Education


"In 1997, I was working at Metropolis studio near Chicago.  I told Reggi Hopkins, one of the studio managers, that all of our interns were pretty horrible at their jobs.  He shrugged and told me to train them.  I said I would, and I got to work formulating a training program.  Metropolis had multiple recording rooms, a sound stage, and several rehearsal rooms.  There were a lot of people around.  Many of them got wind of the schooling going on, and wanted to participate.  Reggi saw an opportunity to create what later became Music Industry Workshop.

Metropolis closed in 1998.  Reggi called me in February of 2002, to ask me if I waned to start teaching again.  He had launched MIW as a full-time venture, now based at Al Ursini's Studio Chicago.  I developed a full curriculum for MIW, and taught there almost every weekend from 2002 into 2010.

In 2007, I became aware of the new Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy, a cutting edge college in downtown Chicago.  My experience at MIW combined with my extensive music recording background made me a natural to join their faculty.  I began teaching there as an adjunct in February of 2008, and joined full-time in September of 2009.

I have a strong passion for education.  I believe that inspiring the young people of our society and helping them to develop their minds is a crucial responsibility that is shamefully neglected far too often.  By working as an educator, I believe that I am doing my part to strengthen the foundation of our future.  Working with passionate, motivated kids such as the ones I see at Tribeca Flashpoint is a real pleasure."