When Philadelphia-based musicians Helen Bruner and Terry Jones joined the latest Sound Recording and Music Technology (SRT) Master Class on May 1, they told students that working in the music industry is “all about being ready.”

“You have to be prepared,” Bruner said. “We are producers, engineers and artists because we have to be. We had to create our own opportunities.”

Bruner and Jones shared stories of their extensive careers in the music industry with students in the Mix Room at Montco in the Advanced Technology Center on Montgomery County Community College’s Central Campus in Blue Bell.

Bruner began her career by singing into a mic at a music conference in 1989, after which producers contacted her. She released the song “Over You” with Warlock Records early in her career before moving to Cardiac Records, and eventually Virgin Records in the United Kingdom.

Jones worked as a featured and backup vocalist, which led to her being featured on a number of tracks by well-known artists, such as Celine Dion and Gloria Estefan. Jones sung featured vocals on the Redman and Method Man song “How High,” the licensing and sampling of which led Jones to being one of the most sampled female vocalists.

Jones explained to the students that in the process of recording “How High” she insisted on being recognized for her contributions, so that she could use that experience.

“Credit is more important than money, because that is how you are going to get the next job,” Jones said.

In 2002, Bruner and Jones established Philerzy Productions, a music production company based in Philadelphia that owns the rights to the music of late soul singer Linda Jones, Terry Jones’ mother. The label released a new album of Linda Jones’ music called “Soul Talkin,” which included the track “Baby, I Know” led by Linda Jones and featuring the vocals of both Bruner and Jones. “Baby, I Know” was nominated for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the 51st Grammy Awards in 2009.

Bruner and Jones were happy to share their stories with the Montco students and faculty in the crowd and answer questions about the industry and their experiences as black women. The duo shared that they faced discrimination because of who they were, but they were determined to succeed and created opportunities for themselves.

Their experiences resonated with some of the students, including Shea Walker, a Montco student with two children interested in the music industry. She attended the Master Class to get advice and information that she could pass on.

“I wanted to know how they got where they are and their challenges as black women,” she said. “It was important to me to get the first-hand instead of searching the internet.”

SRT instructor, Jen Mitlas is one of the founders of the Pennsylvania chapter of Beats by Girlz, a program that encourages young women to become involved in music technology. She was excited for her students to hear from women in music.

“It was a very meaningful discussion,” she said. “It was powerful to see the female students’ eyes light up when they heard the stories. It gave them a sense of hope.”

Hosted by the Sound Recording and Music Technology Program, Master Classes are free and provide Montco students and community members with the opportunity to meet with and learn from professionals in the music industry.