Hey!

This is a spur-the-moment email, but I wanted to say a quick "thank you" to the entire SFCC audio department. Honestly, what made me think of emailing is that I’m in the middle of a studio buildout at work and was reminded of my system setup homework. 😂

In case you were interested, I’ve been at it for the past 12 years in audio technology. As you’d expect, it’s been an up-down-sideways sort of journey, but I've loved every bit of it.

That’s all! Thanks for all you guys do, and say hi to the staff for me.

All the best,

Tyler Bailey
Audio Engineer
8/25/23

Pam, Steve and Danny,

I hope you’ve all been well! I know it has been a few years since we last spoke, so I wanted to update you on how my career has been going in the audio field.

In November 2021 I started working for a small resort in my hometown (Bainbridge Island) as a live sound engineer. We have multiple venues on site where we have live music 3 to 4 nights a week. when I started, we had no equipment. I use the skills we learned in your classes about picking out all the right equipment to budget us a decent X32 system, and we are now packing in shows of over 100 people regularly every night, and special events with over 250 people. I have also started working with three local bands, helping them produce albums and live shows. We ran a festival here with over a dozen bands and just a two man production crew. My mixing skills have improved greatly since school and I’m absolutely loving what I do.

I also run an observatory here with a planetarium. I’ve transformed it into a space for learning about astronomy and space, and I’m using more of the skills we learned in class to design us a Dolby Atmos system, spec’d exactly to the planetarium dimensions and fully calibrated using room imaging software. If you ever want to check it out, I have a youtube channel, https://youtube.com/@ColeRees

I just wanted to say a massive THANK YOU for everything I learned in school from all of you. I’m extremely grateful for the learning opportunity as well as the life lessons you taught me along the way. I’m working harder than ever but it barely feels like work because I love it so much.

I hope everything is going well at SFCC these days, and if I’m ever visiting Spokane I would love to stop by during office hours and catch up for a bit!

Sincerely,
Cole Rees
2/13/2023

Good morning, all!

I recently got a job in Las Vegas as a sound tech for Cirque du Soleil and a performing gig as the bassist for Ted Sablay, the Musical Director and touring guitarist for The Killers.

Thank you all for everything you have taught me that has gotten me to this point, and I hope you all have had a great summer!

Thank you again.
-Johnny Curley
8/26/2022

Hey Steve, I wanted to let you know that I got hired at KSPS as a videographer/editor/audio mixer and just finished working my first week. I will be helping KSPS with all their shows, online videos, and their Inland Session productions which feature live performances from local bands.

Thank you for your work as an instructor, the audio engineering program really helped me connect to the Spokane community and find a really exciting career.

Neil Vanos
12/4/2021

Hi there, Steve! I wanted to let you know that I opened up a recording studio very close to the falls right off of Northwest Blvd. next to Resurrection Records. We opened on the first of April and we're working on many livestreaming shows and events. My life has become livestreaming since September and it led to opening a space! It is a more community-minded recording space, where we offer studio monthly memberships for people to come in and use the space. We are looking for people who might be interested in being a part of the studio. We don't have any jobs, but if you have any students who may be interested, I'd appreciate it if you just let them know who we are!

I'm doing what I love every day, and it feels great. Thanks for helping me achieve that goal.

Norman Robbins
5/11/2021

Hey Steve, I wanted to update you about what's going on. I went from The Falls to The Evergreen State College in Olympia to study Business and diversify my education a bit to get my Bachelors degree. Evergreen was kind enough to take ALL of my technical credits I earned at The Falls, so I'll be wrapping up my degree in March 2021. It's been a great deal.

I decided to study business as I believe they are extremely transferable skills, not because I wanted to go into business. My passion is and always has been in audio, and more recently audio design for games. So since graduating from the audio program I've put all my free time and energy into it. Evergreen allows you to craft your own course essentially, so I put together a two quarter long, student originated study course focusing on sound design for game implementation. In short, I'm studying how sound is used as a storytelling and player feedback device. I practice doing sound design to clips from modern games, kinda like we did with Agent Zero. I'd say that that's where my passion for sound design really got its start and when I realized that this is something I can actually be paid to do.

I wanted to share with you that in January I'll be starting a contract with Gearbox Software, a well established video game development company in Frisco, Texas. They are known best for their Borderlands series. The position is remote and I'll be working from home here in Spokane. I'll be handling source recording editing, VO editing and sound design tasks on an upcoming unannounced project. It's all very exciting. My contract will most likely be extended if all goes well and there's a good chance I'll be hired on full-time, so I'm told.

It all came about from sheer networking. I knew someone who knew someone who knew someone who knew someone. It's something you guys all told us at the Falls, but it was truly fascinating to see it all play out. I just kept talking and sharing my work.

