Professional Workflow

It has been another extremely crazy month. With two WWE events, Gradfest, classes, labs, assignments, family visits, and homework, I've hardly had any time to myself. Regardless, it's been a ton of fun, and I'm glad that I managed to get through it. Hard work always pays off!

The course I had this month was called Professional Workflow. It was essentially mixing, mastering, communicating professionally with peers, exporting files correctly for mixing, and session organization. The assignments were fun, and I wish we'd had more classes with assignments similar to the ones in this class. We were to compose a piece of our own, mix one that a classmate composed, and then mastered one that was composed and mixed by one of our classmates. We had to utilize email and other forms of communication in order to efficiently and effectively finish the EP (extended play) in a timely manner. 

As I go into my final project course this next month, I can't help but be flooded with mixed emotions. I've made so many incredible friends during my two years here. Although I'm not entirely sure what's to come next, I can't help but be excited and nervous at the same time. It's been such a crazy ride, and I wouldn't take back any of it for anything. This has been the best thing that I've done for myself, my career, and my skillset. The time has flown, but I'm excited to jump in head first to my final project course here. Then it's graduation day on August 5th! Quite proud of myself for making it this far! 

Thanks for all of the support! It means a lot to me! 

Lennon
Student
Music Production, Bachelor of Science

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Game Music Composition: Angry Bots Project

Our new assignment this week is composing the music for a game called Angry Bots, and I may have had a little too much fun with it. We were to go with a really kind of industrial feel (and for good reason; look at the space we're in), and give things a really gritty feel. I may have gone too far, but I really like how it sounds so I'm going to roll with it until I get some feedback from my instructor and peers. 

We were to create a 1-2 minute ambient loop that would be played when we weren't battling the bots. Then we had to do an 8-bar loop for each of the bots, giving them each a unique melody and feel so that you know which bot you're fighting. There are also three stingers that play when each of the robots' themes start. Can you differentiate each of the bots' themes?



Lennon
Student
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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My Top 10 Favorite Songs and Why

We all listen to music... obviously. In fact, it's almost inevitable. Music is everywhere! It's playing when we go to the grocery store, on TV, watch a movie, and even in children's toys. And with today's advances in music streaming and sharing it's easier than ever to discover up and coming artists or bands. Over the years, I've listened to a lot of music, as I'm sure all of you have. However, I tend to listen to music different, analyzing the overall mix, sound quality, master, panning, effects, sample choice, rhythms and chord progressions. From classical to oldies rock, to modern genres, I've discovered many great tunes that have either inspired me as a musician or made me feel a certain way. And being that I'm going to school for music, this post only makes sense. 

1. Cascada - "Everytime We Touch": I don't think that I'll ever stop listening to this song. Furthermore, I don't think I'll ever stop listening to Cascada. Every time I hear it I can't help but stop whatever it is that I'm doing to get up and dance. The overall production is so well done, and it's an extremely catchy piece that features a killer vocal and a phenomenal melody. This is also the song that turned me on to electronic music, specifically the fast-paced "hands-up" music. Because of Cascada's inspiration, I've changed my outlook on music. 

• Fun fact: Most think that Cascada is simply an artist, which can easily be misunderstood due to the fact that most of her album covers feature her and her only. However, Cascada is the name of the group. It features Natalie Horler, Yanou, and DJ Manian.

2. D.H.T. - "Listen to Your Heart (Furious F. EZ Radio Edit)": When I first heard this song, I fell head over heels in love with it. It was a smashing hit back when I was younger and went to Youth Alive after school. I was at a point in my life where music started to make sense. I'd been taking piano lessons from an excellent instructor for about three or four years at this point, so I was understanding the concepts of a major and minor chord and some other simple music theory. This was released in 2005, and I remember it like it was yesterday. I obsessed over it forever because it was one of the first fast-paced dance songs I repetitively listened to and loved. Even to this day I'll listen to it on Spotify and jam out! Definitely a classic in the dance world! 

