Westbrook gains state-of-the-art composition studios

Music majors prepare: you're about to get a healthy dose of the digital music age, right at your finger tips.

Westbrook Music Hall has been equipped with state-of-the-art music composition studios, designed to allow students to have the most up-to-date technology when it comes to composing their own music. With this new technology, it will be easier to not only compose, but to create music that would have been stuck on paper or in the minds of the students.

Whether it's scoring, sequencing or putting film pieces together, the composition room has the technology to put projects into full, professional portfolio pieces. This facility includes the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as one of the top colleges to study the art of putting notes together and bringing that into the tangible world.

But with great technology comes great responsibility. The room is mainly intended for juniors, seniors and graduate students at the college of music.

The studios come equipped with brand-new Mac computers with the latest music-rendering software, keyboards to compose digitally and a 5.1 digital sound simulator that allows students to artificially create what it would be like to hear their masterpieces performed by a full symphony if they so desire.

The composing and sequencing software offers thousands of samples for students to choose from, allowing everyone to add their own personal flavor to their art.

The new Westbrook composition room also allows students to work with other students at the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. There is a digital pipeline that sends projects from place to place so students can work on projects in both schools with a quick transfer of technology.

Eric Richards, assistant professor of composition and jazz studies, feels that this technology creates a great energy and allows students to "learn how to collaborate" in a more effective manner and make professional projects.

"(This facility) is not just important, but it's critical to have," Richards said.

Associate Professor of Music Composition Brian Moore believes that the role of technology in the school of music is essential as well.

"For students who choose to go into composition, that's it, that's what they need," Moore said.

Moore has taught classes in the composition room where students have worked on programs for the iPod touch and small projects of their own.

"It gives students a chance to hear their pieces without (requiring) actual instruments," he said.

With this modern technology in place, it is now possible to quickly render long compositions without waiting. This helps the composer create higher quality music, Moore said.

The new studios also allow for better music education.

Students who want to become music teachers will now be familiar with the technology that professionals use in crafting all kinds of music. From Top 40 radio to Carnegie Hall, students can now understand what it's like to compose with the latest equipment.

The new music composition rooms allow students to be in contact with new digital technology that not only brings them closer to the professional music industry but gives them the right technology to compose their next great piece.

With this new addition to the UNL campus, great music isn't just made downtown at the various venues where local bands get their start. It's now made in the classrooms.

arts@dailynebraskan.com