Frequently Asked Questions

The educational experience we offer is exclusive to one location. Our private campus is a creative retreat that has earned a world-wide reputation in the music recording industry. Students from every state in the U.S. and more than 70 other countries have made the journey to The RecW. We are worth the trip.

We help our students pursue employment in several ways. While they attend, students learn about hiring practices and methods of approaching that first job. And The RecW provides quick response to reference requests for graduates being interviewed. Our placement assistance also includes a network of facilities that have historically used us for their hiring needs. This is a resource that expands as our alumni become business owners themselves.

The student community at The RecW is as fascinating as the training we offer. The average age is around 21 years old, with most students being between 19 and 27. There are always a few students in their 30s and 40s too, and the 50+ crowd is often here to show the younger ones how to keep it rocking. About 80% of the student population is male, and about 5% is from outside the United States. About half of the class has a fair amount of prior experience in recording or live sound.

Having some basic playing skills is helpful, but not required. You should have a deep appreciation for music, and a willingness to explore all styles. About 2/3 of our students play an instrument, sing, or write songs. All students will be involved in recording/mixing student projects, but performing is voluntary.

It is expected that you will have basic computer skills on either Mac or Windows operating systems. Right from the start of classes, you will need to be already familiar with basic concepts like trackpad/keyboard usage and file/folder management. However, having a background in electronics is not required to take our programs. We will introduce some electronics design concepts as part of your classes, but as long as you can handle some basic arithmetic, you'll be fine.

A typical day of the CORE Program will average around 8+ hours of scheduled activities: 1-2 lectures per day, and 2-4 studio/event production classes. Classes start as early as 9am and can sometimes go until midnight on days when you're scheduled for band recording sessions. In between classes, there are scheduled breaks. Students will have some reading assignments and may also sign up for rehearsal time to work on student projects. Outside of scheduled classes, students may also sign up to use the lab or an empty studio for extra mixing (subject to availability).

Federally backed student loans are designed for longer-term study and do not apply to the short-term programs we offer. However, alternative funding is sometimes available through other government programs and special interest organizations. Eligibility requirements for these financial assistance programs vary greatly. Contacting your local employment services office is the best way to explore if any of these funding sources are available to you.

We offer several convenient & affordable on-campus housing options, all within a one minute walk of classes. Choices include dormitory-style housing with single/double room assignments, and modern cabins that can be rented privately, all with bath and kitchen facilities. Cookware and utensils are provided, but students are responsible for their own meal preparation, housekeeping, and bed linens. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout campus, free on-campus laundry facilities are also available for your convenience.

Having a car is convenient, but not needed by students who live on campus. Students frequently carpool for more shopping choices in Chillicothe (10 min away) after getting to know one another. At the start and end of each program, we provide students with a shuttle service to the Columbus airport and Greyhound bus station (1 hour away / $95 per trip).

Students who satisfy all program requirements will be issued The RecW certification. You will also have a portfolio of your recording, mixing, and other media production projects. Text materials, handouts, and a carefully constructed Performance Evaluation are also received. Most importantly, you will have new friends, professional associates, and greatly expanded creative skills and knowledge.

Our campus is nestled on a wooded hillside about 7 miles south of Chillicothe, Ohio (pop. 25,000). The setting is laid back, but this is a good counterbalance to the very active schedule of session work that students have. Our studios and administration offices are held in one main building, and 12 housing units and support facilities are also found on school grounds.

Certainly! We understand your need to check us out and we are happy to have you visit. We accommodate visitors on weekdays with scheduled tours at either 11:00am or 2:00pm. If you would like to visit, please call us a few days before you plan to come at (740) 835-4455.

Our short term vocational training is most often utilized by those seeking an alternative to college (and the giant financial burden that often comes with it). However, our training has been applied as perfect companion for university courses that simply do not have the state of the art facilities that we do. While our program does not directly qualify for college credit through a university, many collegiate students find ways to fit our training into that of their school's program- as a senior project, to fulfill field experience or continuing education credits, or even in a thesis study capacity. Contact your counselor to see how out training might be applied to your college path.

Graduates of The RecW are prepared for a variety of entry points into Music & Event Production. The traditional example would be starting out as an assistant at a venue or event production company, or potentially interning at a music recording studio. But alumni are also found at studios that specialize in television and film, commercial advertising, corporate presentation, game software development, sports venues, broadcast companies and more. RecW alumni are behind the boards at clubs, concert halls, churches, theaters, and theme parks across the country. Many students pursue self-employment as their immediate plan after graduation. Newer, more affordable technologies make being your own boss much more possible than in the past. And instead of recording or producing others, many of our graduates take our training solely for the purpose of working on their own music and to make sure that their music sounds its best.

Although some music production and event professionals make tremendous amounts of money, earning a solid middle-class income is much more typical. In general, working for a studio that leans towards commercial and corporate work or working in the world of event production offers a more balanced earning potential than a purely music environment. And it is typical that money made during the first few years usually starts modestly, and increases with career growth in responsibility and position. Beyond the rewards of money, music & event production professionals can enjoy great personal satisfaction in the creative work that they do.

The world of event production has been growing tremendously over the last few years. Touring musicians, bands, broadway shows, comedians, and much more have exploded onto the scene. The companies that provide the audio, lighting, staging and video support are always looking for good, qualified individuals.

Another area of positive growth in the employment market would be creating content for all of the streaming services we watch on Netflix, Prime, etc. Every week, there are a number of new releases on each and every platform from movies to tv series, documentaries to specials, news channels to sports channels, they all need audio.

Other sources of employment involving live production include churches, schools, colleges, theaters, corporations, federal agencies and more who hire audio & event professionals.

In addition and historically, a higher concentration of studios doing major projects (music & others) were found in New York, Los Angeles and Nashville. This is still somewhat the case. However new technologies create opportunities for high quality production to be done without the big gear investment, so there is a dramatic spreading out of where creative types can live and collaborate. Consequently, there are many other cities from which to choose when you consider the many types of production facilities and entertainment venues that exist. If you keep your options flexible, you can live just about anywhere you want.

Click here to learn about sponsorship opportunities for The RecW Continuing Education Scholarship Fund.