Seven Coastal Carolina University student musicians came back to campus from spring break with memories and two professionally recorded songs under their belt.
While many students spent their spring break relaxing before the final stretch of the semester, the CCU Country Band Ensemble spent the week taking part in what Nashville, Tennessee, had to offer.
Led by trip chaperone and Guitar Teaching Associate Zachary Patton, and Percussion Teaching AssociateJames Pendell, seven members of the ensemble travelled to Tennessee to gain first-hand experience that further prepared them for their futures in the music industry.
The ensemble brought the electric energy and iconic history of Nashville into their own recording studio experience. Patterson described the moment they entered the studio, saying the students came into their own as musicians.
“They ran it exactly how people in Nashville would run and cut these country records. I was impressed,” he said. “Usually, before graduating, they don’t have that awareness to be ready and prepared. We picked good kids; they were all in there, knew their parts, they showed up and they really played great.”
The trip went beyond the typical class experience. Patton said the students made the most of the opportunity in front of them by carrying themselves with a blend of hard work and talent that set them apart.
“The best players were chosen,” Patton said. “This whole class of students is really amazing. It feels much more put together than I can remember from previous years. There’s been a lot of progress.”
Outside of the studio, students were able to visit many of Nashville’s landmarks, such as the Grand Ole Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame, Broadway Street and RCA Studio B, where students followed in the footsteps of legends such as Elvis Presley, Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson.
The studio recordings will hopefully be heard by the public within the upcoming months and be followed by a video documentation of the trip.
