FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- 3/7/11

MORGAN ARTS COUNCIL - Berkeley Springs, WV
Press contact only: Mary Hott -- 304-258-2300
www.macicehouse.org

SOUND TECH CLASSES AT ICE HOUSE

BERKELEY SPRINGS, WV ----The Morgan Arts Council begins the spring 
semester of technical theater classes with Sound Reinforcement taught 
by Jim Salman. The class is taught in two sessions that can be taken 
individually or together. Classes are Tuesdays, March 15 and March 22 
at 6pm at the Ice House. "The first class will be mostly concepts and 
theory," said Salman. "The second is mostly hands-on."

The series is billed as how to run sound for a concert safely and 
effectively and covers everything from types of signal and cables to 
the basics of microphone placements, mixing and problem solving. 
"There is a long list of people who would benefit from these two 
classes," explained MAC's Executive Director, Mary Hott. The list 
includes everyone from band members and church venues who need to run 
their own sound to club owners and musicians who should understand how 
to talk to their soundperson. "Many people who run sound because 
they're the one in an organization who is least afraid of the 
equipment don't know how to produce sound that doesn’t hurt people’s 
ears, literally," said Hott. "They need to know it isn't volume but 
certain sound frequencies that cause the hurt or damage." Hott also 
pointed out that people with some experience in sound reinforcement 
can benefit from the additional background knowledge in basic 
acoustics and electronics. "This class can make anyone a better sound 
engineer," she said.

Salman is both a musician and longtime sound person for a variety of 
bands throughout the east. His former company, "Sonic Bloom," 
restored and built amplifiers and related music electronics.

MAC is offering the class to qualified individuals on a work-study 
basis where tuition is waved with a commitment to occasionally work an 
Ice House concert or event. "Like stage management, learning to run 
sound is job training," said Hott. "We have one MAC volunteer who is 
now running sound independently for bands and being paid for it, 
usually more than the individual band members."

Attendees should bring a notebook and pen/pencils. There may be some 
handouts, but a lot of material will be presented orally along with 
drawings on a flip-chart/easel, so attendees are expected to take notes.

To register, call 304-258-2300. The Ice House is located at 
Independence and Mercer in downtown Berkeley Springs. The Building 
Community Theater - Taking the Next Step program is funded in part by 
the West Virginia Commission on the Arts.