With a passion for inspiring and creative teaching methods, motivating students has proven a successful feat for Music Producer turned Certified English as a Second Language (ESL) Teacher Tommy Zai. That’s why he couldn’t pass up the opportunity to teach English and life skills to disadvantaged teens in an underdeveloped area in China. To connect with his students, Zai sings and raps his lessons. Noticing the students’ heightened interest, Zai later decided to incorporate his knowledge of audio production into the classroom, using various plug-ins from NUGEN Audio.
“I found that I could reach, teach and inspire these kids through music,” says Zai. “While I had marginal success with my guitar and karaoke, once I projected my MacBook onto the wall and started playing loops, it was clear they were listening. I soon realized that a digital audio workstation (DAW) armed with NUGEN plug-ins was the key to breathing life into my creative lessons. This led to the inclusion of audio projects in the curriculum, where students gain valuable hands-on audio experience using these solutions.”
Zai’s students have learned to use a lengthy list of plug-ins from NUGEN Audio. This includes the brand’s AB Assist 2 quick comparison tool, Aligner phase/polarity plug-in and ISL limiter. Zai has also presented the MasterCheck mastering optimization solution, Monofilter bass management tool, SEQ-ST sonic sculpting solution and Visualizer comprehensive audio analysis suite. “NUGEN plug-ins are excellent for students because they are elegant, simple and powerful,” he says. “In addition to sounding great, they look cool, which helps when working with young people who are very visual.”
