Sound Lab (The Music Studio)

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BOOK AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! – contact rtravis@txstate.edu

The CREATE Research Lab explores through research and practice how engaging with arts -especially Hip Hop culture- can facilitate healthy development, reduce stress, depression and anxiety, and support academic development. The Sound Lab is a key part of this work, providing hands on opportunities for students to engage music for educational and well-being goals, but also to develop or reinforce music-related skills and interests.

The Sound Lab brings together the School of Social Work (SSW), Texas State University TRIO Programs, and the Hip Hop Congress (HHC) within Texas State. High School and University students are able to analyze, explore, and create music for their own general interests, and for academic, social, and emotional growth.

The Beats and Lyrics to Go project is anchored in the Sound Lab and creates experiences for music engagement for youth and young adults. It draws from research on the positive effects of structured and unstructured music engagement on well-being and learning (i.e., stress, depression, anxiety, empowerment, and academic engagement).

The Beats and Lyrics to Go project allows youth to analyze, explore, create, and otherwise express themselves using a full range of music equipment and music technology. This is the Sound Lab experience. Opportunities exist for individual, small group, and large group activities within workshop, conference, camp, artist development, podcasting, and satellite (stationary and mobile) experiences.

Listen to Dr. Travis on Hip Hop, Well-Being, and Social Justice

Sound Lab Opportunities:

    1. Classes/Workshops (The Science of Hip Hop; Academic Saturdays; STEM-PEACE; Hip Hop & Social Justice course at TXST; AISD/ADL/Blanton Museum Anti-Bias Series)
    2. Conferences (Hip Hop’s Next 50; TRIO Exchange; Student Leadership Conference; Hip Hop & Civic Engagement)
    3. Camps (Mixtape Camp; STEM-BEATS Camp)
    4. Artist Development – Scheduled and Drop-In (e.g., Hip Hop Congress)
    5. Podcasts (Beats and Lyrics to Go podcast; Hip Hop Can Save America podcast)
    6. Artist [Performance] Forums and Showcases
    7. Creative Events (Curated Art and Music + Performances)
The CREATE Lab explores through research and practice how engaging with arts -especially Hip Hop culture- can facilitate healthy development, reduce depression and anxiety, and increase academic development.