Meet Our Mentors
The heart behind the Recording, Radio, Film Connection and CASA Schools
WE TAKE THINGS A STEP FURTHER…
At a typical career trade school, you attend classes that are taught by teachers, instructors or professors—classes that are usually also attended by between 10-30 other students who are competing for the instructor’s attention.
Not at RRFC. Here, we do things a bit differently.
Instead of gathering our students into classes to be taught by one teacher, we pair each of our students with one working professional who teaches the course one-on-one in private training/tutoring sessions.
That’s right: our teacher-student ratio is 1:1. One mentor to one student.
In fact, this system is so different from the others that we don’t call them “teachers.” We call them mentors.
What's the Difference Between a Teacher and a Mentor?
Mentors are usually teachers, but not all teachers are mentors.
The best way to describe the difference is that for teachers, teaching is basically their only responsibility. Teachers usually go over the same material with a bunch of different students at once, and the teacher may or may not have any real interest in whether the student "gets it" or not. A good teacher usually cares whether the student succeeds, but not always. Once the material is discussed, the homework assigned, the tests completed and the grades recorded, the teacher's job is done—whether or not the student actually learned anything.
A mentor, however, is different. A mentor is someone who takes a personal interest in your success. A mentor leads and teaches by example. A mentor cares whether you succeed or fail, and will go the extra mile to make sure you succeed. A mentor may not have the title "teacher" (he/she might be a friend or family member, for example), but a teacher who cares about her students will mentor her students naturally. (This is why many people refer to former teachers as their mentors.)
At the Recording, Radio, Film Connection and CASA Schools, we don't hire full-time teachers or instructors who only have the task of teaching classrooms full of our students. Instead, every RRFC student is paired with a mentor, period.
Externs Not Just Students
There's another facet to our teaching method, and that's that our students aren't just students—they are externs. Because we're placing you in an actual workplace environment to be trained by a mentor, you will actually be learning on-the-job, which makes you an extern. This makes perfect sense, because first of all, it's only right that if a working professional is going to take time out of his busy schedule to show you the ropes, you should be able to help him or her out; and secondly, many students say they learn more quickly and effectively by actually doing the work!
Why the Mentor-Externship Approach?
How did RRFC come to use the mentor-extern teaching approach? There are three simple reasons:
- Professional mentoring is proven to be one of the most effective ways to teach and learn a trade. This is why tradespeople and craftspeople have been taking on externs for centuries. It just works!
- Improves your chances of learning the material. By learning one-on-one with a mentor, you'll have your mentor's undivided attention, and your mentor can take extra time in areas where you need more help in understanding the material. No competing with other students for your teacher's attention. Ask any question you like. Far fewer students fall through the cracks with one-on-one mentoring.
- Improves your chances for success in life. Almost every successful person on the planet points to at least one mentor as a key to his/her success. We're not just interested in teaching you a set of skills—we're interested in helping you succeed.
Who Are the RRFC Mentors?
At the Recording, Radio, Film Connection and CASA Schools, we have formed valuable relationships with hundreds of the most successful people in their respective industries. We are proud to partner with these successful professionals to mentor our students:
- Our Recording Connection mentors have worked with some of the biggest names in music, and many have Grammy Awards and Platinum album credits.
- Our Film Connection mentors have worked on many major television and film productions, and are well connected in the industry.
- Our Radio Connection mentors have had many years of experience in radio broadcasting, and many enjoy national audiences.
- Our mentors at Chef Apprentice School of the Arts are established chefs who work in award-winning restaurants and dining establishments.
We screen our mentors carefully to make sure they have a proven track record and plenty of experience in their field because we believe only the cream of the crop should teach our students. We also make sure our mentors have a genuine interest in taking on externs and passing on their secrets and skills to others who share their passions. This way, you can be assured that the person mentoring you knows what he/she is doing, and is highly committed to your success!
To learn more about our mentors for the Recording Connection, click here.
To learn more about our mentors for the Radio Connection, click here.
To learn more about our mentors for the Film Connection, click here.
To learn more about our mentors for the Chef Apprentice School of the Arts, click here.
