As a result of COVID-19 and the shift to remote learning, Paradise Valley Community College’s Music Department is now loaning out technical equipment to music majors and other students enrolled in courses focusing on live sound reinforcement, music performance ensembles, and private lessons.
“Since the global pandemic is forcing everyone to think outside the box, we are establishing new ways to ensure students can continue to pursue their degree, stay creative and find success in the online world. That includes having access to essential music equipment to keep driving their talents, originality, and education forward,” said Chris Scinto, Division Chair, Fine and Performing Arts.
The types of equipment available to check out include audio interface, mixing board, microphone, headphones, and necessary cables to connect to a variety of devices such as computers, tablets, and smartphones. In addition to checking out equipment for the entire fall semester, the department has created a one-credit course and tutorial videos to demonstrate the concept of remote music-making and the growing need for students to be well fluent in digital musicianship skills.
Brandon Berg, a PVCC student studying percussion performance and composition, recently rented equipment including microphones, headphones, a mixer, mic stands and some audio cables. “Having these tools has really helped give me the best experience in this new time,” he said. “Having access to the equipment is making it a lot easier to communicate with and hear my other classmates and professors. It also is providing valuable feedback for me during my piano and percussion lessons where sound is so crucial.”
Earlier this summer, under the direction of Lee Chivers, PVCC’s flute choir created the first virtual performance of its kind, collaborating closely with tech support to pull it off and make it sound good. The traditional summer flute choir, which has been held annually for more than a quarter of a century, used USB microphones to record music remotely and then mix together the audio and video to create a quality program. The concert was such a success that all music ensemble performances for the remainder of the semester will be held virtually.
For more information on how to check out music equipment, email christopher.scinto@paradisevalley.edu