- How do I get started ?
- Where can I find a place to
live?
- Why doesn't A.R.T.I. offer a
degree?
- Who is the staff and faculty ?
- What is the job market like?
- When does the next semester
begin?
A.R.T.I. employs a staff of professionals to assist you
every step of the way. From the application process (registration, interview,
acceptance into the program, financing, commencement date) to helping you find
housing, we are here to help. With 17 years experience educating students in
Orlando, we know the best methods to get you started, and keeping your stress
level low. We can even help you find your first paid job in the industry, before
you start our program. The best place to start is right here at our website.
Fill out contact information and an admissions representative will contact you
within 24 hours (Mon-Fri) to get the ball rolling. There's nothing more exciting
than beginning your new career right away!
While A.R.T.I. does not provide on-campus housing, the
Orlando area is loaded with rental properties available for as little as 7
months and approximately $600 per month. We may even be able to hook you up with
a roommate in a furnished apartment with all utilities included! Ask your
Candidate Advisor for more information, and a free guide to finding housing in
the Orlando area, or simply click on one of these helpful links (Note: A.R.T.I.
is not affiliated with any realtor of apartment rental agent):
www.apartmenthunters.com
It’s a free service. You can also check out student housing provided by
www.orlandointerns.com
you can
contact Rosemary Kennedy at
rkennedy@mckinley.com for more student housing choices, or
student housing provided by
www.rnrrealestate.com :select Information for Students and find our school
in Florida.
Although A.R.T.I. is an accredited educational
institution and has the option to offer degree programs, we made the decision to
focus only on the specific areas of study required to gain employment as an
audio engineer. We feel that general education courses which are required to
achieve a graduate degree (humanities, math, etc.) are better suited to the 2
and 4 year colleges and universities, as they are well equipped to handle that
segment of education. We feel that A.R.T.I., in focusing solely on audio
engineering allows us to concentrate our teaching efforts and raise the level of
audio education well above that of many university programs. Students may elect
to move credits (elective, and not necessarily transferable) earned at A.R.T.I. to a 2 or 4 year school to
continue their education if desired, however, your own personal research into
the audio industry will reveal that employers generally do not expect an audio
engineer to posses a degree.
 Steve Pietrofesa, President and Dean of Education
Steve came to A.R.T.I. in 1990 during construction of the
original Orlando facility. He is a seasoned veteran of production with over 18
years as a radio personality in New York. During that time, Steve was also a
Producer for Viacom, and has literally thousands of projects to his credit,
including music projects, commercials for TV and radio, music videos and film,
voiceover projects (including hundreds of audiobooks as well as theme park
attractions, airport audio and corporate training) and became a Director of
Training for several large companies. He eventually took his experience to
A.R.T.I. and developed what is now known as the COMPREHENSIVE AUDIO ENGINEERING
PROGRAM. Steve was the designer of the THX Certified Mix theater and was
interviewed by Mix magazine to celebrate this accomplishment. After 17 years
with A.R.T.I., Steve has taken the role of President, and is delighted to be the
leader of a team of professionals who are always innovating and improving the
technologies that are presented to new students. Steve is a member of Calvary
Chapel, Orlando, where he has been part of the Music Ministry, Sound Ministry
and Bodyworks Ministry. He has a true spirit of service, and delights in the
success of his students. Although Steve has been known to perform standup
comedy, he prefers to be seated now, as his feet hurt.
 Keith
LaBeau, School Director
Keith started with A.R.T.I. as an instructor in 1995, and
possesses years of experience as a musician, engineer and training developer. He
has engineered hundreds of projects, including music for EA Sports "Madden"
football game, Aaron Spelling episodic television shows, and is now head of the
Advanced Post Production Module at A.R.T.I. As a master instructor, he is well
versed in all aspects of audio production, from MIDI to Advanced Large Format
mixing, Surround Sound mixing. Keith is quite the sight to behold as he teaches
Pro Tools (his speed and accuracy are A LEGEND). He is also the liaison in
charge of all film projects connected with our partnership with the University
of Central Florida's film program. Keith loves golf (but does golf love him?),
and spends spare time in program development and shaving stray cats.
 Tammy
Pietrofesa, General Manager
Tammy began her career in Disney Entertainment and has a
unique understanding of the needs of the new engineer. She herself started as an
audio engineer early in her career working with Superstar Studios (a national
chain of recording studios), then went on tour as a lead vocalist for several
national acts. Upon her return, she joined the staff of A.R.T.I. as manager of
front office operations in 1991, receiving certified training in Finance from
the Federal Department of Education. Tammy has endeared herself to hundreds of
student candidates over the years, and they have come to rely on her advice when
financing their education. Tammy is a member of the Bodyworks Ministry of the
Calvary Chapel of Orlando, and brings her spirit of service to all, whether
candidates, current students or graduates. Tammy enjoys her sons, Joshua (3),
Steve (52), and Rocky and Bullwinkle (Dachshunds).
 Rob Booth,
Studio Manager
Rob is everywhere! Not only is he an talented
musician/composer/instructor/manager/tech/husband and general heck of a guy, but
you'll find his system installs everywhere from Cirque du Soleil to Walt Disney
World to Universal Studios. He is consistently rated as one of the audio
industry's top instructors by his students. While he is a creative individual,
he is as comfortable behind a mix as he is presenting the more scientific side
of our technical world. He has been with A.R.T.I. for over 10 years and enjoys
his time with his dog, Walter, and also his giant newt. Amazingly, his lovely
wife puts up with this because she is focused on their sweet new daughter.
