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Mercedes Riva

Mercedes Riva

Swing Musica Argentina

Career Roadmap

Mercedes's work combines: Music, Film, and Being Creative

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Day In The Life

Sound Engineer

I record VO talents and edit and mix commercials for radio & tv

Skills & Education

Here's the path I took:

  • High School

  • Graduate Degree

    Music Composer

    Catholic University in Argentina

  • Certification

    Film Scoring

    UCLA

  • Bachelor's Degree

    Music Producer for Audiovisual Media

    Catholic University in Argentina

Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be a Sound Engineering Technicians:

Bachelor's Degree: Sound Engineer

Graduate Degree: Image and Video Design

Learn more about different paths to this career

Life & Career Milestones

My path in life took a while to figure out

  • 1.

    Played guitar since 8yo and lived in a very musical houshold

  • 2.

    When I finish school, I decided to study both music and industrial engineering (which I loved!). After a year I quit engineering to pursue a career in the film/music industry.

  • 3.

    I studied too, Music Production for audiovisual media.

  • 4.

    I went to California to take a certificate in Film Scoring

  • 5.

    While living in LA, I worked with many people from film degrees, composing music for films and commercials. After a while doing that, I also did sound design and editing for same movies.

  • 6.

    As time went by, I started working more as a Sound Designer and Editor than a musician.

  • 7.

    I got a job offer in a studio to work as a sound engineer. I learned how to record VO talents, directing them too, and learned a lot about the commercials industry.

  • 8.

    After 3 years of living in LA, I returned to Argentina (where I'm from) and got a job (which I still have) as an engineer at a music & sound studio por commercials and film.

Defining Moments

How I responded to discouragement

  • THE NOISE

    Messages from Society in general:

    That I should study a more traditional career. That being a musician wouldn't get me anywhere and that I should've take advantage of being smart, and study something more rewarding.

  • How I responded:

    There's nothing that you would do better, than what you love. It doesn't matter if you could've been an astrophysicien or president. What matter is what you love.