By Alexa Peters, KNKX Public Radio
In the last 25 years, the rise of streaming has changed the game in the music industry.
Now that anyone can upload a song to a streaming service, independent musicians must master a variety of skills to break through in a saturated market. Those musicians finding the most success are not only refining their musical skills, but also business, publicity, and technical skills like studio recording and production.
With the latter in mind, the University of Washington School of Music is stepping up their offerings. In fall 2024, they hired Grammy-nominated recording engineer, producer, and drummer Andrew Munsey to lead and build out a Music and Technology program, dedicated to providing students with experience in studio recording, mixing and producing.
Now in its second year, UW students and alumni say the program, which is currently situated within the Jazz and Improvised Studies program, is invaluable to their music education and prepares them for the modern industry’s demands.