Al Kooper Plays Dakota Jazz Club, IPR’s DIY360

Posted by brianjacoby on Wednesday, April 28th, 2010

Check it out! Citypages’ Rick Mason published an article today on the upcomming event Tribute to Al Kooper (featuring Al Kooper himself) at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis on Sunday, May 2nd. A number of IPR staff, faculty and friends will be playing at the show including our own Adam Levy, who is also the organizer of the show.

Al will also join Adam Levy to talk to IPR students as a very special guest at IPR’s own DIY360 on Friday, April 30th. 

You don’t want to miss either event! (more…)

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Jackie Lee Robinson Remembered

Posted by Travis Norman on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009

On November 11th The Institute of Production and Recording will close its campus in remembrance of one of its late founding fathers, Jackie Lee Robinson.  To help pay tribute to his memory I asked members of the extended IPR community to reflect on what type of impact Jack had on their lives, and the ways in which his vision and teachings continue to inspire and influence them today.

“From one bass player to another, Jack was FUNKY!  He was the one who inspired me to teach.  He approached me and encouraged me , saying that I could actually make a difference in a kids life.  He was one of a kind!” ~ Paul Peterson

“Mentoring under Jack Robinson was the turning point for me from being a hobbiest to making my living in the music industry.  He had a talent for teaching that brought the pressure of real world experience with a balance of hope and encouragement to each lesson.  He had a great impact on my life and the impact of his mentorship is present in my work everyday.  He has my highest respect.

The Jack Robinson quotes that I live by are: “signal flow, it’s all about signal flow”, “most engineers don’t hit their stride until they are in their 40’s”, and  “never be late for the call. If you’re late you don’t work.” ~ Chad Weis

“Jackie Lee Robinson was truly a role model to anyone aspiring top be an entrepreneur in the music business” ~ Kristin Aldridge

Jack Robinson quote:  (8 or 9 years ago at the Electronic Musician’s Workshop – Lake and Lyndale)

Jack:  What kind of music do you want to make?  Hip Hop?  House?  Tell me so I can teach you.

JP:  I don’t just want to make a particular kind of music…  I want to UNDERSTAND the MEDIUM of sound.

Jack:  Well, JP…  what you want is a degree in sound engineering.   Someday I’ll have my own school…  you will be the perfect candidate.

1 year later… IPR opens…  JP attends…   and now here we are. 

“My life would never be the same, after those 1 on 1 lessons that I took back in the year 2000″ ~ JP  Hunglemann

“What I am most grateful about having known Jack is that he really helped me get a job at IPR.   After knowing him as an instructor at a previous music school, he would come into the music retail store that I used to work at and say, “Tanya, you shouldn’t be working here.  I really want to see you be happy.”  He explained that he was “starting up a new school” and they needed help in the Admissions department.  He invited me to IPR in the Fall of 2002 for a tour.  At that time IPR was 1/3 of the size it is now and about a dozen people worked there, but I was impressed with the vision that he and Lance had for the school.  I know that Jack would be very proud to see the milestone steps that IPR has taken these past few years.  Jack was also a vegetarian so we shared our love for good food and often discussed our favorite local restaurants.  But he never cooked for himself… probably because he was so busy all of the time.” ~ Tanya Norman

JLR with his beloved motorcycle

In addition to being an established bass player with both Prince and Carmen Electra, Robinson was also a philanthropist and concerned about childrens’ education. “He [Robinson] wanted to give back to the community,” said Stephen Slater, long time friend and colleague of Robinson. That dream has now become reality in the form of IDEAWERKS Indigenous Creative Academy, a venture designed to create, manage, and maintain community based multimedia arts, music and recording technology after school programs.

Conceived in cooperation with The IPR/JLR Foundation and supported in part by contributions from a host of prominent music technology manufacturers, IDEAWERKS seeks to carry forward a vision of excellence in education, creativity, music, technology and public achievement as tools for communication and self awareness.

