So lucky to work with Keith Jenkins on this tune. And I got to play drums on the song. Fun times!

As students prepare for their upcoming music technology internship, it's important to recognize the unique dynamics of this field. Internships in music technology, whether in the realms of post-production, recording studios, live sound, or music venues, offer invaluable hands-on experience that can shape your future career. However, it's essential to acknowledge that most opportunities in this domain are not advertised. This can create a sense of uncertainty or hesitation when reaching out to companies that may not have active internship postings.

In the ever-evolving landscape of the music industry, internships often serve as the gateway to professional success. Networking remains a crucial factor in securing these opportunities, especially in a niche field like music technology. Consider the following advice to navigate the world of music technology internships:

1. Embrace Proactive Networking: Engage with professionals in the music technology industry through various platforms, such as industry events, seminars, and online communities. Seek opportunities to connect with individuals working in your desired field. Whether it's through informational interviews, LinkedIn outreach, or industry-specific gatherings, networking can expand your pool of contacts and potential internship opportunities.

 

1. Craft a Compelling Pitch: Since many internships in the music technology field may not be advertised, you'll often need to start contact with companies . Develop a concise and compelling pitch that highlights your skills, passion for music technology, and specific areas of interest. Personalizing your approach and demonstrating genuine enthusiasm for the company's work can make a lasting impression on potential mentors and employers.

 

1. Demonstrate Your Value: Showcase your technical expertise, creativity, and adaptability to potential internship hosts. Highlight any relevant projects, coursework, or extracurricular activities that show your passion and skill in music technology. Your portfolio, if available, should reflect your ability to contribute to a professional setting.

Remember that polite persistence and resilience are key when navigating the competitive landscape of music technology internships. Don't be discouraged by the lack of advertised positions; instead, view this as an opportunity to shape your career path. Cultivate genuine connections, showcase your skills, and remain committed to your passion for music technology. By taking these proactive steps, you can enhance your prospects of securing a rewarding and enriching internship experience that aligns with your professional aspirations.

Group projects are a fact; school or no school. There are repetitive snags that always come up. The two basic ones are communication issues and not building in time for editing/revisions. if the group is facing a challenging situation due to poor time management and attendance issues, here are a few thoughts on alleviating the stress of group projects.

1. Intensive Time Management Strategy: Work backwards from the due date and encourage the group to create a detailed schedule that outlines specific tasks and deadlines for each team member. This will help them prioritize tasks and utilize their remaining time effectively.
   
   
2. Task Delegation and Collaboration: No one should be a ball hog and no one should be a tug boat. Advise the group to divide the remaining work among team members according to their strengths and expertise. Encourage them to communicate regularly and collaborate closely to ensure a cohesive final project.
   
   
3. Utilize Available Support: I'm here to help. I assigned the project but I am always available to help. Recommend that the group consult with the instructor or academic support services for any clarification or guidance on the project. This can provide them with valuable insights and resources to improve their work.
   
   
4. Quality Check and Revision: Surprises in group projects and last minute delivery are not fun. Stress the importance of thorough quality checks and revisions to ensure that the final project meets the required standards. Suggest that the group allocates sufficient time for reviewing and refining their work before the submission deadline.
   
   
5. Effective Communication: Pick a form of communication that the team will actually use. If someone doesn't ever check email, THEN DON'T USE THAT! Text is fine - but acknowledge the text. No one likes talking in a vacuum. Encourage the group to maintain open and effective communication throughout the remaining time. This includes regular progress updates, addressing any issues promptly, and ensuring that all team members are on the same page.
   
   
6. Focus on Key Priorities: 80/20 rule here. Figure out what is 80% of the project and focus on that. Advise the group to prioritize the essential components of the project to ensure that they cover the critical aspects effectively within the remaining time frame.
   
   

Great training resource from Audinate on Dante. Such a powerful way to connect audio! The training covered basic of digital audio, basic networking and the Dante Controller software. Level 1 is free and a great way to become familiar with the hardware and software. 

