Appalachian junior Ryan Dozer, a music industry studies major with a concentration in recording and production. He is working as an intern at Big Yellow Duck, an audio postproduction studio in New York City. Photo submitted
BOONE, N.C. — Have you ever thought about what it sounds like to eat green beans, stack paper tubes or swoop down a slide? These are the questions Ryan Dozer must consider every day during his internship at Big Yellow Duck, an audio postproduction studio in New York City.
Dozer, from Raleigh, is a junior at Appalachian State University majoring in music industry studies with a concentration in recording and production. As an intern, Dozer is involved in regular recording sessions for various cartoon shows, adding creative sound effects, recording dialogue and helping audio engineers streamline their workflow by creating software instrument tracks.
“I am considering moving to New York after graduation, so spending the summer here is a great opportunity to get a feel for what life is like, and to build some connections,” Dozer shared. “I hope to start my career in either a recording studio or postproduction studio with the dream of one day becoming a film score composer.”
Dozer has already scored some composing experience while at Appalachian. Working with Dr. Beth Davison, professor of sociology and co-director of University Documentary Film Services (UDFS), Dozer composed the music for an educational video being shown at the Flat Top Manor at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park.
“This was my first time writing music for a video, and I learned a lot about film scoring and collaborating with a director during this project,” Dozer said. “Many things can only be learned through experience.”
For his sophomore project, Dozer wrote an original orchestra piece. “I was very fortunate to have many talented musicians help me with this. I recorded 17 musicians onto 107 tracks to create what sounds like a 42-piece orchestra,” he said. “It was a daunting task, but I was determined and it somehow all came together in the end. I look forward to doing more projects like this.”
Dozer said he chose Appalachian because of the reputation of its recording program. “When I came to tour the campus, I dropped by the (Robert F. Gilley) Recording Studio to see if I could meet any students and learn about the program,” he said. “I was fortunate to visit during the end-of-year listening part, when all the students gather to celebrate the end of the semester and share their projects with one another.”
During this visit, students shared with Dozer what to expect and how to best prepare his application. “I was amazed at how passionate and knowledgeable the students were,” he said.
Scott Wynne, professor in Appalachian’s music industry studies program and chief recording engineer for the university’s Robert F. Gilley Recording Studio, designed the studio facilities to be very complex, Dozer said.
“A large part of audio engineering is the ability to problem-solve and troubleshoot in high-stress environments. Mr. Wynne’s goal is to equip students with the ability to run a session in any recording facility, not just the one at Appalachian,” Dozer explained.
“Mr. Wynne has created an amazing environment that gives all of his students the opportunity to learn together in a very hands-on way,” Dozer added. “It has become clear to me that Appalachian offers the best recording program in North Carolina, if not the entire East Coast.”
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About the Hayes School of Music
The Hayes School of Music prepares young musicians for professional lives as performers, composers, music educators, music therapists, conductors and music industry professionals, ensuring the next generation of musical leadership for the state, region and nation. Noted for quality instruction by national and internationally recognized faculty musicians, the school offers four undergraduate degree programs and three graduate-level programs. Learn more at https://music.appstate.edu.
About Appalachian State University
As the premier, public undergraduate institution in the state of North Carolina, Appalachian State University prepares students to lead purposeful lives as global citizens who understand and engage their responsibilities in creating a sustainable future for all. The Appalachian Experience promotes a spirit of inclusion that brings people together in inspiring ways to acquire and create knowledge, to grow holistically, to act with passion and determination, and to embrace diversity and difference. Located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Appalachian is one of 17 campuses in the University of North Carolina System. Appalachian enrolls more than 19,000 students, has a low student-to-faculty ratio and offers more than 150 undergraduate and graduate majors.