Morris Hayes, producer, artist, and long time musical director for Prince, took time out of his schedule to fly back to his hometown of Minneapolis to show his support for this exceptional program. “As a personal friend of the late Jackie Lee Robinson, I have nothing but heartfelt appreciation for the efforts of all involved to help make Jackie’s vision for Ideawerks come to life,” says Hayes. “I will continue to stay involved with the program and encourage all community members to do so as well. Students are given the remarkable opportunity to learn recording techniques and music basics at no charge, allowing them to express themselves in a creative way, and in a safe environment, too. This program will change many lives and I am happy to be a part of it.”

Thanks to all who contributed to this article and to the many individuals who push themselves to achieve in music and in life, thereby insuring that Jack’s wishes for the IPR community continue to be realized.

Tags: IDEAWERKS, IPR, Jackie Lee Robinson, The IPR/JLR Foundation
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Mary Ann O’Dougherty Remembered

Posted by Travis Norman on Friday, October 30th, 2009

To those that were fortunate enough to know her, this shining personification of light and laughter, of melody and marvel, of curiosity and of caring, needs no introduction. However, if you are perhaps a brand new addition to the IPR community I would like to take a moment to acquaint you with one of the most amazing people to ever walk our halls and inspire our students.

Mary Ann O’Dougherty was born on Halloween, October 31, 1953, and grew up in South Minneapolis. She spent her early years developing her skills as a singer and musician, taking piano lessons as a child and performing in high school musicals and talent shows. She attended Regina High School and earned a BA in Music Education at the University of Minnesota. After graduating from the U in 1975, Mary Ann’s passion and drive for life launched her global travels to more than 30 countries, where she studied languages and performed. After spending time in the Middle East, Europe, and South America, she settled in Brazil for five years. There her love of food and singing intersected in a jazz nightclub she owned called Mandala. In the mid-1980s she returned to the Twin Cities, and while working in local fine restaurants joined “The Consort”, one of the first bands to bring “world music” to the Twin Cities. Mary Ann’s band, “Mandala”, highlighted her roots in Brazilian music and native-like fluency in Portuguese, her beautiful alto voice and incredible stage presence that captured the hearts of thousands. From in the mid-1980s onward Mary Ann used her true gift of teaching that combined her love of singing, culture, art and music. She created an artist-in-residence curriculum that was offered in local and statewide elementary schools. In 1991 she started teaching music for the St. Paul Public Schools, first at Cherokee Heights Elementary and later at Eastern Heights Elementary. She completed a Masters Degree at the University of Minnesota. Mary Ann began teaching at the Institute of Production and Recording in Minneapolis in 2005.  Mary Ann had a rare capacity to connect deeply with people. All who knew her will remember her open, genuine, buoyant spirit, intensity and infectious vitality. She loved to hear everyone’s stories and tell her own. She was an avid chef and talented party giver, was passionate about her close friendships and loved her family dearly. Mary Ann was an ardent supporter of social justice and put her values into everyday practice. As singer/performer, teacher, colleague, friend, and family member, she touched the lives of many, many people in a profound way. Mary Ann O’Dougherty, of Minneapolis, passed away on February 25, 2009.

In closing, I would like to offer a suggestion on a sure fire way to insure that Mary Ann’s teachings remain a vital component of the IPR experience.  A driving motivation behind much of her effort here was to expand student awareness of the rich musical histories of both our American culture and cultures from around the world.  Within the walls of her classes, it was often possible to look around the room and literally see eyes being opened, ears being adjusted to the unfamiliar, and preconceived notions on the scope of what music is and can be, crumbling away.  For many, it was a first exposure to sounds and styles which, although hugely influential in other times and / or places, had thus far failed to penetrate the consciousness of the typical IPR student.  Who among us can deny that while dedicating ourselves to the niche genres we identify the most with, we can easily overlook incredible contributions made to music from outside our sphere of taste.  Therefore, as a simple way to honor Mary Ann’s memory I plan to push myself to explore music beyond the here and now, and to share those discoveries with those around me…give it a try…you may be pleasantly surprised by what you find!

