Setting the tone: Considerations for educating the next generation of sound reproduction professionals

Despite the increase in prevalence of music technology and related programs industry bodies such as creative and cultural skills council, have continued to highlight the requirement for technically competent graduates to meet the growing demand from the wider audio and creative industries. Drawing upon academic literature, government and educational publications and empirical data gathered during student feedback and focus groups this paper explores the authors’ experiences of developing the curriculum in the sound reproduction subject area on an undergraduate Music Technology BSc (Hons) course. Commencing with an overview of the areas of the sound reproduction curriculum, the paper turns to some of the challenges faced by the authors in delivering this subject area in a formal educational setting. The paper then concludes by summarising some useful pedagogical approaches to deliver sound reproduction themes and points towards further ways in which the required skills and knowledge for industry could be addressed.