At the mixing desk, from left, assistant head of ideaschool Chris Verburg, Ron Kessels and local musician Floyd Pepper, a Diploma in Screen Production student who completed EIT’s Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance last year.

Limited places will be available for two of EIT’s most popular short courses, which will be held during October’s school holiday break.

The two-day Beginners Guide to Live Sound and Recording, covering sound, signals, speakers and microphones through to equipment, editing and mixing, will run on successive Saturdays, 12 and 19 October.

Learning facilitator for EIT’s Certificate in Contemporary Music Performance Ron Kessels says the live sound and recording short course has sold out in the past and will be the last offered this year.  Covering the same material taught as part of the certificate programme, it will include an afternoon of hands-on activities working with a band at The Cabana.

For Introduction to Screen Production, experienced professionals will provide practical lessons in camera and sound recording, editing and sound mixing in EIT’s purpose-built Screen Production studios.

The three-day course will run from Tuesday to Thursday, October 8-10.

Lecturer Claire McCormick says those taking part will be invited to make a television ad.  Working with an existing script, they will record sound and film, and learn about and do the sound and screen mixing to complete the exercise.

The course is a drawcard for teachers wanting to learn about the latest equipment, and high school students and others interested in enrolling for EIT’s Diploma in Screen Production.

“It’s an alternative to the admission interview,” says Claire, who finds it a solid means to recruit passionate and able students onto the two-year programme.

Limited places are available for both courses, each of which cost $165.  For more information, phone Adele on (06) 974 8000 ext 5019 or email adeleis@eit.ac.nz