NASHVILLE — The Blackbird Academy was founded by recording/live sound engineer John McBride and his wife, country artist Martina McBride. The two created the Blackbird Studio complex in 2002, hosting recording artists such as Kings of Leon, The Black Keys, Kid Rock, Tim McGraw and many more. Sensing a need for quality, hand-on education for studio engineers, they founded the Blackbird Academy. Following its success, the school will expand with a Live Sound Engineering program, which kicks off in January, 2014.
The new Live Sound Engineering Program is based on the same model as the studio curriculum: experiential learning from real-life scenarios that a live sound professional would come across every day. The program was developed in collaboration with Clair Global, the premier live sound company. Because of this relationship, students will learn on gear that touring professionals use every day, from Clair’s huge warehouses in Nashville.
Clair Global professionals will also be part of the guest teaching staff, guiding students through the skills it takes to work in this challenging and growing industry. Also participating is an impressive roster of guest mentors from the live sound industry, with expert engineers, musicians, tour support personnel and artists from the top names in audio and the music industry.
For more info about The Blackbird Academy, go to theblackbirdacademy.com.
