The Department of Music is turning up the volume on innovation and preparing students for careers in modern music production. The department hosted an open house on Thursday, Oct. 9, to introduce the Morrison Center’s newly renovated Music Technology Lab to the public.
The Music Technology Lab gives students hands-on music experience in music production. Classes held in the lab teach students about the software, tools and techniques used by professionals in the music production industry.
The lab functions as a live recording studio. Artists perform in the adjacent room, while students watch and listen through a live feed, mirroring a professional recording environment.
“It’s amazing to have a space where students get that hands-on experience,” said Logan Frewen, assistant professor of Music Technology and Commercial Music.
The room was originally designed as a keyboard lab. Associate Professor of Music, Dr. Derek Ganong described the former setup as “pieced together”, and felt the space would be better suited as a functional workspace equipped with modern technology.
“The idea behind this room was [to create] a space where we could teach music production, music technology and also provide a setup to do more high-level recordings in the accompanying recording space,” Ganong.
Now, the lab is more cohesive and useful for different educational activities. Large desks offer more workspace, pull-out keyboards create versatile class options, and professional recording equipment allows students to get creative.
The funding used for the renovation came from the Innovation Hub Grant, which was awarded to the department to redesign the Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Music. The new BA, which is available for the first time this semester, aims to make music education more accessible for “non-traditional” music students.
The Music Technology Lab is an integral piece of the redesigned BA because it provides the experimental and career-focused experience that students need to prepare for careers on non-traditional music pathways.
“Music Performance is often geared towards classical musicians, and Music Education is geared towards music teachers,” said Dr. Matthew Castner, assistant professor of music. “How does a rock band fit into what we offer in the music department? The new BA was designed to capture those kinds of students and give them these technical skills.”
Students without years of classical training can now study music without needing to audition for the program.
“We’re one of the few universities in the country that are accepting students into a Music degree without an audition on an instrument, which is huge, and really shows that we’re on the forefront,” Ganong said.
The BA adds new faculty and class options in music production and technology. These educational opportunities prepare students for careers in the modern music industry by teaching professional skills needed in music production, recording engineering and media project management.
“Academia is historically lethargic and lacks agility to adapt to new things and change,” Ganong added. He noted the importance of honoring the past while embracing new technologies in music.
“We’ve been very thoughtful about how to make this honor both sides,” he added.
Ganong and Castner worked tirelessly throughout the summer to bring the renovations to life.
“We had to be really creative, and we told ourselves we weren’t going to sacrifice on quality of equipment, but behind all of it is a kind of DIY approach,” Castner explained. “[Ganong] and I were in here a lot over the summer, building desks and running cables.”
After months of work, they’re still not done. There are more upgrades to make and equipment to add.
“I think that’s important for the students to see, because the reality is most of them are not going to walk into a multimillion-dollar studio,” Castner said. “The fact that it is still evolving has been really important for them, so they can understand that sometimes you have to lay on the ground and run cables for three hours – and that’s part of this work, too.”
“On the flip side of that, you don’t have to be in a multimillion-dollar studio to make something really special,” Frewen added. “You can be in a converted classroom and green room and record a hit. I think that’s important for students to understand — you may not walk into a million-dollar studio, but you don’t need that to make art.”
The entire department has one goal in common: continued growth. Dedicated professors, external support from faculty and the College of Arts and Sciences and excited students are driving Music Education at Boise State forward.
“We’re getting to a point where traditional music school is changing and evolving, and that doesn’t mean leaving behind what it’s been, and it doesn’t mean trying to reject what is new, but figuring out how they work together,” Frewen said.