Tags: "Mandala", Mary Ann O'Dougherty, The Institute of Production and Recording
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Networking at AES

Posted by Travis Norman on Wednesday, October 14th, 2009

IPR Career Services Director Norbert Kreuzer visited “The City that never sleeps” last weekend to network for IPR. The Audio Engineering Society held its annual convention at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in Manhattan October 9 through October 12.

Over 200 industry related exhibitors were present. Besides learning about new products, the convention presented excellent networking opportunities. Many companies, such as Sony, Neumann, Steinberg, Roland, Yamaha, Wave, are just a few manufacturers who committed to host events and seminars at our campus in the future. Such events are very beneficial for the students and alumni as they get exposure to the latest equipment and technology.

Further, several companies have internships available for current students in marketing, production, and research areas and shared information about career paths and opportunities within their organization.

The show also provided a forum to network with potential future guest speakers who want to share their wisdom and experience with our students. The following picture shows Norbert Kreuzer talking to audio legend Rupert Neve.

Tags: AES Convention, IPR, Rupert Neve
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IPR Entertained Athletes

Posted by Travis Norman on Monday, October 5th, 2009

Last Sunday, October 4^th was marathon day in the Twin Cities with close to 17,000 runners. For the second year in a row, IPR set up a booth in the Finish Party Tent and IPR employee Marquay Belcher, a.k.a.  DJ Morplay spun chill out tunes for the exhausted athletes, supported by Norbert Kreuzer, IPR’s Director of Career Services.

It was a rewarding event: We received many “thank you-s” from runners, their family members, and event management and were asked to be back again next year!

Tags: DJ Morplay, IPR, Marathon, Twin Cities
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IPR Students Appear in Best Buy Commercial

Posted by Travis Norman on Thursday, October 1st, 2009

IPR students, Molly Murray, Alex Jaramillo, Andrew Johnson, Nathan Brende, Antonio Rodriguez, Lukcy Charms, and Erin Stubbs were “extras” in a recent in-store Best Buy Commercial shoot for their GPS product line, which was filmed across the street from IPR at the Monte Carlo.

Not only will their faces appear on screens in Best Buy stores everywhere, but they were able to network with representatives from Yellow Tag Productions, Best Buy’s in-house media production company, and other freelance producers, directors, camera operators, and actors involved in the commercial project.

Tags: Best Buy, Commercial, GPS, IPR
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IPR At The Minneapolis Performing & Visual Arts College Fair

Posted by Travis Norman on Friday, September 25th, 2009

IPR is excited to once again participate in the Minneapolis Performing & Visual Arts College Fair. This is a great opportunity for creative individuals to speak directly with representatives from IPR regarding exciting career opportunities in the Media Arts.  Please join us!

The event will be held Monday October 12, 2009 from 7:00 p.m.–9:00 p.m.

Coffman Memorial Union–Great Hall
300 Washington Avenue, SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455-0110
612/624-4636

For more information, click here

Tags: College Fair, IPR, Performing and Visual Arts
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For The Win: Career Opportunities and Networking

Posted by Travis Norman on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

Recently, IPR sponsored students enrolled in their last quarter of studies to attend the annual Minnesota Twins Internship and Career Fair at the Metrodome. Students were able to network with recruiters from sports teams and media companies, exchange contact information, and pass on their resumes. Some of the attendees included the Minnesota Twins, the Minnesota Vikings, the Timberwolves, the Wild, Hubbard Radio, and Fox 9 TV amongst many others. Afterwards, participants got to see the Minnesota Twins play and enjoy a free hotdog and soda.  Even though the Twins scored a win over Cleveland last night, the real winners of the day were the students being able to learn about career opportunities and to network.

