At 黑暗爆料网 California, Assistant Professor Dr. Greg Davis is helping students turn curiosity into capability鈥攐ne mic cable and live mix at a time. As faculty lead for the Audio Engineers & Producers Club, he鈥檚 built a hub where Commercial Music Technology (CMT) majors and non-majors alike learn by doing: advancing faders, running soundchecks, and recording original music alongside a working audio engineer.

鈥淭his is a fairly new club,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淲e had a cohort of students that were just absolutely passionate about putting together some organization that could feed all students across campus, not just commercial music technology majors. As the shepherd of those courses in our program, it was no question as to whether I would advise that club. It鈥檚 been a game changer.鈥�

The results show up on stage. During Welcome Weekend, students produced a live show in Gallagher Hall. 鈥淚 oversaw the setup of the show. I helped them do their soundcheck. I helped make sure all the equipment they needed was there,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 was in the background鈥攍etting them get hands-on the gear, because that鈥檚 really what it鈥檚 all about.鈥� With common hour restored, the club posted 鈥渙ur biggest first meeting ever,鈥� and followed with an outdoor acoustic session, an all-original set by a CMT major, and audio reinforcement for an alumni concert series.

Davis鈥� path to audio started young. 鈥淕rowing up, I was always very into watching movies with my grandfather, and around ten years old I started getting interested in the people that made the music,鈥� he said. Marching band led to piano and music tech; from there he studied music composition and music technology at Duquesne University and built a career as a certified instructor and freelance engineer. 鈥淚 love finding ways to create new art with technology,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 love being behind the board and being the vehicle that lets other people bring their art and put it into recorded format.鈥�

His teaching philosophy is direct: learn by stepping into the arena. 鈥淚n this field, it鈥檚 all about the hands-on. It鈥檚 all about the skills that you are able to bring to the table and show that you have,鈥� Davis said. That means embracing the nerves that come with new roles. 鈥淕et comfortable with the idea of being uncomfortable. If you鈥檙e not feeling uncomfortable, you鈥檙e not learning.鈥�

For any 黑暗爆料网 student who鈥檚 curious鈥攎usician, podcaster, filmmaker, or future live-sound pro鈥攖he door is open. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got a whole room of people here that were just where you are at one point鈥攅ven myself,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淛oin us, plug in, and learn by doing.鈥