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As society's passion for music becomes more prevalent in the scholastic areas of a career, Daytona State College has given birth to the Music Production Technology and Performing Arts program. The DSC Music Department held an open house Nov 19 at the News-Journal Center located off Beach Street. The meeting consisted of enrollment information, a tour of the facility, door prizes and a jazz ensemble concert.

The tour of the N-JC was based off the main areas that would be used for the new program, available January 2010. The Gillesepy and Davidson Theaters' primary purpose is focused on the dance, drama and music ensembles, where most of the live productions are viewed. The recording studio consists of a 48-channel Solid State Logic Duality console. Duality was chosen to demonstrate how music is made in today's recording environment.

"We will use only the top of the line mics, software and for our students," said Jake Niceley, instructor of Music Production Technology. Niceley surrounded himself with a team of experts whom which he said "They will get the job done, and will do it right."

Of the many people that helped bring this program together, Niceley pointed out Mike Cronin, a freelance designer of home and professional recording studios based in Nashville. Niceley vividly pointed out Cronin's many encounters with big artists such as Shania Twain and Linkin Park. He is currently working on a studio for Taylor Swift.

"This is a guy you'd want to rub elbows with," said Niceley. Others who helped with this project were mastering engineer Jim Kaiser; independent record/mix engineers Steve Bishir, Chuck Ainlay and Bob Bullock; Aaron Bowlin from Curb Records; and audio educator Michael Fleming.

With the college's state-of-the-art technology, live recordings of performances and concerts can be fed through the control center, the heart of the N-JC, mass-produced in moments with just a few clicks of a button.

Student Joey Byrom is amazed at what the program offers.

"I feel I can make more of a career out of this," said Byrom. "I do have an advantage, I create my own beats at my house, but I feel this program would help sharpen my skills."

Bobby Bendlin, a new student at DSC, said "I'm here for the vocal part, and would love to learn more about how the studio life works."

Dr. Douglas Peterson, Chair and Senior Professor of Instrumental Music/ Music History/Applied Instrumental, said,

"I am glad to say that this is an open enrollment and the seats are filling up quickly. The cost of the course is about the same of a credit hour of any other program and there may be a lab fee, but scholarships and loans are offered."

Peterson added, "I think what we're doing is big and would put Daytona back on the map, and would even help businesses on Beach Street."

In December, President Kent Sharples also announced that the new Mike Curb building will probably be housed at the Center as well.

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