3. Backstreet Boys - "I Want It That Way": What teenage music list would be complete without a Backstreet Boys song? None! I remember when I first got my Backstreet Boys CD (what's a CD, right?). In the early 2000s, the Backstreet Boys were pretty popular. I heard their music on the radio quite often, and "I Want It That Way" is the one that really stuck with me. Although I love most of the Backstreet Boys' stuff, "I Want It That Way" is probably my favorite. Definitely a pop classic! When I hear that acoustic guitar at the start of this song, I stop what I'm doing and sing along. "Ain't nothin' but a heartache. Tell me why..." Take it away! 

4. DJ Sammy - "Heaven": Much like D.H.T.'s "Listen to Your Heart," I fell in love with this song when I first heard it. If I can remember correctly, my iPod (I'm dating myself here) deleted the song because it got sick of playing it over and over again (not really, just a figure of speech). The vocals and melody line are what really reeled me in. They're both beautiful! As I listen to it now, it brings back so much nostalgia from my younger musician years and studying it. It definitely has that 2000s dance music sound, which is something I'll never get sick of. It is the dance music that got me hooked on the music I listen to today. 

5. Kevin Lyttle - "Turn Me On": When I used to go to Youth Alive after school, this song would play almost every time. The radio was pretty big at the time; it was one of the only sources to hear music (alongside having a portable CD player). This song was a lot different than what was usually played on the radio. It didn't have your standard Backstreet Boys vibe to it, nor did it sound anything remotely close to everything else (in my opinion). "Turn Me On" was Kevin Lyttle's song that made him popular, and now you don't hear about him, unfortunately. Not only did the music sound different, but he also had a different sounding voice, and I really enjoyed it. This song really helped me open up to newer styles of pop music, and I'm forever grateful! 

6. Britney Spears - "Oops!...I Did It Again": Much like the Backstreet Boys, a pop music list wouldn't be complete without Britney Spears. "Oops!...I Did It Again" was a smashing hit, and I listened to it a billion and one times. It was catchy, sexy, and fun.

7. Blue Oyster Cult - "(Don't Fear) The Reaper": My dad is an avid vinyl collector, so I grew up to an extremely wide array of music. I was exposed to old country (which I thoroughly enjoy), rockabilly, rock, hair bands, jazz, soul, and pop. However, one song that I particularly clung to was Blue Oyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper." I really like the guitar riff that's used throughout. Not only is this song really, really catchy, but it also has a cowbell! 

8. Adam Lambert - "For Your Entertainment": When Adam Lambert got off of American Idol, he started his solo career by releasing his "For Your Entertainment," which kickstarted him into the music industry. When this album came out, I had "For Your Entertainment" on repeat for a long time (my parents and brothers can speak for this). I just loved it! It was a mixture between his killer vocals, the pop/dance production, and the memorable "treasures" sprinkled throughout. I knew this song inside, outside, upside down, and downside up. It had well over 1,000 plays on iTunes. I had the amazing opportunity to see him live when he went to the Shooting Star Casino in Mahnomen, Minnesota. Although he didn't perform "For Your Entertainment," this concert only brightened and strengthened my passion and support for him as an artist. I still do and always will love this song! "I'm here for your entertainment!" 

9. L.A.R.5 - "All the Girls (Empyre One Remix)" [feat. Jai Matt]: I remember shuffling through the internet's amassed collection of music. I was looking for something a little different, but not so different that I'd have to almost force myself to enjoy it. I narrowed my search to something similar to Cascada - I wanted to expand my music in the German dance music. Bingo! I found Empyre One! I'd heard of him before I stumbled across this remix of his, but I never took the time to listen to any of his stuff. He changed the way I listened, critiqued, analyzed, and now produce dance music. In fact, a huge chunk of my inspiration when producing dance music comes from Empyre One. In my opinion, he's set the standard for fast-paced dance music. This particular remix had my ears yearning for more. It was one of those songs that I wanted to last for hours. The crazy wild melody line, tacked with the amazing vocal, brought this song to its full potential! They don't come crazier and more amazing than this, folks! 

