Gain new skills & get a headstart on your career!
Come join us in San Francisco for a hands-on experience with face-to-face sessions aimed at boosting your audio skills.
What is WAM Academy?
A formalized, hands-on training program comprising two courses, Level 1 and Level 2, designed to help you acquire new skills and jumpstart your career in audio. In Level 1, you will learn audio fundamentals like signal flow, microphone mechanics, and even learn to solder your own XLR cables! In the more intermediate Level 2 class, you will gain hands on experience recording in WAM’s world class studio in San Francisco, and study the anatomy of mixing in Pro Tools. By the end of the program, you’ll possess the knowledge and skills needed to craft professional-grade audio recordings and mixes.
Upon completion of the program, participants will possess the knowledge and skills essential to any audio career path, whether it be on stage, in the studio, or even just to improve the quality of your own personal projects. These courses are taught by qualified recording engineers and aim to equip students with the necessary knowledge of audio production, recording, mixing, and truly understanding the science behind it all in a way that is fun and accessible to all skill levels. WAM Academy is offered in-person only.
Fall Academy – *Registration OPEN NOW*
For those who are hungrier for more, you can easily combine WAM Academy with our Pro Tools Fundamentals 101 and 110 classes (scheduled to take place November 8th-9th and 14th-16th).
If you have any questions, or for member discounts, feel free to email us at education@womensaudiomission.org.
Scholarship Opportunities
WAM is offering a limited number of full tuition scholarships for individuals who qualify to have the costs of Academy covered for the Summer Intensive program. Applicants must be women or gender expansive, BIPOC, and local to the Bay Area to qualify. Deadline to apply for Fall program is August 10th. CLICK HERE to apply now!
Level 1: Basic Audio Production Course
Uncover the fascinating realm of sound through our comprehensive foundational series. This course provides a solid foundation for understanding the physics and science behind sound, ensuring you gain essential skills for basic recording, production, and digital technologies.
Instructor(s): Minji Will- Registration Open Date: Open now!
- Dates: August 27th – October 15th
- Times: Wednesdays 6:30pm – 9pm (PST)
- Location: WAM’s Learning Lab, 447 Minna St (4th floor), San Francisco, CA
In this 8-class series you will:
- Gain an understanding of the physics and science behind sound
- Learn basic recording techniques, signal flow and the basic recording chain
- Learn how microphones work and microphone selection
- Get an introduction to Pro Tools, the industry standard DAW
- Learn how to solder and make your own cables!
We recommend taking Level 1 as a prerequisite to all other WAM classes.
Level 2: Intermediate Studio Recording & Mixing Course
Unlock your recording potential and put your skills into action in WAM’s professional recording studios. Immerse yourself in the art of studio consoles and processors while surrounded by a supportive and encouraging community. This intermediate-level course is designed to take your recording and mixing expertise to new heights in a professional studio setting. If you’re already familiar with signal flow, microphone types, and basic recording and mixing, this course is the perfect opportunity for you to take your skills to the next level.
Instructor(s): Lien Do, Arielle Flinkman- Dates: October 22nd – December 17th
- Times: 6:30pm-9pm, Wednesdays (please note, a special recording session class on November 19th starts early at 5pm)
- Location(s):
- Level 2a: WAM Studio, 542-544 Natoma Street, #C-1, San Francisco, CA 94103
- Level 2b: WAM Learning Lab, 447 Minna St (4th floor), San Francisco, CA
This 9-class series covers:
- Large Format Console Signal Flow & Patchbays
- Auxes & Inserts
- Advanced Microphone placement and techniques for mic’ing instruments
- A real, student-led recording session!
- EQ, Dynamic, and Time-based processing
- Editing, Vocal Comping, and the anatomy of a mix in Pro Tools
Level 2 Prerequisites:
Academy Level 1 or equivalent basic recording training and some experience with DAWs is strongly recommended. Attendees should understand signal flow, types of microphones, and a basic understanding of recording and mixing going into this course.
PRICING – Fall enrollment open now!
