Alternative Pedagogy in the Banff Practicum: Promoting Non-formal Learning, Diversity, and Excellence in Audio Education

Leonard Menon*, Amandine Pras

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

This paper examines the alternative pedagogy of the Audio Recording Engineer Practicum of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada that hosted up to nine participants per semester until the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Developed by Theresa Leonard for over two decades, this program is known to have achieved gender parity in its international recruitment and is recognized as a world leader in music production vocational training. We detail the background of 13 out of the 29 participants who attended the practicum in 20182020, under the leadership of James Clemens-Seely. Also, we elicit the teaching strategies of the program based on feedback gathered from 24 participants in five focus group sessions at the end of their residency, along with semi-directed interviews of the main program leaders. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of teamwork assignments that bring sound practitioners who represent different gender identities and a range of nationalities to learning by doing in commercial recording studio settings. Finally, we discuss how the strengths of the Banff Practicum could inspire mentors and educators to reinvent the internship model and enhance the curriculum of formal audio programs.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAudio Engineering Society Convention 156
PublisherAudio Engineering Society
Number of pages17
Publication statusPublished - 6 Jun 2024
EventAES Europe - Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Duration: 15 Jun 202417 Jun 2024
https://aes2.org/events-calendar/aes-europe-2024/

Conference

ConferenceAES Europe
Country/TerritorySpain
CityMadrid
Period15/06/2417/06/24
Internet address

Keywords

  • Audio education
  • Gender
  • Teamwork
  • Peer learning environment
  • Music production
  • Musical genre
  • Sound engineering

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