How many SPR employees does it take...?

How many SPR employees does it take to record a promo?

I’d written a few 30-second spots promoting the Making Noise blog, and headed back to one of the mixing consoles to record.

“Uh…” I’d recorded in this room before, but Patrick had always been manning the computer. Today, though, he was downtown playing at Street Music Week.

There was a picture of our President in cool dreadlocks on the monitor, which I found amusing, but I could not find the Next Gen audio icon anywhere on the desktop. Another thing: Talk of the Nation was blasting over the speakers, and I had no idea how to turn it off without pushing the wrong button and wreaking havoc on the entire station.

The last time I’d recorded stuff on my own, Verne had set it all up for me. I’d made some mistakes, but I’d figured it out.

There was no way I was figuring this out alone.

Luckily, Neesha is a whiz with most things technical. She noticed right away that there were two machines hooked up to the one monitor. Unsuccessfully, she searched for the switch to change over to the machine I needed. With Jerry’s help, we figured out keystrokes instead.

“Oh!” Jerry suddenly announced. “Here’s the switch!” It was hidden behind the monitor. Neesha and I laughed. “That’s what I was looking for!”

Neesha hadn’t recorded audio for a while, but she got me set up in Next Gen’s promo file and gave me a quick refresher on the mini editor. Neesha and Jerry wished me luck as they left, shutting the door.

Okay, I thought, I can do this.

I sat down in the chair. I put the headphones on. I started recording.

I heard nothing on playback.

Uh-oh.

Once again, I looked down at the mixing console. I swear it looked more advanced than the cockpit of a 747. There were at least 12 pots (potentio-meter-something), with various on-off switches lit or unlit, volume sliders, Audition mode, and all sorts of other modes and lights and…

I could feel my eyes crossing, and had a vague memory of flunking the circuit-building part of my Physics final. How did anyone ever figure this stuff out?

Luckily, Brian Flick had just finished an important project, and had time to come and help me out.

“You need to make sure this—“ he pushed a button “—is on Audition, and this—“ he pushed another “—is off, and this—“ He pushed about eight more buttons, which all turned light green. “Okay, now you should be able to hear yourself.”

Viola! All of a sudden I was in business.

I thanked Brian profusely, and he gave me a hearty pat on the back. “Every console is a bit quirky, and so is every computer. We all have to learn each one all over again, too!”

I felt tons better.

So, how many SPR employees did it take to record one promo? Not including myself, it took three. And I never could’ve done it without them.

Musicfest Northwest

Music provides an escape. It’s healing. And in spite of what you may think, even teenagers adore Beethoven.

This morning I walked past the retro-festive refreshments table and toward the room where I’d helped answer phones during the recent pledge drive. Gorgeous, flawless classical music was playing, and I thought, “They must be taking a break between performers.” I walked quietly and, just in case, peeped in through the door’s window. A thin, shy-looking young man wearing glasses was playing a clarinet. My jaw dropped.

“Hey, Heather,” Patrick Klausen said, waving me into the adjoining room and toward a chair next to the picture window.

“That’s not a recording?” I asked, disbelieving.

He smiled. “Nope. That’s Patrick Moeller.”

When he finished, everyone broke into applause. “He was good,” I said.

The look on Patrick’s face said, “That’s what it’s all about.”

I was immediately impressed by the professionalism young Mr. Moeller and the other performers seemed to possess. Half a dozen people sat in the room, clicking pictures or taking video, while multiple pairs of eyes peeped through windows on all sides. And yet, the performers did not seem shaken by the “fishbowl” feeling they must’ve had.

As a high school teacher, I am constantly and pleasantly surprised by some of the young people that live in our region. Talented, kind, and hard-working—it makes me proud to be a part of this community.

Next up was Eun-Song Koh, ready to jet off to college back east in the fall. Her eyes closed in ecstasy half the time, I felt as if I was watching a conversation between this young woman and her piano.

During her post-performance interview with Verne Windham, Eun-Song said piano was going to be her minor. “I’m going to major in violin. Violin is like a friend to me,” she went on. I just shook my head. If her conversation with piano was this good, I wanted to see her play violin, too!

Watching this old, old music being channeled through the young, nimble fingers of Musicfest Northwest performers was both eerie and enchanting. I had work to do, but I felt rooted to my seat.

Following Miss Koh was Margaret Klein, who would be playing a Beethoven sonata. For those of you who think teenagers in the Pacific Northwest only vent their frustrations at Tech N9ne shows or at “Twilight” premieres, think again. The intense, angsty expression on Margaret’s face rivaled Bella Swan’s and belied the sweet, white crocheted sweater she wore over her pink dress.

“My family has moved several times,” she said afterwards. “Whenever I used to get angry, I would play that song…It’s serious stuff.”

Get Lit!

 Cool English teachers such as myself do not ask themselves whether they will attend Get Lit!, Spokane’s annual literary festival, but rather how many events they will attend.

So it’s pretty awesome when your sister—a student at EWU—plunks down a stack of free event tickets on the dining table.

Last night I had the opportunity to see Steve Almond and Susan Orlean on stage at the nearly-stuffed Bing Crosby Theater.  The best thing, though, was the fact that these speakers were introduced by SPR’s very own Verne Windham (all professional in a suit and tie) and the charming Nancy Roth.  One of the fundamental values guiding SPR’s mission statement is:  “We actively participate in the cultural life of our listening communities.”  And there they were, actively participating.  It was inspiring and fun to see the mission at work.

While I’d never invite Mr. Almond to speak freely with my students, I couldn’t help but guffaw or gasp at every hilariously inappropriate thing he said.  Showing his versatility, Mr. Almond also read some serious bits.  I might have to pick up a copy of his book, God Bless America or one of his smaller texts, “Letters From People Who Hate Me”. 

Ms. Orlean’s “Surfer Girls” piece was introduced to former students by an EWU writing student.  It was fascinating to hear Ms. Orlean read from her new book about the German shepherd Rin Tin Tin.  I’ll check at Auntie’s to see if they have a copy of Rin Tin Tin or The Orchid Thief in stock.

I am looking forward to the rest of the festival’s events.  Hope to see you there this weekend!

Heather

A New Voice!

A few years ago, I really started listening to Spokane Public Radio and NPR.  I was impressed with the balanced, in-depth news coverage on all sorts of issues, local or global.  I was exposed to bands like Airborne Toxic Event.  And I was informed about community events happening right here in the Inland Northwest.

I felt immediately at ease when I was introduced to Shelley, Patrick, and the rest of the SPR staff.  Everyone was so laid back, welcoming, and knowledgeable.  Right away I felt I could work with these fabulous, intelligent people on promoting public radio in my hometown.  Unlike many other media sources, SPR isn’t as influenced by money or politics—something that, I think, is becoming more and more important in our world.

As a certified English teacher, I’ll get to do a lot of writing for SPR, not only for Making Noise, but for on-air scripts as well.  I even got to record some audio today!  I look forward to learning a lot about marketing and production—skills I hope I can take with me wherever I go next.

If there are any questions I can answer about KPBX, KSFC, KPBZ, or our upcoming pledge drive, please let me know in a comment.  I will try to answer as best I can!

Heather