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IPR INSTALLS THE FIRST DIGIDESIGN ICON D-CONTROL ES CONSOLE IN MINNESOTA

Posted by Travis Norman on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009

MINNEAPOLIS, MN, September 1, 2009 — The Institute of Production and Recording (IPR) in Minneapolis is pleased to announce it has installed the first Digidesign ICON D-Control® ES console in Minnesota into its professional recording studio, Master Mix, as part of a facility upgrade. The ICON allows IPR to offer the latest technology to both its students and clientele, which has included Neil Diamond, Ricky Martin and Lucinda Williams.

“When the school first opened seven years ago, we installed one of the first Pro Tools|HD systems in Minnesota to accompany our 48-track analog console that packed a lot of punch,” explains Director of IPR Brian Jacoby. “The marketplace and technology is always in a constant state of fluctuation but our facility has always been a step ahead to adapt. This is why we install digital integrated work surfaces. Everything within the Pro Tools environment is fully automatable and integrated with a substantial work surface. It represents the pinnacle in technology in terms of working with a digital audio workstation.”

IPR has well over 100 Digidesign workstations including Pro Tools M-Powered, LE and HD systems. The D-Control ES is the 15th Digidesign ICON console in the facility. With its ability to efficiently move from one session to another without spending hours recalling numerous settings, the console adds flexibility and workflow that are usually much more difficult to achieve on an analog console.

“The D-Control ES is very easy to use as is the workflow that you get working with a console that’s integrated directly with Pro Tools,” continues Jacoby. “Not only does the console streamline the process, but the ICON itself has no sound of its own, allowing all of your sound to come from the processors in the room instead. Both the analog and outboard equipment are used in the Pro Tools environment as well as the many processors available in the box. One of the things that makes an upgrade like this possible today is that the processing in the box has evolved to a point where it can compete with the sound of analog processors. Not to mention, analog consoles have gotten very expensive to maintain. The D-Control ES offers significantly less down time, expense and maintenance.”

The Master Mix facility has been fully upgraded and is currently in use.

About IPR: Integrating a liberal arts education with business and technical training expertise, The Institute of Production & Recording provides a learning environment that reflects today’s evolving entertainment industry. Its classrooms invite active discussions, creative problem solving, and presents an open forum for the exchange of new methods and ideas. Encouraging creativity and recognizing achievement, IPR assists its students in reaching their career goals in music, multimedia production, audio recording and music business. IPR is based in Minneapolis, MN. For further information, visit www.ipr.edu.

Tags: Digidesign, ICON D-Control, IPR, Master Mix
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IPR and The U of M Celebrate 5 Years of Summer Youth Programs

Posted by Travis Norman on Monday, August 31st, 2009

The Institute of Production and Recording is celebrating our fifth year as a partner with The University of Minnesota in providing media arts education.  The U of M offers one of the largest summer youth enrichment programs in the country with thousands of annual participants across a myriad of subjects including sports, academics, and professional development.  IPR is once again teaching classes in Audio Recording for youth ages 12-15.  During each single week course, students perform, record, and mix their own audio CD while discussing related technology, the recording process, and elements of the music business.   Many parents have commented about how empowering and encouraging the program has been for their children.  So far, we’ve probably worked with over 250 students and the Sound Recording offering has been one of the most popular classes the University has ever offered in their 15 years of summer enrichment.

This year we’re even offering a second subject – Digital Cinema, wherein groups of young people are acting, shooting, and directing their own short DVD.

Adding to this experience, all of these courses are being taught by IPR graduates hired by the U of M: Kristen Schmitigal, Evan Backe, Ashley Thompson, and Emily Schultz.

Click here for further information…

Tags: Audio Recording, Digital Cinema, IPR, University odf Minnesota, youth enrichment
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Announcements

April 28, 2010

Al Kooper Plays Dakota Jazz Club, IPR’s DIY360

November 10, 2009

Jackie Lee Robinson Remembered

October 30, 2009

Mary Ann O’Dougherty Remembered

October 14, 2009

Networking at AES