On March 9th, 2023, Daytona State College’s Music Production Technology program presented their Music Production Technology Rocks! concert at the News-Journal Center.
MPT Rocks! acts as an assessment of students’ various audio and performance skills for live events.
“Students in the program, regardless of their level of musical expertise, get to experience the excitement and incredible satisfaction that comes from performing on stage in front of a live audience,” Professor Jake Niceley said in a post from DSC’s Instagram. “It’s important to have that experience no matter what career in the industry a student chooses.”
Contemporary Ensemble, a course required for all MPT students, teaches students how to be performers and set up a live concert. Even before MPT was a program, students would perform the ensemble at the main DSC campus outside of the Nunamann Hall.
“We’ve been doing them since 2009,” stated Niceley, who teaches the course. Depending on where students are in their program requirements, students must participate in the production, either as performers or in another capacity.
Students were required to practice every Tuesday and Thursday, similar to how a regular class is structured. Every semester, the course holds two live ensembles, one mid-semester and one at the end of the semester.
MPT Rocks! incorporated three band performances. The first band performed pop songs such as Tears For Fears’ “Head Over Heels” and Natasha Bedingfield’s “Love Like This” featuring Sean Kingston.” The second band performed jazz songs such as Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” and B.B. King’s “The Thrill Is Gone.” The last band performed soul songs such as Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition” and Luther Vandross’s “Never Too Much.”
Each band had students play various instruments while one or two performed vocals. Niceley even played the electric guitar alongside students.
Students throughout the MPT program assist the class. “The ensemble is a collaborative effort between all of the classes,” Niceley said. “Sound Reinforcement is responsible for front-of-house monitoring sound, while Live Recording is responsible for recording the concert.”
Professor Aaron Swihart guided students to control the soundboard, with Professor Scott Velazco recording the concert live on YouTube.
Students assisted with setting up the stage, preparing all the instruments, connecting all the microphones, and equipping the PA system. A student and a teacher’s assistant also recorded the audio to a hard drive.
There was a substantial audience of families, along with students who were not participating in the performance. Students cheered as the performers sang their final notes at the end of each band’s performance.
“My favorite part was when Kenny did that guitar solo. Dude was shredding that guitar,” said Julien Collins, president of the Music Industry Club.
“Feels better than drugs, and it’s safe,” said Kenny Robles, a student of the MPT program.
Watch the complete Music Production Technology Rocks! performance HERE!
Learn more about the Music Production Technology program HERE!
Steven Wease
Staff Writer / Staff Photographer