Meet Rina Weems, a Recording Arts & Show Production student at F.I.R.S.T. Institute in Orlando, FL. She reveals that she’s very comfortable attending this music school because the program is so “hands on.” You get to do just what you came to school to do… learn to make music. The program is straight-forward, and that’s what she likes about it.
Weems has been “doing music” sense she was a child. From her first drum machine, which was actually her desk at school, to beating on the tables in the cafeteria, she was always into music. This was her outlet for creating live sounds all throughout middle school.
Rina Weems Makes Her Move Towards Producing Music
Then, in high school, Rina began networking with some of the local guys around town. They connected with each other to write music, put songs together and things of that nature. But, the actual recording side of making music came into play after she graduated from high school.
She got together with some guys from her town. Together, they built a small music studio in the back of the house of one of the guy’s fathers. They had their own group, and they were doing shows. So, she was really starting to get a feel for the art of making music and live show production.
Lucrative Job vs. Passionate Career
Eventually, Weems started working on a job, which was a very demanding one. That was eight years ago. Since then, she’d been pretty much out of the music game. Towards the end of her eight-years on this job, a desire to get back to her passion began to boil inside of her. This “job” was not what she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
Her inner passion to make music drove her to start looking into different schools related to music, music production, etc… She really wanted to get back into producing music and live shows.
So, in January 2016, Rina quit her job. It was actually a lucrative career, with full benefits and all the great perks. But, she simply left… just walked away to go back to school.
Rina Weems enrolled in F.I.R.S.T. Institute’s Recording Arts & Show Production program that June.
Being a Recording Arts & Show Production Student
Like most aspiring music producers, Rina dreams of someday owning her own recording studio. But, she actually wants her brand to be much more that. She’s thinking more along the lines of a big company, referring to such music moguls as Damon Dash and Jay Z.
The Recording Arts & Show Production student pictures herself operating out of a really big building. You can almost feel her passion as she speaks of recording sound, developing artists and just doing what it takes to make music in her own studio.
These are the hands-on skills Weems says she’s developing right now as a student at F.I.R.S.T. Institute. Although she’s starting off small in the industry, her hope is that it will all transform into something “really big.”
Five years from now, says Rina, she sees herself with a small company she can branch off into something bigger.
Rina’s Experience as a F.I.R.S.T. Institute Sound & Live Show Production Student
When asked how she feels about her experience, Weems responds, “It feels amazing.” She says that when she first started attending F.I.R.S.T. Institute, she never would’ve imagined that she’d be where she is today, music education-wise, after less than one year at the audio production school.
Rina admits that things are happening fast. But, that’s a good thing.
Between attending classes, networking and learning about sound and live show production, she’s getting prepared for the career she really wants.
#1 Benefit of Attending F.I.R.S.T. Institute: The Instructors
The producers asked Weems to narrow down her favorite part of the Recording Arts & Show Production program at F.I.R.S.T. Institute. She says it’s the connections between the students and the teachers.
Rina holds the teachers at F.I.R.S.T. Institute in high regards, calling them awesome and amazing. They are extremely knowledgeable, and they work with students, one-on-one, when needed. These instructors have the ability to push you to do what you need to when class is over.
It’s all about the motivation they provide the students that keeps her so excited.
This is like the fourth college Weems has attended since graduating from high school. But, she never felt attached, instructor-wise, until she started going to F.I.R.S.T. Institute. She believes the relationships you make while going to this music school are the key to success.
And, it’s these relationships that makes her love this school so much. Weems says that if the world starts going crazy, she’ll just go to F.I.R.S.T. Institute.
Words of Advice from Music Production Student, Rina Weems
What advise does Rina give to people thinking about starting a career in the music business? “Do it.”
If you’re thinking about it, just go ahead and go for it. The more you think on it, the more time you’re wasting. Just do it, even if you’re giving up something major to get it done.
Remember, Weems gave up a lucrative career, dropping it with no regrets. She says she dropped it for a reason.
Yes, she understands that she did take some losses by quitting her well-paying job to go back to school. But, she also recognizes that she’s gaining so much more in the process. Most importantly, Rina is finally happy.
So, whatever it is that you’re thinking about doing, if you really want to do it, just do it. According to F.I.R.S.T. Institute student, Rina Weems, “You won’t regret it… at all.”
