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You never know what will happen when you strike up a conversation with someone...

On a recent trip to an arts conference, DMI Director Tricia Walker took her seat on the airplane by a kind woman with a contagious smile. Conversation ensued, and the lady turned out to be a freelance writer by the name of Jerre Repass. She writes about African-American history, and she also produces a short radio feature for Arkansas public radio called "Come Away With Me." She has graciously allowed us to use her piece on the DMI blog...enjoy!

JERRE REPASS

ON THIS WEEK’S EDITION OF COME AWAY WITH ME, TRAVEL WRITER JERRE REPASS LEARNS A LESSON ON A PLANE.

WE’VE VISITED A FEW RECORDING STUDIOS DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, AND I MUST SAY, ANYTIME BEFORE NOON IS PRETTY IFFEY AS FAR AS FINDING ANYONE AWAKE. THE ARTISTIC TEMPERMENT BEING WHAT IT IS, IT SEEMS THE EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES OF THE REST OF US ARE DIFFICULT FOR MUSICIANS. AS COMMON AS MAKING MONEY SEEMS TO BE LOSING MONEY – AND MANY A MUSICIAN HAS ENDED HIS LIFE DESTITUTE.

BUT THAT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE THE CASE. ON A RECENT PLANE TRIP, MY SEATMATE WAS TRICIA WALKER, DIRECTOR OF THE DELTA MUSIC INSTITUTE, PART OF DELTA STATE UNIVERSITY, COLLEGE OF ARTS AND SCIENCES, IN CLEVELAND, MISSISSIPPI.

WE PLAYED A LITTLE SOUTHERN CHESS, “WHO DO YOU KNOW THAT I MIGHT KNOW,” DISCOVERING WE ACTUALLY DO HAVE AN ACQUAINTANCE IN COMMON, A PROLIFIC ALABAMA SONGWRITER. THEN SHE TOLD ME HOW YOUNG ASPIRING MUSICIANS ARE GIVEN MORE THAN MUSICAL THEORY AND PRACTICE ROOMS IN HER SCHOOL.

WALKER EXPLAINED THAT THE MISSION OF THE INSTITUTE IS TO PROVIDE A THOROUGH EDUCATION, NOT JUST IN THE CREATIVE AND TECHNOLOGICAL BUT ALSO IN THE BUSINESS AND LEGAL AREAS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT INDUSTRY.

THAT ADDRESSES A REALLY FUNDAMENTAL NEED FOR PEOPLE IN THE CREATIVE ARTS WHO NORMALLY ARE MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN WRITING AND PLAYING THAN THEY ARE IN MARKETING, INVESTING AND PROTECTING!

SHE WHIPPED OUT A COURSE LISTING PAGE AND I WAS AMAZED TO SEE CLASSES OFFERED IN SCORING FOR FILM, THEATER, AND THE DIGITAL MEDIA. HOW CUTTING EDGE TO BE TEACHING SOUND DESIGN!

OF COURSE MUSICAL HISTORY IS FULL OF PERFORMERS WHO DIDN’T READ A LICK OF MUSIC, OR AS ONE NASHVILLE MUSICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME ONCE, “NOW I DON’T READ ENOUGH MUSIC TO HURT MY PLAY’N!” THE MUSIC INSTITUTE ADDRESSES THAT HANDICAP STRAIGHT ON WITH CLASSES TEACHING THE FUNDAMENTALS IN BOTH READING AND WRITING MUSIC.
ANOTHER CLASS ON THE CRAFT OF SONGWRITING IS ‘WAY MORE THAN A COLD ANALYSIS OF MUSIC. INDIVIDUAL STUDENTS LEARN THE USUAL FORM AND STRUCTURE, BUT THEIR OWN CREATIVITY IS ALSO NURTURED AND THEIR PERSONAL CREATIVITY ENHANCED. STUDENTS GET A TASTE OF THE REAL WORLD OF WRITING TOO. THEIR OWN SONGS ARE CRITIQUED IN CLASS. WELCOME TO THE POWER OF THE EDIT!

THE INSTITUTE IS A FAIRLY NEW KID ON THE BLOCK, BEGUN WITH A GENEROUS DONATION IN 2003. STUDENTS IN THE PROGRAM CAN EARN EITHER A BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES DEGREE OR A BACHELOR OF ARTS IN MUSIC DEGREE EMPHASIZING MUSIC PRODUCTION.

LARGE RECORDING FACILITIES ON CAMPUS CAN ACCOMMODATE UP TO 150 MUSICIANS AT A TIME. UP TO DATE EQUIPMENT ALLOWS OTHER STUDENTS TO LEARN THE PRACTICAL SIDE OF RECORDING, HOW TO MIX, EDIT AND CREATE IN THE DIGITAL ARENA.

ANYONE WHO HAS VISITED A BLUES FESTIVAL UP AND DOWN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA KNOWS THERE IS A RICH HERITAGE TO BE TAPPED. MANY MUSICIANS OF EARLIER YEARS SURELY HAD THEIR SHARE OF BRUISES THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES. MUSICAL STUDENTS ARE ENCOURAGED NOT TO FORGET THE HISTORY OF THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE, COMBINING THOSE EXPERIENCES WITH THEIR OWN TO CREATE ANEW. MORE INFORMATION IS AVAILABLE AT http://dmi.deltastate.edu. THIS IS JERRE REPASS. COME AWAY WITH ME.