will continue to refine the studio as we work on several student recording projects. A few students are planning to follow in the footsteps of a recent graduate who sent in a demo track with his college applications and was accepted to Berkley School of Music.”

Matt DeLong, the Arts Director at Glenholme, noted, “Glenholme is never short of quality performers – particularly when it comes to the prospect of recording their own tracks. This is a rare, inspirational opportunity for students to work in a professional level studio such as ours.”

In the view of Mr. Fappiano, Mr. DeLong, and Glenholme Executive Director Maryann Campbell, the studio is a solid investment in the musical and technical talent at the school. A course in music production and sound engineering will likely be added to the afternoon curriculum to foster the growth of emergent Glenholme musicians, music enthusiasts, and sound technicians.

Ms. Campbell affirmed, “The beauty of the recording studio is that all students who enjoy music stand to benefit from it - from those who are passionate about performing to those who have an interest in sound engineering. The recording program adds yet another option to the school’s vast Arts offerings.”