Hitting the Right Notes: The Sound Lab Opens in Riverview Skatepark & Youth Centre

The days of jumping from house to house to rehearse with your band in hopes of avoiding a noise complaint or a disgruntled parent are now in the past for Riverview youth. 

What used to be a storage room at the back of the Youth Centre is now a top-of-the-line recording studio. The Sound Lab is outfitted with professional recording software, and if you don’t have your own instrument, you can use what is readily available — including an electric guitar, bass guitar, electric drum kit, keyboard, microphones, two amps, and professional recording software at your fingertips.

At the low cost of $2 per person, youth aged 12 to 25 can reserve a two-hour open or closed session in the room. Booking an open session allows up to seven people to use the room at the same time, and a closed session reserves the space for just you or your group. 

“The space has been booked solid since we opened,” says Matt McKinley, Community Recreation Worker for Youth with the Town of Riverview. “We kept hearing that there was a hunger for this type of space for the local music scene and seeing so many new kids coming in who have never been here before really shows the truth of that.” 

The Skatepark has been a youth-centric space for years, with music being a well-integrated component. Whether it’s a youth band performing during Skatepark events, the Riverview Arts Centre two-night Battle of the Bands showdown during Winter Carnival earlier this year, or just a jam-session in the Youth Centre, a space of this caliber is contributing to a community music hub that will benefit Riverview youth for years to come. 

In addition to recording music, the Sound Lab can also be booked to record a podcast, spoken word poetry, or even just to try your hand at producing and sound technology. There are video tutorials for all equipment, and users watch an online tutorial at the time of booking so everyone is aware of recording etiquette and the rules of the space.

“The Sound Lab is a dream come true for the Skatepark,” says Ross Smith, Manager of the Skatepark and owner of Surface Skateshop. “The fundraising efforts of the youth and the community have gone a long way, and the $2 booking fee goes directly back into facility programming.”

The Sound Lab was made possible thanks to a partnership with Matt Horsman, the founder of EQ Music who works closely with the IDEA Centre, a creative hub for high school students that is designed to spark innovation and encourage hands-on learning beyond the traditional classroom. Horsman donated computer software, recorded tutorial videos, helped procure the best equipment for the space from Long & McQuade, and hosts free monthly programming to provide system training and answer any questions people may have. 

“We are so thankful to Matt and EQ Music, Long & McQuade, and to the talented youth who bring this space to life,” comments Matt Mckinley. “The Sound Lab became a reality thanks to a huge community effort and the passion of our youth.”

Hitting play on Riverview’s newest creative space has been a demonstration of community collaboration. What began as a simple idea has grown into a vibrant hub where creativity is not only welcomed but amplified. With its doors now open and its schedule already filling up, the Sound Lab is more than just a room with instruments — it's a launchpad for Riverview's next generation of artists and storytellers. 

The free monthly program with Matt Horsman runs from 6 to 8 p.m., with the next sessions being held Thursday, July 10 and Thursday, August 14. No registration is required and any interested users are invited to come and receive system training and have their questions answered. Be sure to follow the Skatepark Facebook and Instagram pages for details.