10. Eiffel 65 - "Blue (Da Ba Dee)": Last but not least, Eiffel 65's "Blue (Da Ba Dee)." It's one of those iconic 90s dance tunes that everyone can sing along with when they hear it. I remember when I first found the song. I loved the piano part so much I took it to my piano teacher at the time and wanted her to help me figure out how to play it. I was young and not too sure how to figure things out by ear quite yet. Although I never figured out how to play it at the time, I know for a fact I could sit down and in a matter of minutes have it figured out. I've improved quite a bit since then. This song is one that I'll always be able to jam out to because it's such a classic to me. The vocoded vocals, catchy piano throughout, cheesy dance beat are what really make this song come to life. 

Well, folks. There you have it! A complete list of my top ten songs. Keep in mind that these songs are not in any particular order. These are songs that have affected me in one way or another over the years. Whether they've made me feel a certain way, or even inspired me to do something, it's on here. This list could've been 100+ songs easy; however, I don't have the time or patience to type up something that big. I figured a few songs that have inspired the musician and professional inside of me was good enough. Besides, I am a music production student. Wouldn't it make sense for me to share some of my favorite songs? 

What're some of your favorite songs? 

Lennon

Student

Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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Miami Motivation

Downtown Miami

A couple of trips to Miami, family time, and beautiful weather is enough for me to continue pushing in the entertainment industry. As of right now, I'm very proud of myself for doing everything that I've done for myself and for others thus far. In doing so, I've established myself among my classmates, peers, industry mavens, and instructors. If you've read any of my previous blog posts you'll know that I've talked about professionalism, which is how I've established myself and built the reputation I have for myself. 

In the past year, I've built lifelong friendships, worked on some amazing projects, and assisted in some life-changing projects that have forever changed the lives of those who aren't as fortunate as I am. One of my most recent projects that I had the opportunity to work on was composing the music for an event for the homeless called "He Got Up." I was given the chance to compose the music for a PSA that was played on TV and radio in the Orlando, Florida area. My second proudest assignment was having the chance to compose a theme song for a WWE wrestler or diva. I poured my heart and soul into those projects and I eagerly await an email, phone call, or in-person interview from WWE. It would be a life-changing gig! 

What does all of this mean? It's a reassurance for myself that I'm on the right track; I'm headed down a path that many struggle with and dream to succeed in. I've done my research on Full Sail, the industry, and trends within to aid me in succeeding. At the moment, I firmly believe that I have everything going for me. I've established myself, succeeded in a multitude of projects and, most importantly, I have an amazing support group: my family. Without them I wouldn't be where I'm at today. 

I've veered off topic once again, which happens in a lot of my blog posts. That's alright, though, because this is meant to be a journal for myself that I've chosen to make public and share with all of you. 

Going to Miami has inspired me once again. Seeing all of the nice cars, affluent clothing, and beautiful homes and architecture only motivates me to become successful. I'm sounding a bit materialistic; however, it's a way to keep me pushing forward and realize that hard work pays off. My family has given me everything, so it would be a way to repay them. I mean, who doesn't like a beautiful place to stay when they go on a vacation? :) I would love to be able to share what I've worked hard to earn with those I love and care about. 

A bit of a shorter post today, but I wanted to talk a little bit about how going to Miami has inspired me. So, I bid you a farewell, my friends. Until next week! 

Lennon
Student
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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5 Things I'm Doing Everyday to Better Myself

The entertainment industry: An industry that's only fit for a handful of people. Whether you're talented or just business saavy, you have to work at a few things. I've learned this over the last few years, so I'm speaking from experience. 

