April 2, 2024
The Reilly Studio will be my home for the next two days. I thought this professor thing would be a little something I did for a couple of years in retirement. Uh, that was almost two decades ago. I’m still venturing onto Le Moyne’s campus a couple of days a week. And still loving it.
It’s my colleagues and the students that keep me coming back. Remarkable folks. I was almost gone when the Performing Arts Center brought in Joel McKissick to manage operations. All of a sudden life got easier and more interesting. He is a consummate professional, always on top of his gig. I never worry about gear, tech, schedule, organization, operations… anything. I just get to play.
When I started teaching an Audio course in the Film and Communications department there wasn’t much of a studio. I had a room and a little bit of antiquated gear. A tape recorder, some mics, and assorted old junk. No budget either. Fortunately, I had friends with old gear and Joel McKissick. He donated a retired console, some cable, and some retired mics. I found an old piano, too. I got the studio up and running.
Now look at it. State of the art. You can’t see the whole suite in these picks, but we’ve got great rooms and lots of great gear. And a budget. We’re upgrading and fixing things up even more.
All of this wouldn’t happen without Stefon Greene. It seems like every week that I come in he has more toys and gizmos for me. When I have a request, it’s fulfilled. Stefon is like family to me. That’s a long story, that I will get into someday. His uncles and I are brothers of the road. Yeah, we’ve got stories.
Stefon is a Le Moyne graduate. One of my students became a colleague! You’d be surprised at how many of my colleagues were once my students. Some of them I call boss. THAT’S when a professor knows he’s done a good job.
I get a little perturbed when I hear people talk about today’s youth with a bit of disdain. The students I know are exemplary. Trust me. The world will be in good hands. They are awesome.
Two long days await. Two long, invigorating days. Then it’s back to GRAIL, Cheri’s album, and putting the final touches on the soundtrack album for The Artist & the Astronaut. Oh, yeah… and diving right into the 50th season of my remarkable band. I’ll keep you posted.