On October 7-8, Sensaphonics held their final Gold Circle seminar of 2016. Five audiologists from across the country came to Chicago for the two-day, CEU-certified seminar, earning inclusion on the company’s roster of exclusive providers.
The Gold Circle seminar provides a unique mix of practical and technical product information, hearing wellness principles, and concert sound system basics, with a primary focus on in-ear monitors. Participants learn through a series of classroom modules, as well as a hands-on demo session featuring a live band experiencing in-ear monitors for the first time.
Audiologists earning their Gold Circle certification include Lidia Lee, PhD, of Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, MI; Rachel Otto of Pacific Hearing Service in Los Altos, CA; Jake Marsden AuD, of Manhattan Audiological Services in New York City; Dee Price of Gentilly Speech and Hearing Services, New Orleans, LA; and Jenna Paley of Project Decibel in Chicago, IL.
“We’re proud to welcome these new members to the Sensaphonics Gold Circle,” says Dr. Michael Santucci, president. “They understand the importance of bringing expertise in hearing wellness to all aspects of their practice, especially musicians using in-ear monitors for on-stage performance. The Gold Circle seminar provides them with the training and expertise to work as specialists in the selection and use of IEMs and related tools to achieve high-impact stage monitoring and good hearing health, together.”
The Gold Circle seminar is taught by Santucci and audio engineering consultant/session leader Joe “Sound Guy” Tessone, owner of Mystery Street Recording Company in Chicago. Topics include in-ear monitoring, hearing protection technology, concert sound system design, backstage etiquette, and marketing to musicians, production personnel, and fans. Attendees are also certified in taking proper ear impressions to Sensaphonics’ music industry specifications.
The seminar’s highlight was a live music session at Mystery Street Recording featuring 13 Angels, a four-piece rockabilly band using IEMs for the first time. Tessone outfitted the band and audiologists with 3D AARO Active Ambient in-ear systems, demonstrating the basics of live sound monitoring in the context of a typical band rehearsal. The audiologists used dB Check in-ear sound level meters to track volume levels, interacting with the band between songs for a unique insight on the difficulty of working at safe levels and how in-ear monitors can reduce the band’s risk levels.
The Gold Circle Seminar is a fully accredited by the American Academy of Audiology for professional development, earning participants 1.4 Continuing Education Units (CEUs).