NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Students in Middle Tennessee State University’s Department of Recording Industry had the chance of a lifetime over the spring semester to record at Curb Studios in the heart of Nashville’s historic Music Row.

With Odie Blackmon and Bill Crabtree leading the group on two separate occasions during the semester, songwriting and MFA recording arts and technologies students had the opportunity to surround themselves and work directly with other industry professionals and leaders.

Blackmon, who modeled his commercial songwriting class after what it is like to be a professional, said that before they go to the studio for the first time, students have already met with publishers and songwriters to have their songs critiqued. He said giving students the opportunity to record in a professional setting raises the bar and expectations in ways he can’t in a classroom.

“No matter how I try to prepare them for working with pro musicians, their minds are blown,” he said. “By the second session though, they’ve gained confidence because they have done it before.”

Crabtree, the program director for the MFA recording arts and technologies program, said an opportunity like recording at Curb Studios is the best way to get students to collaborate and express their creativity, all while learning the ins and outs of being in a professional atmosphere. #trueBLUE #mtsu #findYOURblue, added that there’s no better way to immerse students in a professional setting than recording at a Music Row studio.

“It puts students in a real-world situation working with professionals in a real environment,” he said. “They have to work under a tight timeline and work with the musical professionals. It’s just like a real Nashville demo session.”

Senior commercial songwriting student Anica Meyerhoff, who had two songs she co-wrote recorded at Curb Studios this spring, called the opportunity an amazing experience.

“I’ve never seen musicians work so fast and efficiently to bring my ideas to life. The musicians were kind and diligent,” she said.

While she wasn’t sure what to expect inside Curb Studios, Meyerhoff said she was most surprised at how quickly the session went by and how much was achieved in a short time.

“Four songs were recorded from scratch in just three hours, and each song had its own unique process,” she explained. “I learned a lot just by watching the way each song was tackled, what made a song more challenging or run smoothly, and the different ideas the musicians had for each song.”

Blackmon said an opportunity like recording at Curb Studios is the best way to get students to collaborate and express their creativity, all while learning the ins and outs of being in a professional atmosphere.

“They have to learn studio etiquette, and they have to learn how to ask for things without offending people,” he explained. “It’s a real dance; a balancing act.” 

Crabtree added, “It’s a great experience for students and gives them a chance to see what it’s like working in a pro studio with professional players. Their expectations change because we raise the bar on the songwriting and musicianship that’s expected. There’s no other way to give students the real professional environment without working with professionals.”

‘They turned out better than I imagined’

Meyerhoff had the chance to sing in the booth for the two songs she co-wrote.

“It was really cool singing on the songs as the musicians brought them to life in real-time,” she said. “I enjoyed going back and forth between hearing it all come together from my headphones to listening in the control room with my co-writers Truman Vincent and Kenzy Coursey.”

Meyerhoff said Blackmon’s expertise during the experience was invaluable and taught her the importance of advocating for herself in a professional environment.

“My professor, Odie Blackmon, was especially helpful in pushing us to make sure the song captures the vision we initially created, along with listening for new ideas the musicians added,” she said.

“This (experience) will stay with me, not only in a recording environment, but in any further endeavors where I will be creatively advocating for myself. I feel better prepared to be in a room of pro musicians, particularly being in a position of offering feedback and critiques to best communicate the intentions of my song.”

While many of the opportunities were surreal, Meyerhoff said the best part was hearing their ideas embellished.

“They turned out better than I imagined,” she said. “I’m very grateful for MTSU and Odie Blackmon for putting this class together and pouring into the songwriting students. I’ve learned a lot through this course and my time here at MTSU and I’m excited for all that’s to come.”

Blackmon and Crabtree have taken students to professional recording studios since 2013 and have recorded at studios such as Omnisound Studio, The Tracking Room and Sound Emporium Studios.

“We enjoy doing it; students come out of the whole thing with a much better understanding of what it is they need to be able to do,” Crabtree said. “You can rehearse for the gig a million times, but it’s not the same as actually doing it.’

To learn more about the programs offered in MTSU’s Department of Recording Industry, housed in the Scott Borchetta College of Media and Entertainment, visit https://recording-industry.mtsu.edu/.

— DeAnn Hays ([email protected])