TJ’s own Capstone Audio Production team, working hard on their upcoming singles. photo by Ben Scherer
Later this year, TJ’s Audio Production Capstone class will release their music to the public on their very own record label.
Four years ago, Mark Mallaney created an additional class for the Careers, Communication and Technology pathway that allowed students to produce their own music using software, physical instruments, and their voices. After noticing the students’ commitment and passion for the newly developed Audio Production class, Ma decided to take the program a step further by developing the Audio Production Capstone class for seniors.
Mallaney has always had a passion for music, especially the process of creating it. As a teacher at TJ, he realized that many students, just like himself, had a desire to learn and share their gifts through song production. Equipped with two recording studios, multiple instruments, microphones, countless software resources, and the desire to make art, Mallaney created a class from the ground up that allows students to express themselves through music. As time progressed from his first freshman class taught in 2021, Mallaney found that his students were making music of great quality, to a level that even he would not have expected. His students’ drive and commitment to the audio production class further inspired Mallaney to create a capstone class. This targeted students who had taken the past three years of Audio Production.
This year, a select group of students are currently working on multiple projects that they will share with the public. Mallaney decided that his students’ work quality is deserving of a published record label that will eventually be available on large streaming services. “My goal is to have a TJ website for the music of all of these kids, and to also release it… and have a TJ playlist that runs throughout the years so you can hear all of the cool things kids have made, here within the Audio Production class.” Currently there are three groups of students who are working on singles that will eventually be on the finished album. Each group of students has their own producer, artist, idea generator, lyrics developer, and engineer. The three groups are each producing a song very different from one another. The categories that Mallaney affiliates the songs currently being made are, dream pop/indie, mellow latino piece, and guitar rock. When asked about why he became committed to publishing his students’ work, Mallaney explained, “We started thinking about how we can use it as a way, not only to spread their artwork with the wider TJ community, but also to promote the school, the program, and them as young artists.” Mallaney believes that through publishing his students’ music, he can further advertise the school as a whole, and the talented students within TJ. The students of this program are also going to be able to design the artwork for their record label, along with the name of their group as a whole.
The students are highly anticipating the release of the songs they have been working on the past few weeks and, eventually, months. While talking to some students within the Audio Production Class, seniors, Elory Herbst and Daegan Goodwin answered why they originally decided to choose this class as one of their electives sophomore year. They both explained that they love listening to music, so they thought why not learn how to make it? Herbst stated, “Being able to see how music is made and to do it myself is really interesting and a great opportunity.” Herbst and Goodwin enjoy combining instruments along with software into music. An interesting component within the Audio Production class is Mallaney and the students agree that, with the right skill and configuration, music can be made from everyday noises and sounds. Goodwin explains, “Sampling things is where it’s at. Taking audio from the real world and making it into music…and being able to take sounds from anywhere.” Both students agree that Mallaney always provides them with the materials and guidance they need to succeed. Both students have also found that they have developed a sense of community within the classroom, considering they have been in the class with the same people since sophomore year. Mallaney hopes that as the years progress, students’ work can continue to be published and added to an ever growing library of student made music.
With a team of committed students and a passionate teacher, Mallaney and the Capstone Audio Production team of 2024 will make TJ history by introducing the first ever collection of student produced songs on a wide range of public platforms. This event will inspire future classes to continue the Spartan song legacy.