1. Networking, networking, networking. This is a term that's easier said than done. If you're a people person like myself then networking is probably going to come fairly easy to you. Networking can be accomplished in many, many ways. One of the easiest (and the one that requires a minimal amount of interaction... kind of...) is utilizing social networks. I have built and had amazing things come my way simply because I use social media. One of my favorites at the moment is LinkedIn. Through LinkedIn, I have been able to connect with industry professionals, fellow classmates and friends, and even Full Sail instructors that know the industry in and out. Regardless of where I'm at in the industry at any given time, I should always have someone to contact that will have some sort of professional advice. 

Another source of networking would be to simply get involved with your fellow co-workers. Join them on brunch and dinner outings, ladies (or guys') night out, or even stay after work a little (if your life allows) to get to know the person sitting next to you or even across the hall. You never know a person until you get to know them, nor will you know who they're connected with/know unless you talk to them. It might be a little tough if you're not a social butterfly, but I have faith in you! You can do it!  

Another "easier said than done" networking occasion you could try is going to conventions. NAMM, for example, if you're into the latest audio technology and market fads. Although I've never been to one, I do plan on attending one in the future when my schedule and wallet allows it. These types of events allow you to introduce yourself and get to know professionals within your given industry. If these people don't have connections, I honestly don't know who would! 

2. Being professional. This ties in with the first one. If you're going to network, you must be professional. When you're working your way into the music industry, you have to have independence. And to be able to communicate with the seasoned professionals within the industry you have to know how to portray yourself as a professional, right? Would you want to work with someone who shows up to a meeting late, responds to emails weeks later, and never can meet a deadline? I know I sure wouldn't! That's why I work each and everyday to showcase myself as professionally as I possibly can. 

3. Learning my industry. How am I supposed to fix a car when I don't know anything about cars? How am I supposed to work in an industry or company I know nothing about? I couldn't. Whether I'm reading about and researching the latest gear or I'm getting to know the pioneers that have shaped my industry into what it is today, I'm always learning my industry. I've always viewed the entertainment industry as one that's "behind the scenes" - only a handful of individuals really know what goes on behind the curtains at concerts, movie filmings, and various live events. I'm proud to say that I'm one of them! 

4. Perfecting my craft. Spending time on myself has been an important aspect that I've been working at over the last few years--and so is spending time on my craft. Whether you're a doctor, musician, or a real estate agent, there's always room for improvement. And that's one of my favorite things about this world. With technology being updated and changing at an exponential rate each and every day, there's always something to learn.

The music/entertainment industry is an industry where one cannot stop learning. If you do do so, you will fall behind and may have troubles catching up to everyone else. Read blog posts, network (there's that term again!), and try new technologies. The resources and people are there, so what are you waiting for? 

I shouldn't say 'perfect' your craft; perfection isn't possible (in my opinion). A better term would be to "evolve" or "better" your craft. Being that I'm a musician, I'm constantly learning about the latest technologies, whether that be studio hardware, digital audio workstations, music theory, or even something as simple as social media. I always catch myself asking, "What's the next best thing, and how can I get involved?" 

Once you've "evolved" your craft, you've established yourself within an industry. I, for example, wouldn't talk about how to go about fixing your car's transmission because I don't know anything about cars. However, I do feel that my musical knowledge has evolved over the years, and I feel confident about speaking on various music related topics. 

5. Believe in myself. I'm going to fail. That's inevitable. I've failed a lot, but I've learned something every time. It can be something as simple as being late to an important meeting (some wouldn't consider this a fail, but I do. I hold myself to high standards.), or it can be as important as completely missing a deadline for a significant task. I've learned to pick myself up, realize what I did (or didn't) do, and figured out how to get through it. A video (click here) posted by one of my favorite YouTubers put this into perspective and shared exactly how I feel about this kind of situation way better than I could ever explain. 

I've tied all of these points so that they all correlate with each other. If I'm going to be successful in a really tough industry I must continue to network, be professional, learn my industry, perfect my craft, and believe in myself. Success will always be inevitable if I can keep my head up and keep on keepin' on! 

