Sounds Practical: New certificate offers new skills and avenues for a career in music

Paul Griffith works with Jacob Norris (MM ’27) as they record a Wind Ensemble performance taking place in Hodgson Concert Hall September 18, 2025.

In addition to the undergraduate and graduate degrees offered in the Hugh Hodgson School of Music, there are also several focused certificates that add an element of expertise in a specialized area within the field. One of the newest certificates is the Classical Music Recording Certificate. 

The purpose of this certificate is to provide hands-on instruction in the art and technology of music recording and production. As career paths in music evolve, versatility has become a desirable attribute for job seekers in the industry. Beyond technical proficiency on one’s instrument or effectiveness in the classroom, performers and educators are often required to extend their reach via virtual performances, remote instruction, self-produced online portfolios, and social media content. This certificate will help prepare students to meet the needs of today’s media-hungry landscape.

“Recording a performance has a lot of challenges,” said Paul Griffith, senior academic professional in sound recording, “It’s important to have a trained ear and a good sense of how different instruments, even if recorded separately, can be incorporated into the final product to convincingly represent the experience of hearing the performance live.” 

The certificate program is designed to develop these critical listening skills to inform individual artistry and to identify objective qualities and issues in recorded music. Learning the principals and technologies associated with analog and digital audio, along with techniques to capture music and process audio to achieve desired aesthetic, is another major component. As the certificate students work on recordings in all three of the regularly used concert halls, students also learn how to evaluate recording spaces and make informed decisions about equipment and setup.

“Students learn to use their musical artistry to inform technical and logistical decisions when making a recording,” said Eric Dluzniewski, academic professional in sound recording. “It really is a synthesis of the various skills they’ve learned in all of their music coursework.” 

Alyssa Lovern (B.S. Mathematics, Minor in Music, Classical Recording Certificate ’26) feels the  classical recording certificate serves as a bridge between her major and minor. “Through it, I can interact with and support musical expression in a way that aligns with my strengths,” she said. “In my view, a quality recording relies on systematized logic and spatial reasoning in addition to musical literacy–to collaborate well, you have to know which mic position supports the instrument and remain organized throughout your session.” Lovern will be applying to graduate schools, hoping for a future involved with Audio Engineering. “Overall, the certificate widened my view of what was possible for my specific interests and abilities.”