The Singing Cafe (A faux {cause that's a fun word to use})

The Singing Cafe is going to be a coffee/tea shop which also offers musical lessons. Community members will be able to sign up for weekly lessons with intermediate-expert teachers in a variety of different musical instruments and forms, from guitar and piano to digital music production. I say community members (as opposed to customers) because the heart behind the coffee shop is to establish a community of musical coffee and tea lovers, not just a loyal customer base. This community will be built through weekly open mics where people will be able to show off what they've learned and any songs they may have written. Original pieces will be encouraged for these performances, though people can play covers if they'd like. We will hire music teachers and baristas separately, though if somebody is talented in both areas, they can certainly be hired into both positions. The location will be on Elm Street, if a space is available.

A Faculty That Cares

          Of the many qualities that UNHM can brag about, a key factor is the opportunity that professors have to teach and train students on a more individual level through smaller class sizes. Whenever any student is asked what they like about their school, it seems their first response is always, “I love the smaller class sizes, because the professors are really able to give us the individual attention we need in our learning.” Of course, in order for smaller class sizes and personalized teaching to benefit the students, UNHM must have an excellent staff. 

            It seems apparent that each faculty member does truly care for the growth of their students, not only in academics, but also in character. From the first day of undergraduate to the long-awaited day of graduation, dedicated faculty accompany students throughout the process.

            Incoming freshmen are immediately assigned a PAL (Peer Assistant Leader) to help them in the major adjustment between high school and university life. These PALs are trained in serving new students assigned to them, and in teaching them to develop stronger learning skills, as well as show them how to better connect with the UNHM body. New students can rest at ease knowing they have an experienced peer at their side to help them every step of the way. The PAL program “is about helping new students transition into the academic and social life of the college,” said Dr. Karlea Brunelle-Joiner, the coordinator of the First Year Experience Program.

            After students have completed their first year, they are no longer assigned a PAL to guide them through university life, though they are still heartily encouraged to contact their former mentors whenever they should like.  Now without a PAL, sophomores still have assigned faculty members to advise them throughout their academic career, in the form Academic Counseling. Every student has an Academic Counselor who helps them decide which classes to sign up for each semester, and guide them towards the degree program best suited for them.        

          Finally, as graduation draws near and seniors are faced with the daunting challenge of entering the career field, students can meet with Jennifer Landon, UNHM’s Internship and Career Planner. She advises students on how to better present themselves to future employers, expand their networks, and write a proper resume. Students are encouraged to visit with Career Planning earlier than the final semester before graduation.

            UNHM proudly displays their passion for student growth every semester, which is only possible through a dedicated and caring faculty. Though professors, counselors, and administrators may all have different teaching and training styles, the entire faculty at UNHM shares in their belief that students deserve to be respected and cared for throughout their academic careers.

A Horizon of Musical Creativity

Ableton Live is, again, one of the most widely used production software in the music industry. There are countless ways that artists are able to create, manipulate and adjust every facet of their work in order to produce exactly the sound they're looking for. 

Artist can edit their sound in nearly-limitless ways. Any instrument can be recorded, including drums, pianos, synths, all forms of guitar, and even vocals. After recording, musicians and singers are then able to manipulate their sounds in hundreds of ways, by adding effects like delay and reverb, adjusting the volume levels of each recording, and all other forms of sound manipulation like pitch bending and LFO.

Hundreds of musicians and artists use this software to produce, including many professionals like, Daft Punk, Skrillex, and Imogen Heap. Though Ableton may be well-known by the EDM community (like most other music software), the program can be used in any genre of music.

To any musician who is looking to expand his or her musical knowledge and capabilities, Ableton Live will show you a brand new horizon of creativity to explore.

First Post

Hey everyone!
This blog is for my Media Writing class at UNHM.

In case anyone's wondering, Ableton Live is a music software that is prominently used throughout the musical community, and I've acquired it and begun learning how to use it over the past several months.