Columbia School District offers recording studio to students

COLUMBIA, Mo -- A student-run recording studio is providing free access to production equipment to students in the Columbia School District.

The recording studio, called Darkroom Records, opened in March in the basement of Hickman High School. Since then, the space has been used by a band, a solo pianist, a solo guitarist and a kindergarten hip-hop camp called Jabberwocky.

The studio is meant to offer students a means of making their creative dreams come true, Gentry Middle School teacher David Aulgur told the Columbia Missourian. When he was in high school, Aulgur played trombone in the marching, concert and jazz bands and now is in a band called Richard Parker.

"Anything you do you should always have an eye for the future," he said. "Expansion is something we would love to do, but right now we are so happy and content to be able to provide this for the students."

Bass player Mackenzie Thomas, a junior at Hickman High School, created the promotional video for Darkroom Records and helps Aulgur with the studio's Twitter account and website.

"I am really into music and want to get into the music business," Thomas said. "This was the perfect opportunity to get some background."

Senior Zach Cunning, who helps with technology aspects such as setting up mics and making soundtracks, plans to go into the live audio industry and use his experience to build his portfolio for college.

"This gives me a head start on my degree and what the first few years of my career will be," he said.

Darkroom Records is open to any student who wants to record music and offers walk-ins for an hour and a half on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays while school is in session.

"All they have to do is contact us through our website or by emailing the studio," Aulgur said. "I've recorded on weekends. We've done three-hour sessions. We want to be open whenever the students are open to record."

Information from: Columbia Missourian, http://www.columbiamissourian.com