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Jack Straw Productions' Blind Access Initiative and Training Programs
Jack Straw Productions, in partnership with Arts for Visually Impaired Audiences (AVIA), is proud to offer a variety of programs providing access and training in audio production for blind and visually impaired persons.
Sonar/Caketalking (Dean Wong) |
Interactive Digital Audio Workstation
A primary component of all of our programs with blind and visually impaired persons is our newest digital audio workstation: a PC running Sonar audio editing software, as well as JAWS and Caketalking, which convert screen information into voice prompts from the computer. This workstation is fully functional for blind users, allowing recording, mixing, and editing of music and spoken word projects. Normally residing in an editing suite, the system can be relocated in either of JSP's two studio control rooms to facilitate recording and training projects.
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| This Sonar workstation was purchased in 2004 with generous support from the City of Seattle Department of Information Technology. A public reception was held in July, at the culmination of the annual Blind Youth Audio Project, showcasing a variety of recent training projects conducted on the system. |
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The Blind Youth Audio Project
The Blind Youth Audio Project, initiated in 1995, is an annual workshop series run in conjunction with the Department of Services for the Blind's Youth Employment Solutions (YES) program. Blind and visually impaired high school students from across Washington state are housed at the University of Washington for 6 weeks while participating in job placement programs all around Seattle. As an extracurricular component to the program, students are invited to attend a series of 8 workshops (twice weekly for four weeks) at Jack Straw's Studios, a few blocks from the UW campus. |
Blind Youth Audio Project (Dean Wong) |
| Typically 12-18 students participate in the program each summer, working with JSP staff engineers, theater artists, and guest musicians and sound artists. A principal advisor in this program is Todd Houghton, a blind musician/engineer/producer familiar with Sonar. The workshops span a range of audio projects and skills including: short radio drama production, soundscaping (live and mix projects), interview and radio production, multitrack and stereo music recording and mixing, and long-form radio theater creation and production. |
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Accessible Adult Workshops
Initiated in 2003, this short workshop series is geared toward blind and visually impaired adults. Based upon the long-running Blind Youth Audio Project, it features four intensive sessions. Skills taught include basic digital recording and production, studio acoustics, and microphone use and technique. Production segments have included: interview and radio production, stereo music recording, commercial production, and sound design. |
PJ McGraw (Dean Wong) |
Training Residencies and Intensives
Jack Straw has been pleased to offer a limited number of training residencies and two-day intensive sessions. Intensives, open to groups or individuals focus on a specific aspect of audio productions, such as music multitrack recording or narrative production, and covers that topic over two full days. Residencies allow participants to work one-on-one with a professional engineer-instructor to learn the Sonar environment and basic recording and production technique. This format allows for extended use of the Sonar system, and the opportunity to complete a significant project. The goal of this training is complete self-sufficiency on the Sonar system. Past residencies include:
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Nick Baker (Dean Wong) |
Nick Baker ~ Nick, a musician and high-school junior during the period of his residency, completed a CD with several musical pieces and a public service announcement, recorded and mixed on the Sonar system. Nick is interested in pursuing a commercial recording and production career, so an added emphasis was put on the ability to adhere to time constraints and complete the entire project on deadline.
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Maureen Shenberger and PJ McGraw ~ Over 10 hours of studio time, Maureen conducted field recordings and interviews, writing a narrative about her experiences as an Americorps volunteer. Both participants worked jointly to record, edit, and mix the material into a radio feature.
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Upcoming Programs & Workshops
Joan Rabinowitz, Executive Director
Jack Straw Productions
206-634-0919
Arts and Visually Impaired Audiences
www.artsvia.org
Quarterly Workshops ~ Month-long workshops begin with an audio production overview, followed by instruction in each content area: narrative/radio, music composition, and audio engineering.
2-Day Intensives ~ over one full weekend classes will use Sonar and focus on specific topics: audio multitracking, MIDI recording, or narrative production.
Interested in these workshops? We can't run them without students! Please contact us for current scheduling information, or to let us know what courses you'd like to see offered. Scheduled workshops will be posted here as they are finalised.
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