The Pop Music Guild is a group of students who are interested in developing their musical talents, specifically in terms of contemporary or popular music styles. According to the guild’s structure document, the program involves “emerging student musicians and bands who hope to grow and flourish during [their] college years through rehearsal, live performance, peer feedback, collaboration, specialized workshops, mentoring, and recording. The guild is co-sponsored by the Student Activities Office and the music department.”
Peer feedback sessions occur three times per semester. In these sessions, students in the guild meet to listen to each other’s songs, offer constructive criticism and help themselves grow together as musicians. The meetings take place in the Fish House on the Cave Café stage. Each student performs an original song for the others and anyone else who is around to listen. After each short performance is over, a feedback session commences, in which other guild members offer encouragement, criticism and helpful comments about what they heard.
The constructive dialogue that takes place is a valuable opportunity for students to gain some outside opinions on their work. The space created is one involving humility, vulnerability, encouragement and openness among peers. The leaders, professor David Fuentes from the music department, Ken Heffner, director of SAO, and John Williamson, research and program coordinator for campus involvement and leadership, all provide helpful insight and mentoring about managing a band, songwriting and how best to present one’s self to the public.
Tyler Luce, a member of the band called LAMP, shed some light on the needs that the guild fulfills for those involved:
“I think Calvin needs a Pop Music Guild because there are a lot of students who may not be particularly interested in the more traditional music ensembles or who are in those ensembles but are interested in doing more contemporary music. The Pop Music Guild is a way of supporting those students and bringing them together to critique, support, collaborate and perform for each other. Hopefully the Pop Music Guild will expand Calvin’s music community and provide bands for other students to listen to. There’s something different and special about getting to hear your fellow students perform for you, as opposed to watching bands that are brought in by the SAO.”
The Pop Music Guild is a golden opportunity for growth and collaboration. Not only is it a well-structured program, but it also provides a community for those who are passionate and intentional about making music. Connection with others is central to its mission. Michael Suigussaar, a member of the guild, mentioned the importance of collaboration, saying, “It’s hard as a musician to find other musicians to work with, so [the Pop Music Guild] provides a great opportunity to connect and work with each other.”
Many types of musicians and styles such as jazz, rock, folk, grunge, R&B and others are represented within the guild. Students are not put in a box, however, in terms of their sound. They are encouraged to make the best music they can and value input from others. A central question from the feedback session was, how can we make it better? Luce mentioned the importance of input from other musicians and space for rehearsal, saying, “Personally, I think the most valuable aspect of the Pop Music Guild is the monthly meetings, where we listen to and critique each other. However, a place to rehearse is a very close second. It’s nice not having to find places for seven people to rehearse anymore.” The privilege of rehearsal space is provided for groups who need it. Students also are given opportunities to attend workshops, perform on and off campus and even record their music in a professional level studio on Calvin’s campus.
Whether you are a novice musician or have more experience under your belt, all are welcome to join the guild. Anyone who is interested in writing and performing music is welcome, and the monthly meetings are open to the public. If you’re interested in joining Calvin’s Pop Music Guild, contact Ken Heffner, John “Moose” Williamson or professor David Fuentes.
