Music Buddies

By Fidel Negrete, ΒΨ

As an effort to promote music inclusivity within chapter this fall, Brothers were able to sign up for the Music Buddies event set up by our Director of Music, Renee Shanteler! This event consisted of each pair recommending a weekly song following the fun theme for that week (for example “Favorite song with a key change”), though brothers were strongly encouraged to also share music outside the theme! In order to encourage musical diversity in a one-on-one environment, Brothers were paired by different music tastes and instruments. This allowed for greater music variation, and also gave Brothers the opportunity to introduce each other to styles and genres that they otherwise might not have considered giving a listen to. 

I was more than happy to recommend my taste in music like the classic “That’s Life” by Frank Sinatra, as well as the soulful and melodic “Sound and Color” by Alabama Shakes, just to name a few. I was able to share the details of what I found so special in my recommended songs, as well as listen to my partner’s thoughts on them. I was paired with Randy Reza, who offered amazing recommendations like “The Science of Selling Yourself Short” by Less Than Jake and “Seven Ways Till Sunday” by T.R.A.M., both songs I had not listened to before but ended up adding to my playlist. Ska punk and progressive rock are two genres that I did not imagine myself listening to, but I do admit that I have developed a greater interest in these styles. 

In addition to participating in the weekly themes, we decided to finish our Music Buddies experience by collaborating on our very own music project! With the help of Soundtrap, a free digital audio workstation that grants users the ability to collaborate on music projects remotely, we were quick to create an upbeat drum loop and bass line that formed the foundation of our song. We later added a catchy melody line using our MIDI devices and our finished product was a wonderful piece that was a combination of both our music tastes. This experience was greatly rewarding as it broadened my appreciation for more styles of music!

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