Beverly Hills Unified School District Uses Solid State Logic to Inspire Young Music Creators to Take the Next Step
Audio programs in district high and middle schools provide real-world music production experience using SSL professional tools
With approximately 3,300 students per campus, the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) serves students in Beverly Hills from kindergarten through high school. In the fall of 2019, Mr. Alex Breitman created a curriculum for Beverly Hills High School’s first audio production program, which included classes in three tracks: Introduction to Audio Production, Advanced Audio Production, and Music Industry.
Despite having to move classes online during 2020 and 2021, the program has proven popular with high school Career Technical Program (CTE) students, and it also fulfills the core arts requirement in the curriculum. Recently, to enhance the student workstations and its in-house recording studio, BHUSD purchased several SSL 2 audio interfaces, a UF8 plug-in console, THE BUS+ compressors and a Fusion audio analog processor from Solid State Logic, among other equipment.
build a solid foundation
Breitman commented: “I always wanted to make music during my early education, but it wasn’t until I became a DJ for a college radio station that I had the equipment to go further.” Breitman created the show and is currently teaching all of the audio production classes . “When I heard about the opportunity to start an audio production class in high school, I knew the potential of a program like this, so I jumped at it.”
With an average class size of about 30 at the high school, Breitman built dedicated computer workstations consisting of SSL 2 audio interfaces, monitors/headphones, and MIDI keyboards so students could learn the basics of music programming, beat-making, and audio editing. Adjacent to the student workstation area are two further rooms: a creative performance space with drum kit, piano, guitar and synths, and a recording studio with SSL BUS+, Fusion and a range of SSL plug-ins.
He says the SSL 2 audio interface is a key addition to the student workstation: “I believe the SSL 2 has value when it comes to audio interfaces. It’s very durable and easy to use. I find the blue volume knob particularly useful as I often ask What the kids are doing. I’ll say, ‘Let me hear it!’ and they’ll turn the big blue knob.” Breitman also appreciates the 4K button, saying, “It makes everything sound better, especially the guitar. .”
Inspire creativity and motivation in students
Interest levels are usually high, and Breitman has found that among the elementary students he teaches are creative and highly motivated students, saying: “All the kids I teach have a genuine interest in making music, but most of them Neither has experience in audio production. So they usually start with an introductory audio class, where they learn the basics of making, composing, and editing music.” Once they complete the introductory class, advanced classes focus on EQ, loudness, and reverb concepts such as use. In this field, he usually introduces SSL tools, such as THE BUS+ and Fusion. Finally, students can take a music industry course where they are able to apply their technical knowledge and begin producing their own music.
Breitman first heard about SSL Fusion and THE BUS+ at NAMM 2022. He explained: “When I saw these devices working together at the NAMM show, I immediately realized that these were the missing pieces of our equipment. For me, it was a great experience for these children to experience turning a mechanical knob and hearing how it worked. It’s important what the change feels like in a real studio. This combination of SSL gear will create some truly teachable moments for them, as these are used in studios all over the world. ”
Create a plan for future professional producers
Breitman also created a Middle Years Program for kids in grades 6 through 8, where they learn the basics of music production. The class uses age-appropriate software and focuses on learning how to arrange a repertoire and which instruments to choose, he said. “Secondary classes are more about sound and music theory,” he explains:
“We have an SSL 2 audio interface that students can use, and soon there will be an SSL UF8 console so kids can get exposed to the basic concepts of mixing.”
Breitman concluded:
“I believe in the cutting edge audio programs we have here and I’m really excited about what our students are able to accomplish through our courses. It’s very exciting to be able to have them use the classic tools that SSL has to offer and I’m sure many of these kids Will become a real music producer, or find other rewarding paths in the music industry.”
