Alumni Spotlight: Ashley Wilson – Elevating Her Music Career with Sound Academy

Ashley Wilson, a passionate musician and educator, sought to expand her expertise beyond her formal education. As a former student at Full Sail University, she had been teaching music privately and working on her own singing and production projects. However, she felt there was something missing in her skill set. That’s when she discovered Sound Academy through Facebook. “I was teaching music privately after Full Sail University and working on my own music, writing and mixing. I always felt like something was missing, so I was looking for ways to fill in the gaps. I found Sound Academy on Facebook, did my research, and the rest was history.”

A Transformative Learning Experience in a Real Studio

Ashley had an open mind when she enrolled at Sound Academy, but she wasn’t sure what to expect. She knew the course would take place in a professional studio, but the reality exceeded her expectations. “Not going to lie, even though I knew it was going to be in a studio, I didn’t know what to expect. I kept an open mind because I learned it was at Quad Studios—a real studio.” Her decision was met with skepticism from her peers. “When I told my friends about it, they raised their eyebrows. When I told them I was at Quad Studios, they didn’t believe me. But once I was there, I realized I don’t need to prove anything to the doubters. They can sign up on their own and be here. I’m here right now.”

Supportive Class Chemistry & Industry Connections

Ashley was impressed by the diverse range of students in her cohort. From young aspiring engineers in their 20s to experienced musicians in their 30s, everyone was treated as an equal. “The class was balanced; it didn’t matter our backgrounds or skill levels. We all helped each other. It was a really nice age range, and we all shared the same goal—to refine our craft.” Beyond the technical skills, Sound Academy provided real networking opportunities, allowing Ashley to build valuable industry connections.

Instructor Support & Hands-On Training

Ashley credits much of her success in the program to her instructor, Lucho. “Who doesn’t love Lucho? Let’s be real. From day one, he was already telling us what we were doing, and he prepped us to learn. He was very open and said everything a teacher needs to say—and that’s coming from a teacher’s perspective. He led each session wonderfully.” Working on an actual studio console was a new challenge for Ashley, as she had primarily worked on her laptop before. However, the hands-on approach at Sound Academy allowed her to overcome her learning curve quickly. “It was a little difficult being on an actual console because I was used to just using my laptop, but Lucho explained everything so well that nobody was left out.”

Building a Career with Sound Academy’s Training

Since completing the program, Ashley has been building her home studio and developing her clientele. She is also collaborating with her nephew to establish a record label. “I am building a home studio and establishing clientele. My nephew and I are starting a label and partnering with his record label. I can happily say I already have appointments with local artists to work on their projects.” Ashley will be using her enhanced skills for her career plans, which is quite literally the point of ou program.

Advice for Future Students

For aspiring audio engineers, music producers, and recording artists, Ashley encourages them to take advantage of the real-world experience Sound Academy offers.

“It’s not like traditional school because you will get real studio experience. It will be slightly stressful, but that’s how it is in real life. It will be the best money spent on a certificate.”

Start Your Sound Academy Journey Today!

Ashley Wilson’s experience is a testament to how Sound Academy equips musicians and engineers with real-world skills and industry connections. Whether you’re looking to sharpen your technical abilities, expand your professional network, or gain hands-on experience in a world-class recording studio, Sound Academy can help take your career to the next level.

Are you ready to invest in your music career? Apply to Sound Academy today!

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