3Dtlc.net
Craig Thompson
01/14/2010
David Knight, a music industry veteran of 33 years and the creator of the Music Talks Sessions geared to artists and entrepreneurs, has launched the Music Talks Educational Center, a virtual learning institute built using Active World and featuring classrooms named after famous musicians like John Lennon (right) and Run-DMC.
"I looked at virtual worlds back in 2006," Knight told 3DTLC about his move as a small business owner into the virtual space, "but it wasn't quite there yet. My friends told me recently to look again, and I said, well, this is better."
Using the Active World product, Knight, with help from his wife, a visual artist, have built a campus featuring five classrooms centered on three core areas: artist development, entrepreneurship and personal development. Knight notes that they are adding to the roster of 11 educators.
"The idea is to make it a learning center to bring in a large number of educators and instructors and develop a plethora of content. There’s so much to be covered in this industry," he said.
The virtual center grew out of a series of Music Talks Sessions held in New York and Los Angeles, which were successful and led to request from people in Italy and Japan, as well as states in the US, for local sessions. "I needed to find a way to bring my sessions to as many artists as I could," he said.
As for revenue streams, Knight is expecting money will come from the course tuition, possible sponsors and ad space, and another unique angle: dorm rooms.
"In those dorm rooms, recording artists can lease the space for $100 per year and they can put their music in there, or videos, or hold CD release parties. They can invite their fans to the campus and have a meet and greet with the artist. I was a big Lionel Richie and Commodores fan, and I would have loved to have a one-on-one back in the seventies like this. VIrtual worlds makes this possible," he said.
The classrooms will be highly interactive, with messaging, VoiP, streaming video and eventually full events. The campus also features the ability to send virtual telegrams, and the ability to build a community of fans. The first class will be held on January 18 with registration open now.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Melinda Mullin
917-509-2529
Melinda@melindamullin.com
Music Talks Educational Network Announces MTEC Enrollment Opens at Music Industry’s First Virtual Reality School for Musicians and Recording Artists New York, NY--January 12, 2010-- Enrollment is open at Music Talks Educational Center (MTEC), the music industry’s first “virtual world” learning institution for musicians, songwriters, producers, recording engineers and studio owners. Classes focusing on musicianship, professional and personal development begin Monday, January 18, 2010.
Going beyond the ivy walls of traditional education, MTEC provides online access to a world of virtual classes, educators, music industry professionals and opportunities geared for busy and traveling recording artists. The MTEC community includes artists and industry professionals from around the world, providing rich audio, video and music industry focused content powered by an interactive experience unique to this virtual environment.
MTEC was born out of Music Talks Sessions, live speaking events held in New York and Los Angeles by MTEC creator and director, David C. Knight. A composer and producer himself, Knight seized the opportunity to expand his in-person events and make them available globally. “As Music Talks Sessions grew, I had to find a way to reach recording artists everywhere, regardless of their location. MTEC’s virtual world allows me and other professionals to deliver relevant, educational and informative content to artists no matter where they are, and allows them to connect and learn from one another, as well,” says Knight.
The curriculum is centered on three core areas: artist development, entrepreneurship and personal development. Courses for the first semester include: Lyric Lab, taught by Rob Meurer; Microphone Technique, taught by John Durbin; Critical Listening, taught by Drew Daniels; Music Publicity, taught by Nikki O’Neill; and Business Management for the Creative Mind, taught by Debra Russell, among others.
The centerpiece of the MTEC campus is a virtual glass building comprised of five classrooms, a conference room an amphitheater, recording studio, multimedia library, a cafe bookstore, an art gallery and a student teacher lounge. The classrooms are named after legendary recording artists ranging from John Lennon to RUN-DMC. Each classroom is equipped with voice chat (VOIP), video screens and streaming video for special events. Music Talks Educational Center is surrounded by 360,000 square meters of virtual land that also features two dormitories, an outdoor concert stage and a music store in which student and professional artists can sell their music.
MTEC offers artist residents the opportunity to learn from world class industry professionals and fellow recording artists; lease promotional dorm rooms to showcase their music and host music video and CD release parties; connect with their fans and build personal communities; and even send and receive virtual telegrams, all within a virtual campus. MTEC is a unique online experience for recording artists and music industry professionals.
In just a few minutes, one can take video tour of the MTEC campus, register to become an artist resident and explore the ultimate in education and experience for budding and professional recording artists. For more information, visit our website www.musictalksedu.net. Quick start instructions can be found athttp://www.musictalksedu.net/content/quick-start.
About MTEC:
MTEC: Music Talks Education Center is the first “virtual world” learning institution for recording artists, musicians, songwriters, producers, recording engineers and studio owners. Part of the Music Talks Educational Network.
