Helping Young Creators Learn Music Production
Soundboard Academy was founded on a simple belief: young people are capable of incredible things when given the right tools and guidance.
Our Mission
To empower young creators with the skills, confidence, and hands-on experience needed to bring their musical ideas to life through professional audio engineering.
Why We Started
We believe every young person deserves access to the creative tools used by professionals. Soundboard Academy bridges the gap between curiosity and capability.
Our Approach
Learning by doing. Every session is built around practical, hands-on activities that let students create real projects — not just follow along.
Community
We're building a community of young producers who support each other, share their work, and keep creating long after the course ends.
The Person Behind the Academy
Solomon Lopez
Founder & Lead Instructor
Solomon Lopez is the founder and lead instructor of Soundboard Academy, bringing over two decades of hands-on experience in audio engineering, music production, and live sound.
Raised in a deeply musical family, Sol was introduced to recording at a young age. His father, a lifelong musician and recording artist, and his sister, a recording artist in Nashville, helped shape his early passion for music. Sol grew up working in his father's home studio, where he quickly discovered that audio engineering was more than just a hobby—it was his path.
In 2003, Sol formally studied Audio Engineering at Sacramento City College and has since gone on to work across a wide range of genres including hip hop, R&B, country, folk, and reggae. His work as a producer and engineer has contributed to music that has reached millions of streams across platforms like Spotify, and his productions have been featured on ESPN and SportsCenter. He was also a finalist in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest, and his music has been licensed for use in a popular Sims video game.
Beyond the studio, Sol has extensive experience in live sound. He has worked as a sound engineer on a cruise line in West Palm Beach, running audio for nightly performances, and has supported live shows at clubs and venues, managing sound for artists in real-time environments.
In addition to his music background, Sol has also studied Information Technology and Computer Science, giving him a strong understanding of the technical side of modern recording setups and digital production tools.
As a father of two (ages 15 and 11), Sol understands how powerful creative outlets can be for young people. His passion for teaching comes from a desire to help students not only learn technical skills, but also gain the confidence to express themselves and bring their ideas to life.
"Soundboard Academy was built to give students the same opportunity I had growing up—hands-on access to the tools, knowledge, and inspiration needed to create something real."
— Solomon Lopez