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Welcome to Kay Smith’s music studio. This is where most of the magic happens, from private instruction to recording. In this article, we will dive into how this studio was built, it’s benefits, and how it is purposed.
One aspect that helped greatly was having the help of my master carpenter dad. He helped me find proper materials and build the walls of the studio. First off, the studio is located in my garage. The finished garage has served as a room for some time, but it can easily revert back to a garage by removing the insulated rolling walls that cover the garage doors. However, I only wanted to use part of the garage for the studio and the rest as a waiting area for students, parents, and guests. So, the first thing we got were showcase panels; you know, the ones you see in the background of different product stalls at conventions. Apparently a couple at a storage unit next to my dads was getting rid of theirs, so we apprehended them for free. We later found out that the amount of panels we got could have ranged between $500 – $2,000. Amazing how much you can save when you repurpose someone else’s junk. We did cut some of the panels down to fit into our walls. We used steel trim to piece our two walls of panels and a door together, foam insulation for any exposed areas, and obviously the door (our biggest expense) to get in and out of the studio. The furniture, I have received over the years through my parents and friends.
The studio is not soundproof by any means, but it does cut down outside sound significantly. It is now quiet enough to teach lessons without disruption, and to record (as long as there’s not something really loud outside). It works the other way as well. I can make as much noise as I want without disturbing other people in the house. The studio serves me well for practicing every day, teaching lessons, recording music and podcasts, listening to music, and sometimes, just a quiet place to be. Another great thing about it is, it can easily be disassembled and moved somewhere else. In the future, I might add foam panels, but right now the studio serves its purpose.
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