Going Solo
By Kyle Simpson, freelance writer
Interested in music?Thinking of making your hobby a career? Or, maybe you just want to hear some good music?Then check out Cedar Valley 's music department.
From music management and business,to music performance and theory,a student can turn a hobby into something more - and have fun in the process.Part of the fun is the opportunity to learn from instructors who are working musicians,and can speak to the skills needed to be successful in the professional music industry.
"You can 't teach it,unless you live it," stresses Roger Dismore,,CVC music coordinator and freelance saxophonist."I have played with Ray Charles,James Taylor,Natalie Cole, The Temptations and many others,as well as performed in big bands and pit orchestras for touring theatrical productions,and I 've even been nominated for a Grammy."
In fact,all of CVC 's music instructors have a great deal of professional experience that they can offer,notes Dismore,who also teaches the "Business of Music " and "Co-op Internship " courses at CVC.."Some of our professors like Arlington Jones . y all over the country performing on weekends with big name performers like Kirk Whalum and Wayman Tisdale.In addition,our adjunct voice professor,Andrea Wallace,has received a Grammy award for her work with Kirk Franklin."
The music department currently has 170 music majors,and offers degree paths in high-demand areas like audio engineering.As part of the class,students learn the workings of an actual recording studio.The class has so much notoriety that students have been known to come from all over Texas and even out of state to be a part of it.
The recital class offers students the opportunity to hear all types of music every Wednesday at 12:45 p.m. in the performance hall.The recitals are also a training experience for the second-year audio students, who set up and operate audio and video recording equipment and make a live recording.
The hands-on experience that the music department offers has paid off for many students.
"Graduates from our program are . nding rewarding jobs everywhere in the recording industry," Dismore acknowledges..Our graduates are now studio owners,live sound engineers and broadcast engineers working all over the country.
If a student has a love for any kind of music,then he or she should check out the classes that the CVC music department has to offer.The performing ensembles are open to anyone who plays or sings well;you don 't have to be a music major to participate, but you do have to audition.
"Even if you have never played an instrument or you do not have a musical background,our instructors can work with you and start you on your musical path," Dismore encourages.."But don 't think it will be a walk in the park - it gets competitive,but it just takes talent and dedication."
If you are interested in learning more about the music department and the courses it offers,call 972-860-8129 for a department tour,or visit CVC 's website and look through the music department pages found under the "degrees and certi . cate programs/technical disciplines " link in the prospective students menu.