With those words being said, I bid you a farewell, my friends! 

Lennon 
Student
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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Advanced Music Composition Programming: Final Project

It's been a whole two months since I was in my Advanced Music Composition Programming course. It seems like just yesterday I was sitting in that class. 

Back in July of 2015, I took a very similar course to Advanced Music Composition Programming called Music Composition Programming. The projects were a bit more simple and focused more so on the technical side of learning Apple's Logic Pro X and a few musical elements such as arpeggios, bass lines, and drums. The months prior to Music Composition Programming were very heavy into music theory, identifying the meter of a song and various intervals within pieces of music. Music Composition Programming was the first class where we had to write an original song using only the Logic Pro X default plugins (to ensure that our projects opened up on the instructor's computer). At the end of the month, we were to present our final project to the class, friends, family (if they wanted to come), and even some Full Sail faculty. It was fun, and I learned a lot that month. 

Moving on to the advanced course...

Advanced Music Composition Programming was certainly a fun course. The music theory (which I thoroughly enjoy!) was caked on, and we got to work on a variety of cool projects. The one that I really enjoyed was our final project, which we were to compose an original piece at least 2-3 minutes in length. My project went very, very well! I nailed all of the points as stated in the rubric and my instructor (who earned their doctorate degree in Minnesota at the University of Minnesota) wanted me to share it on the class's SoundCloud page. This certainly isn't one of my most prized works, but I do really like most of the elements that are heard throughout. I had a lot of fun composing this piece because everything just came to me. That feeling you get when you're working on a song and everything you do to is working and fitting into the song is so, so refreshing! It saves a lot of time, headache, and hair. Give my final project a listen below. 

Certainly not my most prized composition, but there are a few things that I really, really enjoy in there, particularly the piano melody. Simple, yet very effective... I think.

This was just a quick blog post to share my project from Advanced Music Composition Programming. I was going to post this last month but never got around to it. I hope that you enjoyed this post and my song. :) 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Lennon
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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Music Production for Media: Project 2 Rough Cut

As I continue to trek along in my Music Production for Media course here at Full Sail, I'm finding talents I didn't know I had. Is this because I haven't had any creative output until the last week? I'm not sure, but I know that I'm loving it! And it's going to make me excel and push myself even further throughout the month, and hopefully through the rest of my degree program. 

In this assignment, we were given six options for companies we could write a jingle for. The companies (all fictional) and their information are below: 

• ShamPuppies
• A company that creates soap bars in the form of various puppies.
• Target group - 2 - 10 year old kids. 
• Slogan: ShamPuppies, let your dog wash you! 
• Big Barry's Boats of Winter Park (the one I chose)
• A company that buys and sells boats and water sport crafts.
• Target consumers -- Adults 18 - 75 years old. 
• Slogan: Big Barry's got the best!  
• Tony Tarantella's Pizza
• A pizza place
• Target group -- Everyone
• Slogan: The best pizza in the five boroughs
• John Howlin Ford
• A car dealership
• Target group -- Drivers 16 - 65 years old
• Slogan: You'll be Howlin' over these deals! 
• Murphy and Murphy 
• A law firm 
• Target group and specialties -- Divorce, Personal Injury, Bankruptcy, Estate Planning, DUI
• Slogan: Create your own

We had a pretty diverse selection to choose from. The second I opened the assignment and read these companies' slogans, Big Barry's Boats of Winter Park's jingle came to my head. I instantly had something. There's a commercial that would play every morning before I would go to school in Minnesota. If I can remember correctly, I believe it was the Furniture 4 Less store, but I could be wrong. Nonetheless, the inspiration came from one of those overly-played commercials. So, here's what I came up with: 



The music was composed by me, dialogue was recorded and said by me, and the slogan was sang by me. Although I'm usually not too fond of my singing, I think I did alright in this. I hope you all enjoyed, and I'm always open for suggestions to make things better. 