Anyways, I thought I'd give you my thanks for being an incredible teacher and really allowing me to prove myself in the audio program at SFCC. I wouldn't be where I am now if it weren't for you guys.

Jayden Sabins
12/8/2020

Hello all!

Thought I would give you the weekend update on my new employment/what I am working on. I am now the resident sound designer/audio engineer at Seacoast Repertory Theatre in Portsmouth, NH. I design for eight shows per season for the mainstage and three shows per season for the youth theatre. I also serve as engineer and technician for all eleven shows. I designed for 7 shows this summer at the theatre I was working at (Weathervane Repertory Theatre), and I am nominated for two New Hampshire State Theatre awards (Best Sound Design for Ragtime and Hair) thus far. Official nominations/awards ceremony is in February. My daily work consists of reading scripts, designing sound effects, and keeping our system operational. At night I run the board. Full pit orchestra, everyone has a body mic. It gets intense sometimes. I learned a lot about ambient micing this summer when the lav system crashed and burned. I can now successfully ambient mic anything. I have just been hired to do the MIDI programming for our upcoming show as well. Next up we are doing a world premiere of a show that won 7 spotlight awards. I have been working with numerous actors, directors, musical directors and producers that regularly work on Broadway. More importantly, I make more than enough money to pay the bills, and I am having a great time. Let everyone know that there are jobs out there, but you can't suck. Seriously. At the end of the summer I had 15 job offers and I am constantly getting calls from people I have worked with to see if I am available. Job opportunities may be slightly bleak in Spokane, but once you get out there, if you are good, you will get hired. A big thank you to everyone and I will be sure to stop in and visit when I make it back to town.

Rachel Neubauer
Sound Design/Audio Engineer & Technician
Seacoast Repertory Theater
10/1/10

Pre-requisites: No
Number of students each start: 40
Contact: audioengineering@sfcc.spokane.edu
Applications deadline: Interviews begin in winter

Program Admission Process

The Audio Engineering program is fall quarter entry and admits 40 students.

Interviews for the 2024-25 school year begin in January 2024 and are conducted on a rolling basis until program is full. Please contact us as early as possible to secure your spot so that you’ll be ready to begin the program Fall 2023. This is especially important if you are applying for financial aid.

Our program is an open access program. As long as there are seats in the program and you have completed the admission process, you will be admitted. When student applications exceed program capacity a committee evaluates students on a holistic scoring process that takes into account the following criteria:

• Musical experience / background
• Audio engineering and goals
• Placement in English and math
• Communication skills (spoken and written)
• Motivation and goals

These criteria are predictors of student success in the program. For many of our courses, it is beneficial for students to possess some musical background. Similarly, it is beneficial across the curriculum to be a skilled reader (as students must absorb large amounts of complex information through reading). However, no student is excluded from consideration based upon any one criterion.

In order to apply for admission into the program, complete each of the steps listed below. It is essential that you maintain an active email account so that we may provide all information needed in a timely manner.

To apply to the Audio Engineering program, follow these steps:

1. Complete your online application

• For assistance with admissions, call 509-533-4356

2. Complete your online Bigfoot Orientation 

• Upon completing the application, you will receive the link 

3. Math & English Placement

• Find out your placement in math and English
  • Submit high school transcripts if you’ve graduated within the past five years
  • OR submit transcripts from prior college to be used for placement
• Bring a printed copy of your math/English placement to your interview
• For assistance with placement email Onboarding@sfcc.spokane.edu

4. Write your essay

• In one or two pages (typed or neatly hand-written) answer these questions:
  • What is your personal interest in the Audio Engineering Program at SFCC?
  • What experience do you possess in music and/or audio engineering?
  • What are your future goals?
• Submit your essay to audioengineering@sfcc.spokane.edu 
• Bring a printed copy of your essay to your interview

5. Interview with program faculty

• Contact us at audioengineering@sfcc.spokane.edu to schedule an interview
• Include your name, student ID, and telephone number
• You will be notified by email of your interview date and time. It is essential you maintain an ACTIVE EMAIL ACCOUNT. If you do not receive interview information within a week of emailing, please follow up by phone (509-533-3212). It is important to us to get you scheduled.
• Your interview will be 15 minutes in length. Please arrive 10 minutes early. Applicants must be on time to be considered for admission.
• Bring to your interview printed copies of your math/English placement and your essay.

In review, here are the steps in order:

1. Complete your college application
2. Complete your Bigfoot Orientation
3. Complete your Placement
4. Write your essay
5. Schedule your Interview

For assistance, you can always reach out to our faculty contact or our Curriculum Specialist. Please see Contact above.

Thank you for your interest in Audio Engineering at Spokane Falls. We look forward to meeting you.