Nashville comes to Liberty

The sound of music filled the Mathena Recording Studio at Liberty University Sept. 18 and 19, as the Center for Music and the Worship Arts hosted four distinguished Nashville artists to work with students studying commercial music. 

The four guest artists included pianist Jason Webb, guitarist Mike Payne, bassist Danny O’Lannerghty and drummer Scott Williamson. All four artists have recorded tracking sessions for some of the biggest names in Christian music, including Lauren Daigle, Chris Tomlin, TobyMac and Mandisa. 

School of Music students had front row seats to the recording and production process of the professional musicians. During the session, the artists recorded eight different pieces composed by students, engaging students in the first process of record production: the tracking session. Students witnessed firsthand the professional process of production and how quickly professional artists are able to produce music.  

School of Music Dean Dr. Vernon Whaley and the assistant professor of sound engineering and music and the director of audio production Nathan Zwald worked with Webb, Payne, O’Lannerghty and Williamson in the past and built personal relationships with them during their time
in the studio.

According to Whaley, the four guest artists who attended the event are some of the best
in the world. 

“There’s a reason people go back to Nashville to get things done from all around the world,” Whaley said. “It’s because number one, the engineers are the best in the world there, and number two, the rhythm players are the best in the world.” 

Whaley and Zwald were aware of the professionalism and talent of each of these artists, as well as their devotion to God. When it came to planning an event for students in the School of Music, Zwald desired to bring in high-quality musicians with impressive experience who could show students a real picture of studio recording and speak into their lives from the point of view of a believer in the music industry.

Zwald’s vision was also to find ways to incorporate the entire school of music into this event, even students outside the commercial music program. In order to do this, audio and video feed was projected in satellite classrooms so that students outside the recording studio could be a part
of the action. 

All music students were also invited to attend open forums and masterclasses with the musicians, where the discussions involved music arranging, production and song writing, but also deeper discussions on how a Christian can practically live out their calling in the music industry and how to survive the pressures of the
music industry. 

Zwald worked in Nashville for 18 years before joining the School of Music faculty at Liberty in 2015, and his firsthand experience in the industry illuminated the importance of being prepared for circumstances that challenge Christians. He was pleased that students had the opportunity to discuss the implications of maintaining a spiritual walk in the music industry with professionals living in the hustle of the industry every day. 

“If we can go into situations where we are better prepared, it’s amazing the opportunity God gives us, where all of a sudden someone sits down next to you and says, ‘You do that Christian music thing too right? What’s that all about?’ All of a sudden you have an opportunity to speak into someone’s life because they are genuinely interested,” Zwald said.  

Although these musicians have all helped with popular tracks, theirs are not the names that end up on the marquees. Zwald explained that it was important for many music students to understand this because it can become easy for young musicians to be “wooed” by the bright lights and fame. Although each of these musicians has stand-out talent, they understand that their end goal is not to pursue the spotlight, but to glorify the Lord through
their music.

“We got a real strong sense of their humility,” Zwald said. 

This event produced a unique environment for students to see firsthand the quality of musicianship and professionalism required to produce a tracking session so quickly. Zwald explained that in under an hour, these musicians can hear a song once, develop a rhythm chart, practice the song and record the final session. According to Zwald, this is a valuable thing for students to witness because, although it can be conveyed in a classroom, it is better understood when seen in real time. 

Many students in the School of Music gained valuable insight from attending this event. According to Zwald, students expressed their excitement about this event to each other and to professors over the course of the two-day event. Zwald compiled a review of the event, which included a variety of quotes from students and faculty. 

“Watching the livestream of the recording process on Wednesday morning was such an eye-opening experience for me,” student Ashton Davis said in Zwald’s review. “I have been told before that studio recording professionals are efficient and don’t waste time in the studio, but to see that in person gave me a whole new perspective on what professionalism means     in music.” 

With such positive feedback from faculty and students, Zwald and Whaley plan to continue to host similar events to continue engaging school of music students with professionals. Eventually, Zwald hopes to bring in talented vocalists and instrumentalists to engage more disciplines within the School of Music. 

“There’s no other school in the country doing it like this,”
Whaley said.