Take care! 

Lennon 
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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Music Production for Media: First Project

I've always been one to be extremely diverse, immersing myself in a plethora of projects. In fact, I'll learn about anything and everything I can. I've always been like that, and I know that I always will. How can one not want to learn about anything and everything, question why things work, and why they work the way they do? 

Being a diverse individual has opened the doors to a lot of opportunities for me. My people skills have enabled me to excel in anything, especially when I owned and operated a lawn care service and currently a photography service. If you follow me on my personal Facebook page you can most certainly see that these skills have carried over to my schooling and professional career (which is definitely a good thing!). Before I delve too deep into a tangent (which happens more often than you think), let's dive into this project! 

As I mentioned earlier, I learn anything and everything I can. And I've been doing just that over the past few months. In my most current class, Music Production for Media, projects range from composing music for TV commercials, radio spots, jingles for branding, and even a song for WWE wrestlers and divas. (Pretty awesome, right?) 

In this first project, we were to come up with a 30-second jingle for one of six companies, making sure to convey specific feelings and vibe throughout. I chose to go with a company called UzCom, a travel agency. When I first started this project, I had a pretty solid idea of what I wanted the music to sound like. And being that I haven't actually had time to sit down and produce music for myself in months, the ideas were just flying out. I laid out a very happy, corporate-like chord progression, simplistic drum rhythm, some strings, and, of course, sound effects. This animation has a lot of movement, so my instructor (the client) insisted on having a bunch of animation, but not over-doing it and killing the overall vibe. 

UPDATE: I removed the old version of this from Vimeo, so this is the final version.

UzCom Commercial from Lennon Cihak on Vimeo.

I've always been interested in composing music for various television shows, companies, radio spots, etc, but I've never had any media to compose for. So this is most certainly my time to shine! I look forward to the rest of the projects throughout the month! Stay tuned to see more of my work. 

Peace out,

Lennon
Bachelor of Science, Music Production 

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Songwriting: My Favorite Class?

"Favorite" is most definitely an understatement.

When I first started this class, I was told by my instructor that we would have to write lyrics for two different songs. I got a little nervous at hearing this because I had never successfully written lyrics before. I tried a few times, but I just could never seem to get anything to sound decent. I also can't seem to get myself to channel all of the ideas, emotions, events, and experiences into one focal point. But with all frustrations aside, I sat down at my piano, plucked out some chords, and wrote whatever came to mind. It wasn't until this point that I actually came to realize that I wasn't such a bad lyricist afterall. I repeated a quote by my instructor over and over again in my head while working on the lyrics: "This isn't songwriting class, this is song re-writing class; your lyrics don't have to and won't be perfect the first time you write them." We had to have some kind of concept for the songs that we wrote, and the one that I chose that stuck to me was about my journey from Minnesota to Florida to attend Full Sail. I remember having so many different emotions flowing through me at the time, so it was the perfect concept for me to write about. Everything just fell into place at this point. 

Before I start any song, I try and get in the ballpark of what genre I want the song to be. I wanted to go for a little bit of a different style for my song and try something new and out of my comfort zone, but I wasn't sure how far out I wanted to go. Did I want to stay and be somewhat comfortable and go with something dance, or did I want to go with something more dramatic? I came to a conclusion that I can't put restrictions on music and decided to just go with whatever I came up with. This happened to work out perfectly! 

For the second week of class we had to have a foundation for our song and lyrics, which meant that we had to have a chord progression, melody, and drums. I remember thinking to myself, "I write music all of the time, so this won't be too hard." And boy was I wrong. I realized that I struggle when I have to write music while under pressure. After sitting in front of my Mac with Logic open for about an hour, I walked away. I just couldn't get anything to work or sound the way I wanted it.