 Britt
Sandusky, Instructor and Sound Designer
Originally from Austin, Texas (not Ohio, his namesake),
Britt is not only a great studio engineer, but has extensive experience in the
world of theatrical sound design, which makes him a powerful instructor for the
Sound Effects design and Foley arts modules of the program. He is the primary
engineer dealing with Film Directors during the Audio Post for Film module of
the program. Britt is a great example of the laid back and relaxed style of
teaching that A.R.T.I. students have come to expect. Britt has high expectations
for his students and challenges them throughout the program. He has named his
pickup "Mater" and we understand is still looking for his cat.
 Hector
Garcia, Instructor and Logic Specialist
Hector has been a MIDI engineer for several years prior to
joining the faculty of A.R.T.I. A mellow and likeable guy, you'd never suspect
his AWESOME abilities as a certified trainer for Apple. His strong ability to
develop a rapport with students and gently guide them through the process of
understanding the most widely used stand-alone MIDI software in the industry
(Apple's Logic) has earned him a top spot in the staff here at the institute.
Hector can be found teaching in all of the control rooms at A.R.T.I., but takes
special pride when his students eventually pass the end-user exam from Apple,
receiving yet another certification as well as their Diploma awarded at
graduation. Hector is still trying to convince the staff that Coke tastes better
in Puerto Rico! His wife believes it too.
 Justin
Yunker, Operations Manager
Student Services is the office that Justin calls home. He
is responsible for everything "front office". While that may sound bland, Justin
is always there to help students with everything from class schedules to
advising them where the best pizza can be found. Students can rely on Justin,
even if they need technical assistance during their lab times, as Justin is a
Certified Audio Engineer and Instructor as well! A.R.T.I. is proud to employ
professional engineers in all areas of the campus, so students can interact with
trained and talented people wherever they are on campus. Known as "Yinky", the
good-natured Justin is happy to serve both students and staff support, or just
as a "foil" for their humor, because he knows he can always get back at them by
pulling out his trombone and playing a tune, or just making annoying sounds.
 Peter van
der Sande, Instructor and Tech Manager
A professor at the Conservatory in Rotterdam, Peter is the
newest member of the staff. With years of experience as a professional musician
(just about everything except brass and drums) Peter brings a wealth of
knowledge to A.R.T.I. He was a member of the band "Focus" ("Hocus Pocus"
Billboard hit), a touring bass player (Donna Summer), a designer and technical
engineer. Peter is multi-talented and has been deeply involved in every aspect
of the music, recording and technical industries. Peter was just a large
brain inside a jar, but since he joined A.R.T.I., through generous contributions
of staff and friends, he now resides inside a full-size human body!
 Bruce
Hensal, Instructor and Placement Director
Who do you want to help get you your first job? Many
schools have "office" or "clerical" people to do just that. At A.R.T.I., we
stepped it up about a thousand notches and brought in Bruce Hensal! Bruce has
years of experience as an engineer (Eagles Hotel California, Stevie Wonder Songs
in the Key of Life, Boston, and on and on and on), and almost EVERYONE in the
business knows and loves him. In fact, we have created a game entitled, "3
degrees from Bruce". While that may seem funny, it's absolutely true. Bruce has
the contacts, the phone numbers, the influence and the great desire to assist
new engineers in their quest for their first job. His goal is to improve on our
80% placement rate to get to 100%! He is a great guy who is a member of Calvary
Chapel of Orlando and in his spare time he makes "hit records" with his handheld
digital recorder.
In its original form, A.R.T.I. commenced operation in
1973. There were few, if any audio schools at that time. Since then, over 90
institutions have opened their doors to potential engineers! Just this fact
alone supports the idea that the audio industry really NEEDS qualified people.
Of these 90 schools, many programs are based on theory alone, some are more
geared toward the home hobbyist, and some are small operations which are not
accredited. In your search for audio schools, make sure the school at a minimum,
is nationally accredited. It is your assurance that the school has met the
highest standards of education, as set forth by the Federal Department of
Education. Furthermore, do your research using such websites as the US
Department of Labor to establish average starting salaries. The most recent
survey indicates the average national wage is approximately $38,000.
http://online.onetcenter.org/link/summary/27-4014.00 If the school you
are looking at does not employ a placement professional, whose job it is to
locate work, or is unable to provide a verifiable record of placement, you might
want to look elsewhere. Here at A.R.T.I., we are a nationally accredited
institution (ACCSCT), and have a solid record of career education and success
stories for thousands of graduates in all facets of audio engineering.
Unlike many other schools, A.R.T.I. does not schedule
start dates based on the traditional semester. We are an "open enrollment"
school that starts new classes each month, year round. Due to demand, where
possible, A.R.T.I. will start additional classes to meet the needs of the
student. As the maximum class size is limited to 6 students, it is strongly
advisable to contact an admissions representative as soon as you can to schedule
the start date of your choice. Call 1-888-543-ARTI x118 to begin the process.
Day, evening and night schedules are available in 7 or 11 month program lengths.
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