The next big battle of the bands could take place at Calvin College. Over the past several months, student senate has been working on a group music space for bands to use for practice.
The space will be located in the Surge Building across the Beltline. At a recent student senate meeting, the senators decided to monetarily support the project, which is headed up by Student Activities Director Ken Heffner and David Fuentes, professor of music.
Student senate, SAO and students considered several locations for the music space. While they considered the CFAC, which houses the music department, they were ultimately concerned about the noise level — something that led them to the more secluded Surge Building.
The Surge Building was previously used as an overflow site where departments could stay while their spaces were being adjusted or renovated. This would be its first use as a public student space.
“I was a little skeptical of the Surge Building at first because it’s such a far walk, but it has parking so you can come separately, so I think it has potential to become something that goes beyond the college,” said Matt Sweda, who plays in the student band Now Passing. “Plus, you don’t have to bother anyone with drum sounds,” he said.
In addition to a place to practice, this project would give students, advisors and mentors access to the recording studio.
“It’s beyond a space,” emphasized Sweda. “I see this as a way to break into performing as a group. There are going to be advisors and mentors on this that will really suggest what to do next and that will provide a sense of direction.”
Some senators were worried this space catered to too small of a group and that the money could be used to affect a lot more students.
The direct effect of the space will be small, but the indirect effect will be big. So many people will be able to hear these bands and their music as a result of this space, said student senator Joy Christopher.
Student senator Devin Auld hopes that the space will be more than just a place to practice.
“I hope that [the students] get a space where they can practice in,” said Auld. “Somewhere comfortable that they can collaborate in, have fun and make music.”
“This is an amazing opportunity to give artists the chance to grow,” said Sweda. “My dream has always been to perform, and I think this is a way to get that up and running and make it a reality.”
In addition to improving their own music, Sweda hopes that a sort of band community will develop in this space.
“I’d be excited to see if [the bands] would go out and do gigs together and be able to support each other,” Sweda said. “I think it just has a lot of artistic potential.”
