The five-minute composition came to life over a two-week period in the Music Building’s Richmond Recording Studio. Schildt produced the music electronically, using a keyboard and specialized software. “I listened to quite a few cricket recordings to find the perfect one,” he joked, adding the studio features an extensive sound library. Schildt had already considered creating music for the Zacheis Planetarium when he learned about Benson’s touch table project. “We met for a few hours and talked about possibilities. I wanted to get across the sense of being in this place [Ryan Museum]. The music had to convey a feeling, but not be distracting.” The resulting piece is at times soothing and stimulating, spacy and earthy. One listener likened it to “water falling over rocks.” “The sabbatical was intensive,” Schildt said. “I never had that much time to devote to something.” Two years ago, he wrote Ascendance and performed the premier with students and fellow faculty at Adams State’s University Celebra-
tion. He has also worked with the theatre department, most recently creating music used in last spring’s production of The Outsiders.
another tool for outreach About 8,000 visitors have toured the Ryan Museum since it was donated to Adams State ten years ago. Valued at more than $150,000, the collection was compiled by the late Edward M. Ryan, formerly a geology professor at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri. Touch table capabilities greatly multiply the facility’s educational potential. “Collaboration was key to this project’s success,” Benson said. By Julie Waechter To watch Dr. Benson working with the touch table, visit: adams.edu/a/35
The Richmond Recording Studio was added to the Music Department when the building was remodeled in 2011, funded by the Student Capital Construction Fee. It is named for Ed Richmond, emeritus professor of music. “We are incredibly lucky to have this studio. It is a huge tool for music students and composers. This sets us apart from other music programs,” Dr. Matt Schildt said. “Students are in here all the time and have gone way beyond their class assignments with this facility. At least three student CD’s have been recorded here in the last year.” He noted that the studio looks quite different than it would have ten years ago, since many of the digital recording tools are all on the computer. Plus, the 2010 Title V grant to improve student engagement and success recently supported acquisition of additional studio equipment.
Composer Matt Schildt at the controls in the Music Department’s Richmond Recording Studio.
aStater features
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The studio includes: • Cubase 7 recording software • Native Instruments KOMPLETE sounds • Universal Audio plug-in effects • Universal audio, Drawmer, and Focusrite preamps • Yamaha 02R digital console • State-of-the-art Neumann, AKG, and Mojave microphones
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