Launch your career in the music industry with the Recording Arts program at West Valley College. Designed for students of all levels, this comprehensive program blends creative artistry with industry-standard technology to prepare you for the technical challenges of the commercial music industry. Master essential studio skills including signal flow, microphone theory and placement, tracking, multi-track recording, analog and digital audio theory, and advanced audio mixing using professional Digital Audio Workstations (DAW).
Gain hands-on experience in our Brand-New recording studio, featuring a world-class microphone cabinet, isolation booths, state-of-the-art monitoring choices and a 48 channel Audient AP8024-Heritage Edition analog console. Learn from a dedicated faculty of professionals who strive to bridge the gap between conservatory excellence and modern industry workforce needs.
We offer a Certificate of Achievement in Recording Arts that will include individualized study through private lessons and produce a Captone project.
“I found I have a real connection with students, that not only inspires me, but I've seen that connection make a difference in their lives and career paths. I love to teach because I love sharing the possibilities, creatively and professionally, of what we can do when we blend music and technology."
Audient AP8024-HE Console Implemented At Heart Of Teaching Effort At West Valley College
Classes utilizing new console include Recording Arts, Sound Design (for Foley and VO) and Music Production, from which some 60 to 75 students will get their hands on it over the course of a year.
West Valley College (Saratoga, CA) recently implemented a new Audient ASP8024 Heritage Edition console in the school’s large studio space, where it’s at the heart of the educational effort for music/recording students.
Director of commercial music Jeff Forehan points out that the new console has made it easier to teach signal flow to his students: “They love it. Although they’re intimidated at first, with proper instruction they get it easily.”
Comprising 48 channels as well as Dual Layer Control (DLC) for integration with DAW, the ASP8024 measures close to 3 meters (just under 10 feet) wide, so it might be imposing at first glance. Despite the size, it was actually the cost that was one of the driving factors in choosing Audient. “We were able to get so much more bang for our buck, not only in terms of extra features on the desk, but also to purchase the outboard gear, monitors, etc.,” Forehan notes. “It’s also way less complicated than the other high-end professional desk we were considering.”
The studio space, with high ceilings and adjustable acoustics, is large enough to record a full rhythm section, small choir or jazz band, all of which have been done. “The room is shared with the video/film program so we have a green screen, great lighting as well as a collection of state-of-the-art cameras.” he adds. “The control room needs a facelift, but it’s large enough for 25 to 30 students to hang out in comfortably as I instruct.”
The decision with the Audient has also been substantiated in another way, according to Forehan: “The sound, for one, is an incredible improvement over what we had. The creative master section and built-in bus compressor are nice touches as well.”
View ProSoundWeb Article.
In addition to CTE Certificates, the Performing Arts Department offers a comprehensive professional program designed to provide a wide variety of musical experiences for the student seeking to transfer to a baccalaureate program in performance or music education for a career as a musician or music educator.
See potential career opportunities and salary projections on our Program Mapper:
Commercial Music
The Commercial Music Certificate Program at West Valley College focuses on the recording arts, music technology, and commercial music production. This is a comprehensive curriculum covering electronic music/sound design, recording arts, songwriting, MIDI/Digital audio, and audio for visual media. Featuring state-of-art facilities and ‘cutting-edge’ hardware* and software, the courses are designed for students of all levels, providing hands-on experience and thorough training in the creative and technical challenges specific to the Commercial Music industry. “I found I have a real connection with students, that not only inspires me, but I've seen that connection make a difference in their lives and career paths. I love to teach because I love sharing the possibilities, creatively and professionally, of what we can do when we blend music and technology." – Jeff Forehan, Director of Commercial Music Studies We are proud announce the opening of our brand-new Recording Studio and Digital Media Center Classroom in Spring 2026. The new recording studio features a world-class microphone cabinet, isolation booths, state-of-the-art audio/visual monitoring, Genelc 5.1 surround and a. 48 channel Audient AP8024-Heritage Edition console. Other available equipment include:
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