“Learn to Listen!”
Leslie Ann Jones is Director of Music Recording & Scoring at sound effect company Skywalker Sound in California. As one of the few women in the business, she has good advice for a successful career although she never actually wanted to become a recording engineer. The daughter of Spike Jones and Helen Grayco dreamt of being a guitarist in a rock band.
Early Inspiration
The foundation for Leslie’s career from ABC Studios and Capitol Records to Director of Music Recording & Scoring at Skywalker Sound was laid in her cradle. As the daughter of musical satirist Spike Jones and singer/actress Helen Grayco she was inspired by music from an early age. Star Wars, Simon & Garfunkel, Black Panther, Apocalypse Now… it gives you a lot of strength to work every day with people whose work you value.
When Things Gone Horribly Wrong
When recording live, back-ups are a must-have. Things can go horribly wrong if you haven’t. What else is Leslie’s approach to recording?
Listen to Music You Don’t Like
You can always learn something from listening to music. Even if it’s not the kind of music you could ever see yourself doing. That’s Leslie’s advice for younger people in the music business: Spend time just listening! But don’t turn it up too loud! A life outside your small studio is important too because the huge group called the music community informs you what to do. Whether inside or outside the music industry: Get connected and learn to listen to what a person is trying to say!
Behind the Skywalker Sound
What happens in the control room at Skywalker Sound where they like to have as much equipment as they can. Leslie loves recording with everybody in the room at the same time. “With a great arranger and a great orchestra – I hate to say it – but I really don’t have to do too much except pick great mics.”
Learning From Professionals: Sennheiser Pro Talk
In the music industry, there is no classic right and wrong. That’s why we at gigmit BLOG aim to share experiences and knowledge of people who work in the industry – just like our friends from Sennheiser do with their award-winning Pro Talk Series. Designed to serve as a valuable resource for aspiring engineers, producers and audio enthusiasts, the series focuses on the journeys of the world’s leading audio professionals and their expert advice for a path to success. In 2018 the Pro Talk Series won a TEC Award for Outstanding Technical Achievement in the Audio Education Technology category.
Check it out, get inspired and learn to listen from professionals like Leslie Ann Jones from Skywalker Sound!
Discover more Sennheiser Pro Talk here.
Use the pro knowledge for your growth and booking and apply to gigs on gigmit.
