The first audio engineering class at Medicine Hat High School. The school is one of only two in the province that offers the program. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

By Chris Brown

Hat High audio engineering students getting an earful, in a good way

Jun 1, 2023 | 5:02 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Ariel Nava and her classmates in a new course at Medicine Hat High School have kept their ears to the ground and pretty much everywhere else this semester.

As it draws to a close, Nava and the rest of the audio engineering class are ready to turn it up to 11.

“This has been my dream since I was a little girl, I’ve always, always, always wanted to get into the music industry,” she says.

The Grade 11 student and about 20 classmates started the semester learning the basics of editing, voice recording and manipulating sound for remixes. They are now working on projects that are the same as real-world jobs and careers.

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“I actually have made my own music and I’ve also done a radio ad,” she says.

Other students are mixing commercials, radio shows and podcasts and a number of singer-songwriters are learning how sing into mics and equalize vocals and guitars, says teacher Ryan Massini.

Nicholas Price says he’s been into guitar his whole life and recently became interested in making his own music.

He’s taking the lessons from class home with him to help shape his music and stay focused on his future goals

“I guess it’s really helped because maybe it’s just kept me on the right track instead of blowing it off and not really taking the time to learn everything,” he says.

Price says he wants to continue pursuing music in university and beyond.

Hat High is one of only two schools in the province that offer audio engineering.

Massini, a well known local musician who has recorded many albums, lobbied to get the program at the school.

He says audio is an often overlooked part of the digital production industry. He says to think of home movies and if you noticed that there’s something unprofessional about it, it’s likely the audio you’ve picked up on.

Massini says the number of opportunities in the industry is growing all the time both locally at recording studios, and TV and radio stations and on a larger scale.

“With the emergence of YouTubing and TikTokers and influencers and stuff that need to or want to acquire the skills of sound I thought it was just a hole that needed to be filled,” he says.

Ariel Nava sings an original song in a recording booth at the school. (Photo Courtesy Kevin Kyle)

Nava experienced that herself when trying to figure out how to start producing her own music. The audio engineering provided the answer and she’s taking it from there.

“I think I’m going to release my own podcast and actually release my own songs like make my first album and I feel more confident to do it because of this program,” she says.

It might not be long before you see Nava’s name on your favourite streaming platform.