I took a break for awhile and then went back to work. I then remembered that we could use Drummer, which is a virtual "live" drummer within Logic Pro. This changed everything. I quickly learned that this song will not be a dance tune, but a singer/songwriter instead. Things only went up from that point on. The piano sounded great; the bass line I wrote worked quite well; and the strings put the cherry on top. It all worked out perfectly, and I reinforced an important lesson: don't put restrictions on music. Just go with the flow. 

Week three came upon us, and my colleagues and I were so excited to finally get in the studio and record the vocals for our songs. Some of us were nervous, but we were all excited to start working together, sharing our songs with each other, and sharing ideas to better our songs. We couldn't help but be ecstatic because our instructor hyped it up to everything it was and more throughout the whole month. It was such a valuable learning experience in every aspect of the music creation process. I'll never forget it!

While in the studio, I got to work on and record with a Neve 9098 (pictured below) and an Audient console. I had walked by this studio with the Neve in it a hundred times. I always remember thinking, "I hope I get to work on that someday." Ask and he shall receive, right? We recorded two of my colleagues' songs before mine. Everything was going absolutely perfect. Logic was running smoothly, the sound was crystal clear, and we were getting a lot of work done. About ten minutes or so into my time slot, the Neve decides to glitch and basically shut down. The instructor did everything in his power to get it back up and running, but he couldn't. I guess that's what happens when you play fire (slang for "a really good song") on an old piece of equipment. 

Rupert Neve 9098

After the Neve decides to shut down, we head over to the other lab, wait for the other lab group to finish their session, and then we setup camp to finish my session. Everything went smoothly and we got everything I needed recorded, except for the guitar. In fact, I had never planned on getting a guitar recorded for this track, but I quickly changed my mind after hearing our lab instructor play guitar. I asked him if he would be ever so kind to lay out some acoustic guitar on my track. Afterall, you can't have a singer/songwriter track without a guitar on it! 



A few days later we headed back into the studio to put any finishing touches on our songs. It was during this session that I got the guitar recorded. I didn't have anything else to do on my song; everything I needed got done a few days prior. So I ended up helping my colleagues and friends in my group get their finishing touches finished by running the board or Logic.

Our final project entailed making a few minor changes based on the feedback that we received from our peers and the judges when we presented our songs. Due to time constraints I couldn't do everything I wanted to do. Instead, I kept things rather simple and just made the transition from the bridge into the key change a little more dramatic. 



There is nothing like being in a studio. Absolutely nothing like it. It's a place where creativity and talent go perfectly hand-in-hand. Creative minds get together and make magic. It's truly a magical experience, and I can't thank my colleagues and instructor enough for making it such an enjoyable atmosphere! I learned so much about all of the magic that happens in the studio. 

As I conclude this post, I would like to throw out a few thank yous. A huge thank you goes out to my good friend Marlon for singing on my track. Without your musical and vocal talents the song would've went down the toilet. I'd also like thank my other good friend, Christian, for singing on the background vocals during the bridge. It's always nice to have a Grammy-winning friend sing on your song. Also, a huge thank you to my lab instructor Mark. Thanks for taking the time to lay down some beautiful acoustic guitar on my track. You truly took it to a whole new level! Last but not least, a huge thank you goes out to my instructor for the month, Atom. You are by far one of the best instructors I've ever had. I learned so much throughout the course of the month. And I will use the skills and tips that you shared with me for the rest of my professional career! Thank you, Atom, for such a memorable month in Songwriting! 

Lennon
Student
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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Full Sail GRAMMYs Celebration

As a music production student at Full Sail, the GRAMMYs can be an exciting event for me. People who have worked their tails off their entire lives are finally being recognized for their hard work and dedication to music and the industry. It's the grandaddy of all accomplishments and awards in the music industry; it's like the Heisman trophy in football. Music is not something that just happens over night. It takes days, weeks, months, and even years to complete an album, and there are many, many people involved throughout the process. This year, I got to spend it celebrating at Full Sail Live, with a group of friends, trying to win prizes, enjoying free food, and with some amazing like-minded people. It was a blast!

