Educational Programmes - Far More Than Just A Manufacturer
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Sennheiser - Far More Than Just A Manufacturer |
Sennheiser - Far More Than Just A Manufacturer
While Sennheiser’s cutting edge microphones, headphones and wireless systems are a major part of the contemporary live and installed audio industry, investing in the future of that industry is just as important for this most progressive company.
As well as new product development and lobbying over important issues, informing, educating and demonstrating to end users and those who form the next generation of industry professionals is a key part of the company’s business.
Sennheiser UK devotes considerable resources to a wide range of learning initiatives. These range from ‘hands on’ sessions with the company’s customers to closely working with schools and colleges to sponsor scholarships, facilities and provide interactive master classes and ‘learning days’.
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The wealth of expertise and experience within the Sennheiser business is combined with that of leading industry professionals to provide an invaluable resource for the professional sound engineers of the future.
Developing long-term relationships is key to this strategy, with educational establishments such as Liverpool Institute of the Performing Arts (LIPA), the National Film and Television School (NFTS), Manchester School of Sound Recording (MSSR), Manchester College, Ravensbourne College and Buckinghamshire New University (to name just a few examples) enjoying the benefits of Sennheiser’s support.
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Phil Cummings is Sennheiser UK’s Educational Manager (Special Projects) and one of the company’s specialities is providing ‘master classes’, which cover a wide range of subjects.
These include sessions on how to set up an RF distribution network, cabling issues, intermodulation, frequency listening and the ongoing issue of the government’s reallocation of radio frequencies.
Another key master class is Sennheiser’s sound engineer mixing workshop, which covers the differences in various microphones, wired / wireless systems and Q&A sessions with high profile sound engineers such as Andy `Baggy’ Robinson (George Michael, Alexandra Burke), John Sword (The Feeling) and Duncan Wild (The Editors and Corrine Bailey Rae)
Further subjects covered in these sessions include loudspeaker demonstrations, indoor / outside broadcast, classical recording and artist relations seminars. As with all the master classes, these demystify the theory and practicalities of key areas, making students very well equipped for when they graduate and head out to work in the industry.
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Each year Sennheiser provides a scholarship at LIPA and the NFTS, which not only provides financial support, but includes hands-on training and real-world industry experience to help give students the best possible start in their careers.
The value of the scholarships is exemplified by student Joseph Wills, currently studying at LIPA for a degree in Sound Technology.
“I applied for the scholarship mid-way through the first year and was incredibly fortunate, out of all the talented people in my year, to be awarded it,” says Joseph.
“The sound industry is extremely competitive, making it difficult for people like myself, with little financial support, to break into. Completing a degree is also an extremely costly process. Having lost my father and my mum being unable to work because of treatment for cancer, the Sennheiser scholarship has drastically helped to ease the financial pressure. It has allowed me to really focus on my coursework and bettering myself as a sound engineer, while reducing the stress on my mum while she’s undergoing treatment.”
“After having a really enjoyable month working as a student for Sennhei ser last summer, it has spurred me on to look further into the areas of the sound industry that I hadn’t really considered.”
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LIPA features the Sennheiser Studio Theatre, a 130-capacity ve nue that features a continually evolving range of the latest production technologies, where students gain hands-on experience in the production of real shows, but with experienced tutors on hand to assist.
Sennheiser’s relationship with Buckinghamshire New University goes back nine years and includes a wide range of collaborative initiatives and opportunities, including RF master classes for students; an annual ‘best student production’ award - given to final year students as part of the University’s graduation ceremony; sponsorship, support and prize giving at a number of University-based events and the long term loan of a K-array system in one of the University’s live venues.
“The relationship with Sennheiser means our students are benefiting from first hand experience of the industry and are aware of the new technology (especially RF) that will underpin future production activity,” says Frazer Mackenzie, the university’s Head of School, Production & New Media.
“The company makes an ongoing contribution to curriculum design and delivery, especially in the live music aspects of our programmes, and it’s a good opportunity for students to think about different areas of employment in the industry as they meet colleagues from Sennheiser
“We are also looking at future opportunities of how the company can contribute to our film and TV production programmes, and the growth of the University’s work in outside broadcasting.”
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Another tie-in with the Bucks New Uni is running a wide range of Sennheiser master classes in conjunction with the British Music Experience (BME) exhibition at London’s O2 Arena.
The BME is also committed to education and, with Sennheiser being one of its main sponsors, it makes the ideal venue for students from Buckinghamshire New University to learn about best practise and key issues in the industry.
“As a partner of the British Music Experience, Sennheiser has invested time and resources into the education of our visitors, young and old. Whether by providing equipment, staff, or access to artists, the company has helped to enrich our programme and give our students some priceless opportunities. ” says BME Education Manager Susanne Buck.
“We are looking forward to developing our programme further and are delighted that Sennheiser's own education programme is growing too. This is down to the hard work and dedication of people like Phil Cummings, who has been a great help, and hopefully we can collaborate on even more exciting things.”
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Sennheiser is also committed to an ongoing programme of events and seminars for the live music and installation industries, which help end users get the very most from their equipment.
Recent examples of this have been radio system setup master classes at rental companies Adlib Audio and Concert Sound, while the London PA Centre hosted demonstrations for the worship industry on how to mic up bands, using wired / wireless mics and getting the best from installed PA systems.
Sennheiser also supports Government-led initiatives such as Sing Up, a scheme to return singing to a central role in every child’s learning.
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Phil Cummings, Artist Relations, Project Management:
“Our education programme is true team effort, I call on a lot of people in our product marketing and engineering departments, as well as sound engineers and other audio specialists from outside the company, who generously give their time to support our learning initiatives,” says Phil Cummings. “It’s very rewarding to know that we can make a genuine contribution to people’s knowledge and skills.”
Phil Massey, General Manager:
“Supporting the industry in the form of master classes, sponsoring scholarships and helping students to learn on the latest equipment is extremely important to us.
“Putting something back into the industry is a fundamental part of what we do. By doing it in the form of ed ucation, encouragement and practical assistance to existing and future audio technicians, we hope they can use the expertise we have gained over many years to be as successful as possible.”
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