Higher Ground Rehearsal Studios is passing a big milestone this November! The space for musicians to gather and rehearse is celebrating a decade of rocking Northern Colorado.
As the first rehearsal studio in Northern Colorado, “Our goal was to be a well-maintained, safe environment for local musicians to get together and be a central hub in the music community,“ says owner Jason Eichel. After being in a band on the East Coast for more than 20 years and moving to Colorado, Jason found that rehearsal spaces, which were so prevalent in New York City, were non-existent in his new home. So, he and his wife, Jahna, went about creating one.
Designing the studio from the ground up, Jason and Jahna made sure every detail was perfect. From the shape of the rooms to the mixture of the gear to the sound treatment of each space, no note went overlooked. Each of the three studios is a nod to Jason’s past as a musician, featuring his expertise.
“We took a lot of the good things from all these different studios and pieced together all the good things, and that’s how we got to such a place that sounds good and feels good and it’s comfortable,” Jason states of Higher Ground Rehearsal Studios, the result of their efforts.
Higher Ground consists of three studios equipped with top-of-the-line gear, so every musician from every genre can perfect their sound. Each studio has a unique combination of gear, “There’s something for everybody, not just the same two amps and drum kit in every room,” explains Jason. Each studio is rented by the hour and provides the users with a high-quality professional experience so they can hone in on their craft.
In the past ten years, Higher Ground has seen a diverse mix of musicians walk through their doors and create incredible music in professionally backlined studios. Jason explains the ease of coming to Higher Ground saying, “We make it quick and easy for people to come in, plug in, and start playing. You’re in your own private environment. You can tune the rest of the world out when you’re in the room.”
Open Jams have become events that bring the whole musical community together. On these nights, Higher Ground opens its doors for free, turns everything on, and magic just seems to happen. “The cool thing when we do Open Jams is the mix-up of genres. A heavy metal guy meets a blues guy or a country guy and they just start figuring out something on the spot because everyone’s in the rooms meeting randomly,” Jason says of the spontaneity of those lively nights.
Nothing stays exactly the same for ten years. While the spirit and goal of Higher Ground haven’t changed, the services offered have expanded. Recording has become a big part of the business, and not just music. Podcasts, audiobooks, radio commercials, and even movie lines have been recorded in the studios.
Musicians of all kinds are still renting out the studios, and now in some unexpected ways. Music teachers have been renting out studio space and time, so their students get the full experience of playing on stage, on the best equipment, and without irritating any neighbors. Bands not only rehearse within the walls but auditions have been held, providing a space for musicians to meet each other for the first time and see if they’re the next Page and Plant.
With all the services Higher Ground now offers, it has become, “more than just a place to play,” remarks Jason. Still a safe place, a place that fosters music and the creative process that brings the music to life, Higher Ground has stretched what a studio is capable of. Not even Jason knows what the future will hold, as he never could have imagined Higher Ground turning into all it has become.
In the near future, there are more Open Jams on the studio schedule, including a special jam on November 4th, for the ten-year celebration of Higher Ground. There for the love of music, musicians will gather to celebrate the space, rock out, and undoubtedly create beautiful music together.