I do, I learn: Filling the gap when traditional resources fall short

Published: January 07, 2022

How many phone calls does it take to track down a rental truck when there’s a shortage? How do you design an event

poster when you know nothing about graphic design? How do you energize a performance venue with lighting?

You won’t find the answers in a textbook.

That’s why Greenville University’s Contemporary Music Center (CMC) in Nashville, Tennessee, offers semester-long immersive experiences for students like Cali Weddle (pictured below)—students who enter fields where experience means everything. The CMC prepares young professionals for careers in music business, music performance, and in the technical side of music production.

Cali, a student on CMC’s business track, says her role as tour manager gives her more responsibility than a typical internship would give her, but that means more real-world experience and more industry. connections, too.

“There’s no textbook, no pop quiz you can take that will prepare you for what to do in the real world. The only way to do it is by trying and [potentially] failing,” Cali says.

Cali may fail sometimes in the trial-and error process, but CMC advisers guide and help her so she knows how to learn and grow from failures. She remains positive and feels well-prepared to dive even deeper into the industry after graduation. For now, as Cali stands on the threshold of a career in the music industry, she says the CMC is the perfect place to gain experience.

The CMC's performance track provides opportunities
to compose, perform, and record.

The CMC's technical track develops expertise in
lights, sound, and video.

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