by John Downey '23 on October 9, 2022
A&E Co-Editor

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Arts & Entertainment

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Big Things in the Works for the Music Technology and Production Degree

Last year, Providence College officially began offering a new degree: music technology and production. Dealing mainly with aspects of recording and mixing music, as well as songwriting, orchestration, and transcription, the program was paramount in launching the music department into the future as well as attracting the attention of those who had originally been skeptical about pursuing a music degree. However, the degree is continuing to evolve, with many changes expected throughout the upcoming years.

The biggest change that’s expected to come down the line is the construction of a recording studio in the school. As of right now, PC doesn’t have a studio, with the closest alternatives being the lab in Smith 220 or the rehearsal hall. The lab, while equipped with recording interfaces and software, is not set up to be a full-blown studio at the moment, and there has been controversy in the past regarding students using the equipment in the rehearsal hall. There are still decisions to be made about the location of the studio, with some possibilities being the aforementioned lab or G20, a storage room in the basement of Smith Center for the Arts. No matter where it ends up, a studio would be incredibly helpful in enhancing the program.

A studio on campus would also be great for the growing number of student bands and artists. It has been proven both at events sponsored by the music department and outside of it that there are plenty of students who can write original music. To be able to give them the facilities to record it and show it to the world would not only be great for them, but it would also help market the school in a new and innovative way. Combine this with social media marketing, such as TikTok, where songs often go viral, and PC could start branching out in a new direction.

Something else that’s supposed to come to the department is more guest speakers. Last year, there were presentations by copyright lawyers and people who worked in song licensing. This is just the tip of the iceberg, with future guests to include songwriters and recording engineers. This is an important step for the program because much of it is dedicated to these aspects of the music industry, and to tie in what these speakers say with what students are doing in class will only enhance the learning experience. The internship and job opportunities that could come with these connections are also very important, especially in an industry that is almost impenetrable, particularly for college students.

These future changes, as well as many other ones, all indicate that the music technology and production degree could become one of the biggest programs on campus. Hopefully its growth inspires the growth of other creative degrees; recently, the creation of a communications minor was announced, and this has already generated much excitement, particularly due to its interest in the radio and the school paper. The more degrees PC has to offer, the better, and the music technology and production degree is proof of this.