Beverly Hills Unified School District Inspires Budding Music Makers to Take the Next Step with Tools from Solid State Logic

Building a solid foundation

“I always wanted to make music during my early education, but I didn’t have the equipment to take it further until I was a DJ at a college radio station,” comments Breitman, who created the program and is currently teaching all the audio production classes. When I heard about a possible opportunity to start an audio production class here at the high school, I knew the potential a program such as this would have in this area, so I jumped on it.”

With class sizes averaging around 30 students at the high school, Breitman has set up dedicated computer workstations consisting of SSL 2 interfaces, monitors/headphones and a MIDI keyboard so students can learn the basics of programming music, beatmaking and audio editing. Adjacent to the student workstation area are two other rooms: a creative performance space with a drum set, piano, guitars and synthesizers, and recording studio with the SSL BUS+, Fusion and a range of SSL plug-ins.

Inspiring student creativity and drive

With a typically very high interest level, Breitman finds no lack of creativity or drive among his young students: “All of the kids I teach have a genuine interest in making music, but most of them do not have experience in audio production. So they usually start with the Introduction to Audio class where they can learn about the basics of making, arranging and editing music.” Once they have completed the introductory course, the advanced class focuses on concepts such as the use of EQ, dynamics and reverb. This area is where he will typically introduce tools from SSL such as THE BUS+ and Fusion. Finally, students can take a Music Industry course where they are able to apply the technical knowledge they have gained and begin releasing their own music.

Breitman first heard the SSL Fusion and THE BUS+ during the 2022 NAMM Show. “When I saw these pieces of gear working together at NAMM, I immediately realized that these were the missing pieces for our set up,” he explains. “It is important for me to have these kids experience what it is like to turn a knob and hear what it does to the sound, just like in a real studio. This combination of SSL equipment will create some real teachable moments for them, since this is used in top recording studios around the world.”