Bluegrass, Old-Time Music and Country Music students will have a new recording lab to utilize in the Center for Appalachian Studies next semester thanks to proceeds from the East Tennessee State Student access fee.
While the lab is a new addition to the program, it has been a long time in the making, Director of Appalachian Studies Roberta Herrin said. “Since the building was vacated in 1999, it has been in the plans,” she said. “It is a great way to celebrate and recognize the bluegrass program’s 25th anniversary and it is a really exciting addition to the Bluegrass program.
“I think once the students see it and realize the lab is a reality they’ll by really excited,” she added.
The state of the art recording laboratory will enable bluegrass students to get hands on experience in a new aspect of their education and careers as musicians. “From a musician stand point, it will be a good opportunity for to learn in a recording environment,” Raymond McLain, associate professor, said. “It is hard to learn to play the guitar with out a guitar, and it is hard to learn how to record music without a recording lab.” The class is for instruction primarily, the recording lab’s purpose is to educate bluegrass majors and minors to produce and record albums for their futures in the music industry.
Danny Stuart, a freshman bluegrass major, agrees that the addition will be beneficial. “We need to be able not only to learn the music but learn the production, management and marketing aspects of the industry,” Stuart said. “I wanted to go to Middle Tennessee State University to their recording program, but ended up here because of scholarships. This is a great opportunity for me here now that there is a lab and I can get that experience. I will definitely be enrolling in the class.” Stuart plays the standup bass, guitar, and the banjo in the bluegrass program.
There will only by one recording class taught in the fall and the department is in pursuit of a recording lab manager to be in charge of maintenance and teach the class. “The ways to distribute music have changed the industry and we are changing and growing with it,” said Randy Sanders, public relations and marketing coordinator for CASS.
Even though it is already slated for use next fall, the recording lab is still in the rough stages of construction. The cement ceiling has been installed, and the sheetrock is still in progress. The wiring is the next step in the process. Overall the project will cost between $400,000 and $500,000. “The expenses have been paid for by the students technology access fee (TAFT),” Herrin said. “Dr. Wayne Andrews has been instrumental in the planning and funding of this project he has played a huge role getting things done.”
This new addition is another step to improving the already accredited department.
“This will be a great opportunity for students and it is an exciting advancement in the bluegrass program,” said McLain. Jamie Collins, a freshmen and bluegrass minor, hopes to enroll in the fall. “I’m not enrolled, but I would love to get in that class,” she said. “It would be awesome to get in and I’m sure it would help with my other classes.

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