Producing Tomorrow's Producers: Audio Engineering as a Tool for Facilitation

Abstract

“Ideal teachers are those who use themselves as bridges over which they invite theirstudents to cross, thenhaving facilitated their crossing, joyfully collapse, encouragingthem to create bridges of their own.”–Nikos Kazantzakis

In a makeshift rehearsal space and sound studio, tucked away in a Brooklynapartment that might have seemed dingy were it not for the brightly colored artwork onthe walls and the assortment of instruments scattered around, thirty adults stood in acircle playing a name game. Each person took a turn saying his or her name in a sonicallyunique way, pairing the utterance with an exaggerated action. Some raised their arms andsang their name in an operatic falsetto, others experimented with syncopated rhythms andanimated dances, and still others simply stepped forward and declared their name in astern monotone. After each miniature performance, the rest of the group would imitatethe sound and action.