Tuff Sound Apprenticeship Program (TSAP) is a nonprofit educational program to teach Pittsburgh’s young adults the art of audio engineering and production. Through a four month intensive program, participants will not only learn about the technical side of engineering, but they will also have the opportunity to create their own portfolio of work by collaborating with local musicians, media makers and performers.

TSAP teams up with 1Hood Media, Dreams of Hope, Arts Greenhouse, Alumni Theater Company, Hope Academy, and YMCA Lighthouse Program to engage a wide variety of talented young apprentices ages 16 to 22. While all participants learn the foundations of audio engineering, the apprenticeship is tailored to fit each participant’s area of interest. Along with hands-on instruction from Herman Pearl and Amos Levy—two professionals with extensive experience in the field—apprentices are given access to a professional recording and listening environment.

This project is supported in part by the Hive Fund for Connected Learning at The Sprout Fund. Hive Pittsburgh is a program of The Sprout Fund that supports connected learning projects that help youth, including tweens, teens, and young adults, prepare for college, the workforce, and civic participation.