Greetings all!!
After eight packed days, the Capital University Music Service trip to Nicaragua was a resounding success! Nine Capital students opened themselves to new ideas and a vastly different culture (which BTW the U.S has occupied three times) and came away with a new awareness and insight. The world got bigger and smaller all at the same time. Here's a quick recap of our trip:
 
A dozen of us left Columbus last Monday at an extremely early hour, which put us in Nicaragua with enough time to explore and check out our home base for the next week. Six of the nine students are involved in music. One of our three non-music students is a triple major!! While Columbus was experience near-freezing temps, our week consisted of temperatures in the mid to high 90s. Needless to say we were a glistening (sweaty) bunch. It was HOT! 

Throughout the week, we split in to two teams. We'd meet to start our day at 7:30am (The sun is pretty high in the sky by 6am). After breakfast, one team would visit a church or school. Sometimes the team would help prepare a meal. Other times, the team would share healthy habit practices, such as teeth brushing and hand washing. There usually was some dodgeball or soccer involved too.

​On another day, three team members headed to an island (requiring many miles down a terrible road and a 30 minute boat ride) to help build a church. Can you guess which ones were the first to bed that night?

​
When possible, another team would share and play music. From jazz improvisation to Girl From Ipanema to Green Day - they'd play anything they could. Stephen's saxophone was a huge hit as many of the kids had never seen nor heard one before.
The other team headed to the Communidad Hosanna Masaya Church in the town of Masaya to collaborate with the Timothy Music Institute worship team. The five musicians’ were very interested in collaborating with our team to record and write music. We started with a cover song called Brighter and ended the week by writing and recording an original song with lyrics sung in both English and Spanish. 
 
Four songs in all were recorded throughout the week - three with drums. We hope to have those finished soon and I'll make sure to share with you. We had taken some portable recording gear - which by the way, rocked it in the heat. Wowzer!  The church has a radio station which we used as a makeshift recording studio. We also tracked quite a bit in the church space. We had no idea going down that they had as much gear as they did - and we used it all. 
 

To say the team made friends would be an understatement. Israel, Biljenna, Alvaro, Lourdes, Kevin and Josue were so accommodating, enthusiastic and just great people. When we weren't making music, students were texting and sharing photos and artwork. It was truly incredible to watch the bonds being made. The image below posted on Israel's Facebook page. 

The team also had time to hold a few clinics. Most had never taught before but all had been students. They were able to take techniques and approaches used on them to share with the students. 

 
​"A week of laughs, hard work, music, joy, memories and experiences that I will never forget! Can't believe it, more than a year and a half since this idea was born and here we are at the conclusion of the first stage, but I'm sensing a lot more coming out of this trip. Can't wait to see what we do together! " 
Samuel Gracida
 
"The day we said goodbye broke my heart a little. Before we left for this trip Sam kept saying "I want you to get your heart broken" as a goal for the trip and at first I truly didn't know what he meant. And although he was referring to a broken heart from the terrible living conditions and things , mine was broken in more ways then one. I have never experienced so much love from people I didn't know in my entire life. " Daeja Johnson
 
"These kids stole my heart" Rachel Comi
​
​Final group photo of an amazing trip! We stayed positive and embraced the new experiences, allowing them to alter our perspectives and notions. We were tourists on our last day but the student's would have preferred to keep making and sharing music. The world got both bigger and smaller - all in eight days! And we learned a lot that we'll be able to apply to future trips.
​The bulk of the planning for this trip was done by Samuel. It was an impressive display of leadership and Capital is lucky to have him on our campus. Almar and I were along for the ride and offered occasional guidance - and all of the students handled themselves professionally and represented our school really well. Finally, Jennifer Adams was invaluable in putting this trip together and helping it become a reality. 
 
I'd love to share more stories so feel free to stop me and ask about:

• the vast uses of bicycles in Granada,
• just how hot it was,
• the crazy, yet polite way they drive and use the car horn,
• the wildlife running in the streets (goats and chickens and horses),
• the ubiquitous nature of wi-fi (everywhere),
• the litter (everywhere),
• the school system,
• the bathroom situation,
• how often the Cultural Pluralism class was mentioned (often),
• the mango trees (everywhere!) 
• or
• especially our drivers' love of 80s music from the USA. 

 
Here's the blog we kept with more stories and images. 
 
Nicaragua fue en éxito! (Nicaragua was a success!) 
 
​Thanks for reading!

Neal