*EARLY BIRD SPECIAL – Ends August 6th
- Early Bird Level 1 ONLY – $300
- Early Bird Level 2 ONLY – $350
- Early Bird Bundle (Level 1 + Level 2) – $600
GENERAL ADMISSION
- Level 1 ONLY – $350
- Level 2 ONLY – $400
- Bundle (Level 1 + Level 2) – $700
WAM ACADEMY + PRO TOOLS BUNDLE
Want to go even deeper into audio? Supercharge your learning with our WAM Academy + Pro Tools Bundle – Combine Academy Levels 1 + 2 with our Pro Tools Fundamentals 101 + 110 courses to become a Pro Tools Certified User and learn all you need to know to master the DAW. Click here for more details on our Pro Tools Fundamentals course.
- WAM Academy + Pro Tools Bundle – $1075 ($1200 value)
WAM MEMBER PRICES
- Member Level 1 ONLY – $280
- Member Level 2 ONLY – $320
- Member Bundle (Level 1 + Level 2) – $520
*WAM Members email education@womensaudiomission.org for your discount code.
Any Questions? Please email education@womensaudiomission.org
Minji Will (she/her) is an audio engineer, composer, and producer from Chicago, currently based in the Bay Area. Her work spans record engineering, music composition, vocal production, editing, and mixing.She began her career as a studio engineer and manager at Gravity Studios in Chicago, where she worked across a wide range of genres and projects. Today, she serves as the Internship Program Manager and Studio Engineer at Women’s Audio Mission, where she mentors emerging engineers and leads recording sessions in WAM’s professional studio. Her experience also includes live sound engineering, film scoring, and composing original works for voice and electronics.
Minji believes in the power of audio and technical skills as transformative tools for connection and storytelling. She is dedicated to creating accessible, inclusive, and imaginative spaces for learning, collaboration, and creative expression.
Lien Do is a Sacramento-born multi-disciplinary media artist living in the Bay Area. They hold a double bachelor’s degree from the University of California at Davis in Music and Design. Their expertise extends to a wide range of fields, including record engineering, ADR, music composition, production, editing, and mixing. Since 2015, Lien has been serving as the co-owner and co-head engineer of Different Fur Studios in San Francisco, alongside Grace Coleman. They are also the co-founder of LIEMA, a post-audio and film production company, and a core member of the queer Vietnamese media collective, Sunkissed Productions.
Lien is a professor of post-production film audio for the MFA Graduate School program SOCDOC at UC Santa Cruz. They have also delivered guest lectures at various institutions, including UCLA and other community groups. Also, they were featured as an artist in residence at SFMoma’s Open Space, where they presented a physics sound installation that explored the potential of harnessing Sympathetic Resonance through future climate change and its impact on communication.
Lastly, they are a music producer who operates under the name Leviathe working with various artists. Throughout their work, Lien demonstrates a deep commitment to accessibility, diversity, and inclusivity in the arts.
Arielle Flinkman (she/her), is an audio engineer residing in San Francisco. She is currently the Adult Education Manager and a studio engineer at Women’s Audio Mission. In addition to working in the studio as a recording and mixing engineer, she got her start in audio working as a live sound engineer and AV Tech around Bay Area clubs and venues, and obtained her audio certificates from CCSF in recording and live sound.
Prior to working in sound, Arielle comes from a long background in media work and film exhibition, obtaining her Bachelor’s degree in Media Studies and Film from the University of San Francisco in 2014. She has worked in film projection, A/V tech, and operations within the live event and film exhibition sphere. In her free time, Arielle is a vocalist and a synth player, and moonlights as a vinyl DJ since 2013.
As a proud WAM intern alumni, Arielle believes wholeheartedly in WAM’s mission, and the strong community that is built around WAM’s classes and programs, and is excited to share her knowledge an cultivate new generations of audio professionals.
Women’s Audio Mission courses focus on increasing the gender balance in audio production and technology sectors since fewer than 5% of the population employed in these sectors are women and gender-expansive individuals. There are limited spots available in WAM classes, and they often sell out, so we ask that if you are not woman-identified (cisgender or transgender), nonbinary, or gender-expansive, you reconsider enrolling in the class. We will not turn anyone away, but please be mindful that if you take up a seat in the class, that is one less woman, non-binary, or gender-expansive individual that we can serve. We thank you for your understanding in advance and for joining us in our mission to advance women and girls in music production and the recording arts.
Sign up for our Newsletter to stay updated.