Music Production: A Medium for Expression by Diego

Music Production: A Medium for Expression by Diego - August 2017 Scholarship Essay

If I were a college professor, I would really love to teach an entry-level music production class. The reason why? Not because I am a professional music producer or even a music major, but simply because learning this skill changed my life for the better, and I adamantly believe it could do the same for others. Finding a mentor was a turning point in my learning journey which pushed me to continue pursuing a hobby I couldn’t imagine not having today.

Growing up I always loved music. I picked up the violin when I joined the school orchestra in the fifth grade and I never looked back. I practiced long hours and began taking private lessons and, after many years of consistent playing, managed to become a fairly decent violinist. I played with my middle school orchestra, my high school orchestra, and even managed to play as one of the first chairs for my university’s orchestra. Playing as a part of a group taught me everything from discipline to teamwork and probably helped me grow in ways I can’t fully grasp yet. However, as much as I appreciated this experience, just about two years ago an idea found its way inside my head which completely changed the direction of my musical journey. What was this crazy idea? As I played through a rehearsal one day, I realized that all of the music I had ever played was created by somebody else. After nearly a decade of playing an instrument, I had yet to let any of my own creative expression surface. I felt like I had never applied myself creatively by always just playing what I was provided and immediately wanted to change that. Perhaps I could create good music and perhaps I couldn’t, but I knew for a fact there was no way I would find out without trying. As a result, I began my journey into the world of music production and, just as with the violin a decade earlier, have not looked back since.

After conceiving the idea, I spent all of my free time researching how I could go about creating my own music. Could it really be done, given that I didn’t have a studio, speakers, a microphone, or really any single piece of the necessary recording equipment? I truly had no idea. I felt completely lost and, though thankfully didn’t, very much felt quitting before I had really even started. Fortunately, a friend of mine at the University of the South introduced me to a real producer who was kind enough to answer any and all of my questions. Speaking with him for about an hour taught me more than I had learned on my own through weeks of research. I am still incredibly grateful as, without his advice, I don’t think I would have continued my pursuit of music production. Today, after having found the right equipment and having the mentorship needed to learn how to use it, I am producing every single day and am incredibly happy that I picked up this hobby. It has led me to make countless friendships with other producers and musicians, has provided me with a medium through which I can express myself, and has taught me, just like the violin, that all worthwhile pursuits will be difficult in the beginning. I plan on playing my first show this semester and feel extremely excited to, for the first time ever, play music for others that I have created.

The reason why I would teach this class as a professor is not only because learning this skill has made me much happier and much more satisfied, but because I clearly struggled to learn how to begin by myself. Having a mentor gave me the foundation I needed to begin my producing journey and motivated me to keep going when I felt like trying to learn on my own was a futile endeavor. I know there are countless people, both with musical backgrounds and without, who would love to produce but who just need some mentorship to find their footing. Beginning is the hardest part, but most goals come within reach when you have a teacher to guide you.