Before I started at Full Sail I never actually sat down and watched the GRAMMYs. I just felt that they were too long and/or I was preoccupied with something else. It was also a little less than a year ago that I had decided to pursue a degree at Full Sail. Before then it was just a simple thought in the back of my mind, and I had other options laid out. I had no idea I'd be pursuing a degree in music.

Like any important event, you always begin the evening with a fancy dinner outing with great friends. We went to a restaurant that wasn't too far from a friend of mine. The food at this restaurant was excellent, but the service was horrendous. I'm not sure if we had a newbie for a waiter or we sat at an invisible table, but the service was horrid. Oh well. We went early, so we weren't rushing to get out of there or anything, so we made the most of a bad situation by teasing each other, telling stories, and getting to know each other a little better. 

After our meal, we headed straight to Full Sail because we knew it was going to be crazy busy. These types of events always are because they're really what make Full Sail stand out among other colleges. Sure enough, the line was crazy long. I wasn't sure if we were in the right line or what was going on at first, but Full Sail staff members were going up and down the line asking questions pertaining to the GRAMMYs and the grads that worked on the nominated projects. If you got the question right or sang the correct melody, you won concert tickets. Two of the friends that I went with won. 

Once we got through the doors it was sort of a mad house. There was a red carpet right as we entered Full Sail Live where a staff member was interviewing us as we walked in and you were projected on the big screen in the venue so everyone in there could watch and listen to your interview. My friends and I didn't get interviewed; however, we did have our picture taken (which I'm still waiting to get) and then moved along so we could get a decent seat inside the venue. We couldn't wait to get in and enjoy the music and free food! When we entered Full Sail Live, this is what we saw: 

Full Sail Live - GRAMMYs Celebration

Not a whole lot of action going on because we got there somewhat early, but I had one of those 'I can't believe it moments'. I felt as though the gates have been opened and I'm about to enter into Heaven. That's what it felt like at least. My mouth dropped, I looked at my friends, and a huge smile came over my face. I knew that we were going to have a blast this evening. I was surrounded by a pool of extremely talented people who are very like-minded and take this industry seriously. (This atmosphere is not very common in Barnesville.) I think that's why I enjoyed it so much! I'm finally in a place where people will understand the technical jargon I've longed to speak. I'm finally here! 

The music stopped, the lights dimmed, the chit-chat quieted, people found their seats, and the GRAMMYs began. Full Sail Live was jam-packed with people who were ready to get their groove on. Tuxedos, dresses, and many other high-fashioned outfits were worn by many of the students. I seriously felt like I was actually at the GRAMMYs. AC/DC opened the evening with "Highway to Hell" and we went crazy. We were singing along, dancing, and playin' our air guitars. After AC/DC's performance we clapped and cheered. The night had officially started, and I was so excited to see what the evening had in store for us! 

The energy throughout the night continued. I was so surprised because normally people get exhausted, but now that I think of it, Full Sail students are used to no sleep... During the commercials, the emcees for the night would get up on stage and we'd play a game. In order to participate, your raffle ticket had to be drawn. I knew that I wouldn't get drawn because that's just my luck; I never win anything. These games varied from singing, doing cart wheels, and dancing. Some of the prizes included: studio time with a somewhat well-known engineer, guitars, and (I think) the best one was an 18-channel Scarlett Focusrite audio interface (there's that technical jargon I was talking about). Once the GRAMMYs started back up everyone on stage would run back to their seats and we'd start chanting and cheering for the next performance and award. It's go time! 

The night raged on and we all had a blast playing games, laughing, networking, and dancing. This was one of my most memorable nights at Full Sail thus far, and I can't wait to attend this event next year! I also look forward to many, many more of these types of events while here at Full Sail. Afterall, I'm here to soak everything up, learn as much as I can, and network with as many like-minded people as possible because that's what Full Sail is all about.

All the best, 

Lennon
Student
Bachelor of Science, Music Production

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