Sensaphonics has added two more audiologists to its Gold Circle listing—a group of audiologists who have been specifically trained to meet the hearing needs of music industry clients. The newest Gold Circle audiologists are: Teresa Cannon, AuD, of Staten Island Hearing and Balance, Staten Island, NY and Matthew Bell, AuD, of Pacific University in Hillsboro, Oregon.
Held at Sensaphonics headquarters in Chicago, Ill, the two-day Gold Circle seminar is a formal training system for audiologists on the in-ear monitoring from the musician’s perspective. Sensaphonics founder and president, Michael Santucci, AuD, and audio engineering consultant Joe “Sound Guy” Tessone are the instructors. Topics include in-ear monitoring and hearing protection technology, concert sound system design, backstage etiquette, and marketing to musicians and music fans, all in the context of promoting safe listening practices and evidence-based audiology. Attendees are also certified in taking proper ear impressions to Sensaphonics’ music industry specifications.
The highlight of the seminar is a hands-on lab session held at Mystery Street Recording Company in Chicago. To highlight what they have learned, the audiologists work with a live band using in-ear monitors for the first time – in this case, members of a Chicago group, Carnivores at Grace.
“During our live music sessions, the band plays both with and without in-ear monitors,” explains Mystery Street owner and Sensaphonics sound engineering consultant Joe Tessone. “The audiologists can interact with the musicians, asking questions, taking level measurements, and generally experiencing first-hand how in–ear monitoring works in a live context.”
The Gold Circle Seminar is accredited by the American Academy of Audiology and confers 1.4 Continuing Educations Units (CEUs) upon graduation.