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Pictured, L to R: Joanna Sabine, DMI Director Tricia Walker, Katie Gibson

Delta State University students Katie Gibson of Summerdale, Ala., and Joanna Sabine of Columbia, were invited to participate as production assistants for the 4th Annual Mississippi Grammy™ Legacy Celebration recently held at the Hard Rock Live! venue in Biloxi.

Gibson and Sabine are members of the Delta State Grammy U chapter and are enrolled in courses at the Delta Music Institute (DMI), a recording arts and music industry studies program at Delta State University.

The annual gala event celebrates the state’s Grammy™ winners and their musical legacies. Mississippi boasts more Grammy™ winner per capita than any other state in the union.

The GRAMMY University Network (GRAMMY U) is a unique and fast-growing community of college students who are pursuing a career in the music industry. The Recording AcademyY created GRAMMY U to help prepare students for careers in the recording industry through networking, educational programs and performance opportunities. GRAMMY U is designed to enhance students’ current academic curriculum with access to recording industry professionals to give an “out of classroom” perspective on the recording industry. Delta Music Institute’s Grammy U chapter was formed in the fall of 2008 and now has over 50 members.

The Delta Music Institute is an independent center of study under the College of Arts & Sciences at Delta State University. The focus of the DMI is to provide students with a broad and thorough education in the technological, creative, and business areas of the music and entertainment industry.

Michael Mattox, Delta State student from Madison, Mississippi, recently contributed his long beautiful mane to the Locks of Love program for cancer survivors. Everyone at the Delta Music Institute (DMI) likes the new look, Michael!

Cole Furlow, Delta State graduate of the Delta Music Institute, is releasing his first full length release, "End of Days, Why Not You?" from his project DEAD GAZE. Copies will be available to purchase from Mirroruniversetapes.blogspot.com on March 16. Congratulations, Cole!

Friends and students are mourning the loss of a beloved music instructor in Winona.

Patti Finley, 50, died Thursday at a Memphis hospital.

Finley, an elementary school music teacher, was with the Winona Show Choir on Feb. 2, when the group recorded "Rise Above" at the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University. The choir is comprised of students from kindergarten through 12th grade in the Winona School District. It is preparing a demo to be considered in a Kennedy Center Honors program, which will including a trip to Washington, D.C., and a visit with President Obama.

During an interview that day, Finley said she had been told to, "get my things in order." She wasn't expected to live long enough to see the completion of the project.

Friends say she denied chemotherapy in recent weeks so she could continue working with the choir.

Before Finley's death, the choir returned to DSU to record the video portion of the package that will be submitted to the Kennedy Center.

On Wednesday, she was taken to a Memphis hospital for treatment. She died there on Thursday.

Funeral arrangements were pending Friday at Oliver Funeral Home, Winona.




Patti Finley, seated in DMI Studio A, directs the Winona Show Choir during the recording of her original song, "Rise Above."

DMI's Grammy U chapter traveled to Memphis Sunday night for a viewing party to watch the 2010 Grammy Awards with other members of the Memphis Chapter of the Recording Academy. Great music, great food, a great time was had by all! The party was hosted by the Hard Rock Cafe on Beale St. Rock on!

Cloudchase, pop/rock/acoustic band based in Nashville, TN stopped by the Delta Music Institute for a quick tour today after their performance at the Nowell Student Union on the Delta State campus. Zak and Erin Sparks entertained an enthusiastic noontime audience with their original songs from the band's new CD, "That's Love." Check 'em out at www.myspace.com/cloudchase.

Tricia Walker, Director of the Delta Music Institute at Delta State University, attended the 2009 MEIEA conference last spring at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Here's a brief video of highlights from the conference...enjoy!

Six student songwriters from the Delta Music Institute will be performing original songs this Thursday, November 5, from 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Bean Counter in Cleveland, MS. The event is sponsored by the DSU chapter of Grammy U, an organization of students involved in music and entertainment industry studies. There is no cover charge for this event, but donations will be accepted to support the activities of the DSU Grammy U chapter.

Come out and support these songwriters in a continuing effort to develop a live local music culture in the Delta!

Ol' Skool Revue, DMI's R&B/Soul/Funk/Blues band, hit the Mississippi Gulf Coast last weekend for a whirlwind of performances and recruiting opportunities. The band performed three sets at Ocean Springs High School, followed by a pre-game show at the Biloxi-Harrison Central football game. The following morning, the band opened the 5th Annual Ocean Springs Music Festival while DMI instructors Tricia Walker, Mike Iacopelli, and Barry Bays facilitated three music industry workshops at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center in Ocean Springs. Here's a little slideshow from the trip...even with a tire blowout at 70 mph leading to a 4 a.m. arrival back home, it was a great weekend! Rock on, chillun....

Here's a shout out to all our friends along the Mississippi Gulf Coast! DMI's premier soul band, Ol' Skool Revue, is headed your way for three shows this Friday and Saturday. The band is looking for opportunities to meet high school students out there who may have an interest in the Delta Music Institute, a recording arts and music industry program here at Delta State University. Here's the info:

Friday during the lunch hour (11 am-1:15pm) the band will be performing at Ocean Springs High School.

Friday evening around 6 pm the band will be performing outside the Biloxi High football stadium before the Biloxi-Harrison Central game.

Saturday morning at 11:30 am the band will be the opening act for the 5th Annual Ocean Springs Music Festival...check out their link at www.oceanspringsmusic.com.

Saturday afternoon, DMI instructors Mike Iacopelli, Barry Bays, and Tricia Walker will be giving three music biz mini-workshops, free of charge, at the Mary C. O'Keefe Cultural Center at Ocean Springs. Here's the site for the Mary C: www.themaryc.org

We'll be looking for you out on the road! Sign up on our website at dmi.deltastate.edu so we can stay in touch...spread the word!

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.

DMI graduate Cole Furlow, from the band Dead Gaze, has released a new video titled, "Back and Forth." Congrats, Cole!

DEAD GAZE - Back and Forth from DEAD GAZE on Vimeo.

Ol' Skool Revue, the Delta Music Institute's R&B/Soul/Funk/Blues band, performed last week as the opening act for Blind Mississippi Morris at the world famous Ground Zero Blues Club in Clarksdale, Mississippi...good food, good groove, good times!

DMI's Classic Rock band, DeltaRoX, opened the 4th Annual Grammy U Kickoff event in Memphis last week with a rockin' 25 minute set of the best of American rock. Several other Grammy U members from Delta State also attended the event to take advantage of networking ops with Grammy U members from other universities...check it out!

Enjoy!