Which Program Fits You? The Four Programs Compared.
Published
The program that fits you is the one built around the work you want to do every day: Recording Connection for recording and producing music, Film Connection for making films, Radio Connection for broadcasting and podcasting, and CASA for cooking in a professional kitchen. All four teach the same way: one-on-one with a working professional, most often in the place where that work happens.
The four programs side by side
| Program | What you learn | Where you learn it | It suits you if |
|---|---|---|---|
| Recording Connection | Signal flow, microphone placement, tracking, Pro Tools, mixing and mastering | A working recording studio, with an audio engineer or music producer | You want to run sessions, record artists or produce your own music |
| Film Connection | Pitching, screenwriting, how a production is crewed, directing, the shoot and editing | A film production company, with a professional filmmaker | You have a story to make and want to learn every job between script and screen |
| Radio Connection | Voice and speech, commercial writing, news, sports and DJ announcing, FCC rules, your audition recording | A radio station or podcast studio, with a broadcasting professional | You want to be heard on air, on a podcast or on a stream |
| CASA | Knife skills, stocks and sauces, cooking methods, garde manger, food safety, a restaurant externship | A working kitchen with a chef mentor, plus practice in your own kitchen | You want to cook on a professional line and see how a restaurant runs |
Each program's own site lists its full lesson plan.
How long does the typical path take?
Every program follows a set curriculum, and the pace comes from your one-on-one sessions, so the length depends on the program you pick and the hours you can give it each week. Measured against a college degree, all four run in months rather than years. Ask your mentee advisor for the current length of the program you are weighing before you decide.
What BLS says about getting into each field
The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists a typical way in for each of these jobs. It is worth reading before you choose, because it tells you what an employer is likely to look for.
- Audio: broadcast, sound, and video technicians "typically need postsecondary education, although some are hired with a high school diploma," and for audio and sound engineering technicians the requirement ranges from a high school diploma to a college degree, depending on the position (BLS).
- Film: film and video editors and camera operators "typically need a bachelor's degree to enter the occupation" (BLS).
- Radio: broadcast announcers and radio DJs "typically need a bachelor's degree in journalism, broadcasting, or communications" (BLS).
- Kitchens: chefs and head cooks "typically need a high school diploma and work experience," and "Some train in mentorship programs, where they work under the direction of an experienced chef" (BLS).
In film and broadcasting, where a bachelor's degree is typical, anyone without one competes on the work they can show, such as a reel or an aircheck. In audio and in kitchens, BLS describes more than one way in.
How to choose between two fields
Picture an ordinary weekday in each job, not the highlight. A recording engineer spends hours moving microphones and comping takes before anyone hears a mix. Most of a film shoot day goes into setting up the next shot. Radio hosts prep long before the microphone goes live, and cooks repeat the same prep every morning so that service runs clean at night. Pick the field whose ordinary day you would choose.
Then think about the finished work you want in your hands at the end, because each program is built around finishing it. For a future engineer that is a mix; for a cook, a menu you can run from prep to plate.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need experience before I start?
No. The model is built for beginners, and your mentor starts where you are.
Can I learn online instead of in person?
With some mentors, yes. Most mentees learn in person, where their mentor works. CASA mentees also practice in their own kitchen between sessions.
Is a mentorship the same as a college degree?
No. A college or university awards a degree. These programs teach the craft one-on-one with a working professional. If the job you want lists a degree as a requirement, plan for the degree.
Where are the mentors?
In cities across the United States and Canada. The studios page shows the open locations.
Next step
Tell us the work you want to do and your city in a twenty-minute interview, and we will walk you through how the match works and the closest studios.
Tell us the craft and the city.
Recording Connection, Film Connection, Radio Connection, and CASA: The Chef Apprentice Studio of the Arts each pair mentees one-on-one with working professionals. In a twenty-minute interview we listen for the craft and the city, then route you to the closest working pro.