This year Venice students will be able to get a closer look at the world of the music industry and technology through new recording studios that opened Jan. 12 on campus.

Two companies, Creative Artists Agency (CAA) and the dropout prevention program Communities In Schools (CIS), funded the music studios. Young Producers Group (YPG), led by Lawrence Grey, the project coordinator, will mentor students as they produce music in the studios.

These studios were created in practice rooms that are located inside the music building. They are open on Mondays and Wednesdays after school for students who are working on recordings. The rooms were unoccupied until the school agreed to let YPG develop the studios.

CAA donated eight renovated laptops and Brian Loucks of the CAA and Melanie Bialis of CIS funded the rest of the equipment that was needed, with the support of music teacher Wendy Sarnoff.

Each studio is equipped with microphones and laptops that include tracks of many different sounds, pitches and rhythms. They also include headphones, an acoustic piano and monitor speakers. Music students will be able to go into the studios with the permission of a teacher or supervisor and will then be able to use the equipment.

Ms. Sarnoff said that the studios are to “encourage musicians to build skills and likewise to make a career,” and “to prepare music students to get into the industry of music technology.”

Senior Victor Villafana, who plays piano in Ms. Sarnoff’s class, and junior Jelani Robinson were recently trying out the new equipment.

“It’s cool having a studio because it’s historic,” said Villafana. “It gives you another way to express yourself without being under pressure.”

Ms. Sarnoff says that it’d be great to “put ourselves on the map” and “be creative” with the opportunities being given to students.