Texan Mosaic

by HANNAH NELSON//Staff Writer

Passionate members of the South Plains College community are uniting  to make new music and spark creativity.

A few students and staff members have created a song writing group within the college to give the people a chance to write music collectively.

One of the group’s members, Jeremiah Patterson, had been interested in song writing since he was in high school. Once he came to SPC, he realized all the resources that where available for song writing.

“When I got here, I found out they had a CD that they did of original music, and there was even a class for it,” said Patterson.

This lead Patterson to the thought of getting into writing more and having others be part of it with him.

“I was like, you know what, it would be really cool to try and do stuff with other students involving original music,” Patterson recalls.

He began talking with people within his song writing class. They decided that it would be great for them to get together away from the class to share writing ideas.

“We have so many great song writers living on this campus, or at least in Levelland,” Patterson explained. “Why not have something right here in Levelland for those people so they don’t have to go all the way to Lubbock to find people to write with?”

The group is a way for budding songwriters to get together, show what they have, give each other ideas, and grow.

“When you are working with someone else,” says Patterson, “you can feed off each other’s strengths and help each other with weaknesses.”

A big part of what the group does during their meetings involves individuals sharing what they have written, and the members collectively giving feedback and helping build the song.

“We have someone start off on a new idea they have, whether it’s a completed song, just lyrics, just music,” Patterson said.

A member is able to present his or her work to the group so that he or she  can receive input from others.

“We give ideas on what we thought…constructive ideas,” adds Patterson.

The meetings are different every time, depending on what members bring in.

According to Patterson, there are many goals that he hopes the group can accomplish for this semester and semesters to come. These goals include having a performance to showcase what the group has been writing.

“Hopefully, this semester, if not next semester, we want to have a little performance on campus of the songs that we’ve been writing through this,” Patterson explained. “It is creativity that is right here in our own backyard. Why not share it with each other?”

The group meets most Tuesdays in the lobby of the Lamar residence hall. The meeting typically runs from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. or 10:30 p.m.

“I say, if you want to be a part of this, the best things are a good attitude and a spirit of cooperation,” says Patterson.

He also recommends people who  have their own instruments, such as an acoustic guitar, bring it to the meeting.

“If you have absolutely no song writing experience but want to learn how to write songs, then I say come in, observe, listen, and feel free to ask questions,” Patterson says.

[Photo by HANNAH NELSON/PLAINSMAN PRESS]