Ottawa University music majors and performers can now take advantage of ten “sound isolation” practice rooms, which recently were installed in the Fredrikson Chapel.
The transepts of the Chapel were renovated over the course of the fall semester to house the modular rooms, which were manufactured and installed by Wenger, a state-of-the-art pioneer in virtual acoustic environments. The rooms are of various sizes to accommodate the unique needs of musicians, whether individuals or ensembles.
“One of the essential components to build and sustain a quality music program is the quality of the facilities in which students practice and receive private applied instruction,” said Director of Music Programs Dr. Roger Kugler.
The Wenger modular rooms offer a number of features that make for a superior practice experience, including nine virtual performance settings to simulate the type of venue in which the musicians will be performing and the ability to digitally record/save sessions and play them back.
“The addition of these state-of-the-art Wenger SoundLok practice rooms and teaching studios demonstrates Ottawa University’s commitment to the continued elevation of its music programming,” said Kugler. “They also showcase the generosity of many music-minded alumni. These rooms will provide our students and faculty with excellent teaching and learning facilities for many years to come.”
Each of the practice rooms utilizes a self-contained design – lighting, wiring and ventilation are built in and all wiring is run through sound-isolated raceways. The rooms also include sound-isolating wall and ceiling panels with 16-gauge steel exterior and 22-gauge steel interior surfaces and can be relocated or reconfigured within hours.