Open sesame for students

• Q: I failed to clear my Class X (compartment) exam in maths for the third time. My school is not allowing me to re-appear for the exam as I am 19 years old. Do I have to re-appear for all the papers if I shift to the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)? Does it have the same weightage as CBSE?

— Dinesh Pant

• A: To answer your last question first, we have three national boards: CBSE, ICSE and NIOS. Moreover, each state has its own board (including state open schools). Other than that a few universities (for example Jamia Millia) also act as boards.

Study through open or correspondence is considered equivalent by most boards and universities in India and abroad. You can contact MHRD and AIU if you face any problem at the time of admission.

You can either appear directly for the exam as a private candidate from CBSE or register with Patrachar Vidyalaya, Timarpur, Delhi, which is affiliated to CBSE and conducts courses through distance learning. But it would be better if you enrol with NIOS. Reason? Those who fail to clear their exams in March 2008 can again appear as a direct candidate for the exams in October / November.

The aggregate pass marks is 33 per cent. You get nine chances over a period of five years to complete your Class X. You have the option of giving one paper at a time. You can enjoy the privilege of taking an on-demand examination. You can get exemption for up to two subjects which you have already cleared in your previous attempts. Contact your nearest NIOS accredited institute for prospectus or log on to www.nios.ac.in or www.nos.org. Alternatively, you could also join IGNOU’s six-month bachelors preparatory programme, which would make you eligible for admission to BA, BCom, BTS, BSW courses offered by IGNOU even without completing your Class X exam since you are above 18.

Going on a summer holiday

• Q: I am an executive with the travel and tourism industry and would like to know about leisure management as a career option.

— Girish Talukdar

• A: Holidaying has taken on an entirely different connotation in recent times. Today it is not just about getting the right booking for a desired destination but a multitude of activities and events that truly make the holiday a memorable experience. With big bucks being spent on travel, leisure management has come of age in India. Various industries come under its ambit, including resort, hotels, restaurants and event management firms. Essentially, leisure management professionals are in-charge of managing their client’s leisure time.

All the activities at a country club or resort need to be flawlessly executed. Behind all the fun--frolic are a bunch of hawk-eyed professionals who ensure that everything moves in clockwork precision.

If music be the food of love...

• Q: What is the work of a sound engineer? What do I need to study?

— Rohan Gaur

• A: Sound engineers make high quality recording of music, speech and sound effects in recording studios. They use complex electronic equipment to record sound for commercial music recordings, radio, TV, film and commercials, corporate videos, websites, computer, video and mobile games

As a sound engineer, your work would involve planning recording sessions with producers and artists, setting up microphones and equipment in the studio, setting the right sound levels, operating equipment for recording, mixing, mastering, sequencing and recording each item onto a separate track, monitoring and balancing sound levels, mixing tracks to produce a final master track and logging tapes.

With experience, you might become a studio manager. To become a studio sound engineer, you need a good knowledge of music and recording technology. You could also start as an assistant in a recording studio where you will do basic routine jobs, but at the same time, you would also get the chance to learn how to use studio equipment and assist in recording sessions.

When looking for your first job, you will find it helpful to have practical experience of using studio equipment. Taking a music technology course can help with this, and you could also build up your experience through activities like local music programmes or DJ projects, FM or community radio, mixing and recording music in a home studio. You may increase your chances of finding work by taking a course such as certificate / diploma in sound technology or a degree in sound engineering.

You will usually develop your skills on the job once you are working in a studio. Make sure you keep up to date with changes in audio technology and equipment throughout your career.

You may opt for specialised courses in technical skills such as sequencing, mastering, editing and recording. With experience, you could also choose to take up further studies in audio recording or sound studio management abroad.

If you want to work in the television and film industry, you can take short courses to develop your skills in this area. You could work full-time for a recording studio, or short-term freelance contracts.

Most of the major studios are based in and around Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. There are smaller studios throughout the country, where most of the work involves recording demos for local bands, creating commercials for local radio stations and copying CDs. There is strong competition for work. Jobs are usually not advertised, so you will need to show initiative to get into the recording industry.