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The
Institute was originally conceived by Fred Carl, Jr., founder
and CEO of Viking Range Corporation, who also provided the lead
financial gift. Carl is an alumnus and longtime supporter of Delta
State University and brought famed music producer Norbert Putnam
on board as consultant and acoustic design engineer for the proposed
recording studio. Putnam has a celebrated reputation in the music
industry, producing records for artists such as Jimmy Buffet,
Joan Baez, Linda Ronstadt, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, and Dan
Fogelberg. In addition, he has recorded with hundreds of artists,
Elvis Presley and The Beatles being the two most notable names.
Under Putnam's guiding vision Delta Music Institute will become
a benchmark for contemporary music studies in the southeast.
Parker
says, the most unique aspect of the Delta Music Institute will
be its enormous recording studio with the capability for a full
symphony with 100-voice choir. This space is being modeled after
Abbey Road Studio One in England, considered by many to be the
top recording studio in the world. A smaller studio will be used
for contemporary rock, jazz, hip-hop, or blues recording. Both
studios will feature state-of-the-art technology, including 5.1
surround-sound monitoring systems.
Fred
Carl expressed his appreciation for Putnam's involvement. "When
I first proposed this idea to Dr. Alphonso Sanders of Delta State's
music department, I had a small studio in mind for jazz and blues
groups. When I got Norbert involved, he really took this concept
to the next level! His expanded vision for this facility is going
to make it a major asset for Delta State. We're very fortunate
to have Norbert involved."
A
third room in the facility will be used as a classroom with ten
digital workstations. This is an area where students can work
individually on a piece of music, learning mixing and layering
techniques by practicing, not just watching an instructor.
"This
new Music Technology track will offer excellent training for those
who are interested in music production as a career," said
Parker. "Few schools in the nation will provide the hands-on
learning students will experience here. Not only will we offer
the highest level of equipment, but the top echelon of teaching
professionals as well."
An
Advisory Board is being selected, with Norbert Putnam as Chair,
which will include more than a dozen leading music professionals,
in addition to Carl. The Advisory Board will commit itself to
developing the new program at the university and making it one
of the finest in the United States.
Plans
are currently being drawn up for the new facility, and classes
are scheduled to begin in The Delta Music Institute in Spring
2004.
While
the financial backing of Fred Carl has successfully begun the
program, additional funds are needed to ensure its success. For
more information about the Delta Music Institute, or to make a
donation, please contact Dean Collier Parker at 662.846.4100,
Alphonso Sanders at 662.846.4614,or Luther Brown at 662.846.4312
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