Instructors

Brian White

Brian White is one of the owners of Future Rhythm and an Expert Certified Pro Tools Instructor. Brian has over a decade of experience with digital audio and hard disk-based recording as well as an extensive background in general computing, in both hardware and software on Mac, PC and UNIX platforms. As an instructor, Brian integrates a traditional music background with cutting-edge digital audio and production techniques, helping his students get the most out of the latest technology. Digidesign has certified Brian as one of a handful of Expert Pro Tools Instructors in the world. Having trained thousands of individuals, including many industry professionals and Digidesign employees, Brian knows what it takes to prepare students for a career in audio production. Besides teaching at Future Rhythm, Brian also works as a freelance engineer, producer, and writer. An active musician and prolific writer, Brian is currently working with a number of artists and labels here in the Bay area and around the world. You can find Brian's weekly column, the Pro Tools Corner, at audioMidi.com. He holds a BA in Business Management & Economics from the University of California at Santa Cruz.

Peter Thomas

Peter Thomas is one of Future Rhythm's certified Digidesign Pro Tools Instructors. With over 10 years of experience working in the music scene, Peter brings his expertise as a professional musician, recording engineer, and instructor to Future Rhythm. Peter started his involvement in music as a drummer. While attending UCLA to earn a degree in ethnomusicology, Peter had the opportunity to perform alongside some of Los Angeles' finest jazz figures, as well as rock and pop acts. As Peter became interested in the recording arts, he worked his way up the ranks through multiple recording studios both in Los Angeles and in the Bay Area. From studio assistant to head recording engineer, Peter proved himself to many studio owners and clients as a world-class recording arts talent, and now has many credits to his name. Peter also at one time served as a recording instructor at Foothill College. In addition to teaching Pro Tools at Future Rhythm, Peter does freelancing both as a recording engineer and as a drummer, and performs with several groups in the Bay Area.

Scott Church

Scott Church is one of Future Rhythm's Digidesign Authorized Pro Tools instructors. He began his work in the industry at Steinberg North America in 1997 where he helped facilitate training and educational events such as Club Cubase, and developed Creating Dance Music with Cubase VST, ReBirth and ReCycle!, an interactive instructional CD-ROM. Scott helped launch audioMIDI.com, which has since become one of the leading on-line retailers of computer music technology. Scott is a founding member of Connect For Education, a principal developer of on-line music and language courses used at esteemed universities and educational institutions. Scott has worked with recognized industry-leaders, including Steinberg, audioMIDI.com, Guitar Center, M-Audio/Propellerhead, Obedia, NARAS (The GRAMMY Foundation)/Electronic Arts and T.C. Electronic. Currently, Scott is working at Digidesign as the music creation product manager.

George Mauro

George Mauro is one of Future Rhythm's Apple Final Cut Pro certified instructors. George has over 25 years of experience in all aspects of television and video production and post including, including sound, lighting, camera, and directing. He is a seasoned video instructor in both Final Cut Pro and Avid. George worked for Avid in the early ‘90s when it all started. He helped get "Toy Story”' to Disney after coming to San Francisco to ‘pitch' it to Disney. The video was cut using the voices of the stars and the storyboard artwork. George has worked with many leaders in the industry including CMX, Grass Valley, Sony, and Ampex. He holds a BA in TV/Radio Production Management from Fredonia State University with grad studies from Syracuse University.

Beth (Basa) Pielert

Beth (Basa) Pielert is a director, cinematographer, and editor specializing in social justice documentary filmmaking. She is a Final Cut Pro Instructor for Future Rhythm among other schools. Her first film, "Kiss My Cleats”, toured dozens of festivals and is used to help teach tolerance in high schools throughout the US. During the seven years that she has been working on "Out of the Poison Tree”, she was the 1st Assistant Director and primary camera operator for The Corporation, which garnered dozens of awards including the 2004 Sundance Audience Award. Recently, she helped shoot "Girls Rock!”, and Alan Berliner's latest film, "Wide Awake”. Beth has also lent her cinematography skills to LucasFilm, helping to create "The Making of Revenge of the Sith”.

Jeff Sobel

Jeff Sobel is a professional audio engineer and video editor. Originally a live sound engineer, he worked and toured with many notable bands in the late ‘90s. Since 2000, he has been a studio engineer producing and engineering albums encompassing indie rock, hip-hop, bluegrass and more for dozens of bands. He has also been involved in preproduction work with several major label artists, including the last two Black Eyed Peas albums. Jeff has been the chief engineer of the John Lennon Educational Tour Bus since 2002, and was responsible for its complete redesign in 2003. He is currently at work designing and overseeing the construction of the brand new JLETB, to be debuted in January 2008. Jeff Is a certified instructor for Pro Tools, Logic Pro and Final Cut Pro and has taught at San Francisco State University, BAVC, and the Digital Media Academy held at Stanford University.