This release comes as major streaming platforms such as Apple Music are rapidly adopting immersive audio as a new industry standard. Stevenson’s project highlights cutting edge production techniques in immersive sound.

To date, Stevenson’s meditation soundscapes have been streamed more than 25,000 times across platforms, providing listeners opportunities for peace and restoration.

Featured, are six long-form pieces:

• “An Ocean of Rest” — 1:00:00
• “A Sea of Calm” — 50:00
• “Tides of Harmony” — 40:00
• “Waves of Tranquility” — 30:00
• “Currents of Peace” — 20:00
• “Waters of Amity” — 10:00

The music may be previewed and experienced in Dolby Atmos surround on

The presentation, “The Live Sound Class; Innovative and Integrative Practices”, outlined steps to introduce live sound concepts with simple exercises focused on organization in the field.  Additionally, Stevenson discussed integrating basic theory on electrical systems with practical work in cable building and wiring.  He offered attendees tips on covering system integration using a variety of mixing consoles and public address systems. Stevenson also highlighted the importance of assigning students roles in time-restricted scenarios to encourage critical thinking and problem solving in an environment where “mistakes” are treated as learning opportunities.

Co-presenting with Fred Johnson, lecturer in music, Stevenson offered a second presentation on three application processes used in the music department over three years. The presentation identified pitfalls and successes of the various practices. Additionally, the presenters offered data, outlining each approach, to make a case for the current practice. Stevenson and Johnson covered solutions to navigating faculty preferences for applications including, but not limited to, types of auditions, portfolio submissions, location, length of auditions, repertoire, and essays which are often unique based on program requirements and pose challenges for the departmental unit seeking a singular approach.

The second presentation, “A cappella Production: Tips and Tricks”, covered pertinent production techniques relative to editing and mixing a cappella music. With the rise of a cappella on college campuses, there is renewed emphasis on the importance of good audio production techniques for vocal recordings. 

Stevenson demonstrated and explained time and pitch correction techniques that work to create relatively natural sounding mixes while accurately reflecting an arrangement. He also addressed bass concerns and demonstrated ways to fill out low frequencies in an a cappella production when bass is relatively absent in the recorded content. 

The Association for Popular Music Education is an international organization with the goals of promoting and advancing popular music at all levels of education both in the classroom and beyond.

Elon students in the music production and recording arts program demonstrated processes related to DJing and studio recording. The students explained the functionality of the various recording spaces and technology used in studio recording. The Girl Scouts experiemented with scratching on turntables and singing in the studio environment. Upon the successful culmination of the event, the Girl Scouts advanced one step closer to earning the Musician Badge.

The following Elon students participated in the activity: Isaac Bates ’17, Lucas Buck ’19, Alyssa Cass ’18,  Ciara Graves ’20, Emily Hubbard ’19, John Osborn ’17, and Chris Tarpley ’17.

Stevenson’s presention was titled “The 4D Listening Exercise.” The 4D Listening Exercise is designed around a three-dimensional visual grid that represents the various listening fields within a stereo audio production, i.e. amplitude, frequency and stereo imaging. For each section, part, or movement of a composition, students apply relative placements for the aural components of a recording. The components themselves are the forth dimension in The 4D Listening Exercise and are represented by pictures or icons that denote their respective timbres. The result is a visual representation of a commercial mix/production. This “transcription” of a mix/production forces students to critically evaluate the practices of professional mix engineers/producers. By using this nuanced approach to listening students become better informed about how to craft their own productions in more commercially viable ways.

The Association for Popular Music Education is a national organization with the goals of promoting and advancing popular music at all levels of education both in the classroom and beyond.

The Association for Popular Music Education is a national organization with the goals of promoting and advancing popular music at all levels of education both in the classroom and beyond.

The afternoon was one of the “Hot Topics” professional development experiences that teachers choose to participate in throughout the year.  During the session, teachers had the opportunity to participate in studio recordings and learn about commercial music production. 

Elon students assisted in the recordings, and faculty members Matthew Buckmaster and Gerald Knight helped facilitate the event. 

Due to the success of the event, the music department will be hosting another “Hot Topics” activity in January 2015.

As a member of the songwriting team at the Songs of Love Foundation, Stevenson is responsible for analyzing children’s profiles and creating original music that focuses on the child and the subjects most meaningful to him or her. This culminates in a professionally produced song in a style of the child’s choosing, packaged in a CD with lyrics that is delivered to the child.   

The Songs of Love Foundation has sponsored to date more than 24,500 customized songs. With a presence in over 500 hospitals around the world and in all 50 states, its mission is to “[provide] sick children with a source of inspiration, joy, and possibly even healing”. 

The Songs of Love Foundation produces music at no cost to immediate families or medical facilities.

The webinar offered a means for accredited music teachers to earn recertification points and NAfME will host a recording of the event on its servers to allow members to watch at a later time. 

Topics included using music technology to fill the role of traditional instruments, add effects to existing sound, facilitate supporting “backing-tracks”, and host live DJ performances. 

Much of the webinar used examples from Techtronica, Elon’s commercial electronic dance ensemble, to demonstrate the accessibility and feasibility of the concepts covered.

Bobby Watts was awarded the Intern of the Month for July 2012 at ES Audio Services in Los Angeles.

Students from the Music Technology program successfully completed internships this summer in Los Angeles.

The students participating in Los Angeles internships include Philip Anderson, Ben Soldate, Kara Johnson, Katherine Hodges and Bobby Watts. Respectively, they are participating in internships at HUM Music, The Jungle Room, The L.A. Film Festival, Elias Arts, and ES Audio.

In collaboration with the Elon in L.A. program, these students have been granted opportunities to work alongside professionals as audio engineers, composers and production assistants. Progress in internship placements promise to further student’s chances of finding jobs upon graduation and strengthen our alumni base.