Three Slippery Rock University students recorded music in professional studios while gaining valuable experience as part of an immersive research and production project this semester.
Hannah Dunn, a senior music therapy major from High Bridge, New Jersey (Voorhees HS); Emily Wingrove, a senior music performance major from Uniontown (Laurel Highlands HS); and Brooke Jordan, a senior music education major from New Castle (Wilmington HS), visited and recorded at three professional studios in the Pittsburgh area, allowing them to experience the realities of the music recording industry.
“I’m in awe of the fact that I’m surrounded by so many amazing musicians,” Dunn said. “Hearing my own music played by talented people, listening to it all being recorded, and watching it come to life has been an amazing and unbelievable experience. I was pinching myself the whole way through.”
Their project, titled “Recording Realities: Faculty-Student Exploration of Studio Production,” was conducted under faculty mentor Vern Miller, an assistant professor of music, which the students explored several aspects of music production, including performance, engineering, mixing, production techniques and studio electronics. “We all have interests in the different facets of the recording process,” Dunn said. “But we all worked together to create professional recordings and build an understanding of the process.”
Each student contributed a specialized role that mirrored the structure of a professional recording team. Dunn served as the artist and primary songwriter, writing original music, arranging parts for additional musicians, performing in the studio and guiding the final creative direction of each track. Jordan served as the audio engineer and focused on recording technology, audio software, recording techniques and the use of studio equipment. Wingrove was the producer, developing skills in shaping the musical direction of the songs and refining the final product.
“It was a really eye-opening experience for the three of us,” Dunn said. “With my own music, I had never recorded anything outside of my own bedroom. I had never been in a professional recording studio before.”
The project also introduced the students to established professionals in the music industry through recording sessions at several Pittsburgh area studios. At The Vault Recording Studio, the group recorded the song “Icarus.” They later recorded “Stranger (All My Secrets)” at Jake Hanner’s home studio and completed “All That There Is” at Red Caiman Studios.
For Dunn, one of the most memorable moments came during the recording process when her father, who is a musician, joined the session to contribute harmony vocals.
The collaboration extended beyond the studio roles, as all three students also contributed musically to the recordings. On “All That There Is,” Dunn performed acoustic guitar, lead vocals and harmonies, while Wingrove recorded bassoon parts and Jordan played the synthesizer.
As an aspiring musician and future music therapist, Dunn reflected on how the project allowed her to combine academic studies with her creative passions, all while gaining valuable professional experience. She also credited SRU’s support for making the opportunity possible through support from faculty and SRU’s Faculty & Student Research/Creative Activity Grant Program.
“I’m incredibly grateful that SRU has a grant for this and that we were able to receive it for this project,” Dunn said. “It’s not something that every university offers, and most students haven’t even heard of a research grant for a creative project like this. There was also this indescribable feeling of reassurance while working. Reassurance that what I’m creating matters as a songwriter and music therapist.”
Reflecting on her experience at SRU, Dunn said the University’s Music Department has played a major role in helping students grow both artistically and personally.
“The Music Department here is really great at meeting people where they are and then striving to build them into the best musicians, and people, that they can be,” Dunn said. “They encourage us to be curious, ask questions, and learn as much as we can. I think SRU is a really great place for supporting that.”
More information about the music program at SRU can be found on the program’s webpage.
