The Department of Music and the Faulkner Performing Arts Center hosts the Music Education Initiative, an NWA non-profit, for a hands-on workshop for music industry training. The Music Education Initiative presents its third Production Education and Technical Training Workshop on Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Faulkner Performing Arts Center on the campus of U of A.

Instruction is in person and registration is required. Visit musiceducationinitiative.org to register and to learn more.

The workshop offers training to program participants by guiding them with training and development for exposure into potential career paths such as live performance technicians, production lighting technicians and logistics support. Participants will be trained by live performance production professionals from the region, who in turn, need additional trained workforce personnel. Our training allows participants to get hands-on experience and develop relationships with production companies, live event venues, theaters and performance halls operating in the area and associated cities, with the ability to be hired for entry level employment throughout the region, at an hourly rate higher than the current minimum wage.  

The Music Education Initiative's unique perspective focuses on musical education in the interest of creating new writing, recording and performing artists, entertainers and industry personnel by exposing students and other interested parties to music and entertainment career paths at earlier ages. 

About the Music Education Initiative: Co-founded and led by businessman, U of A alumnus (Fulbright College of Arts And Sciences), Arkansas Alumni Association Board Member, and former Arkansas Razorback football player, Orson Weems, (1980-83 under Coach Lou Holtz), the Music Education Initiative is a diverse founded and led nonprofit that operates as a 501(c)(3). The EMI engages, educates, and elevates creativity, expression, development and performance of students, artists, entertainers and entertainment professionals throughout emerging music ecosystems. EMI shares the music and entertainment industry expertise, experience, empathy, relationships, professionalism, and first-class programs of our founding team and advisors, to develop and add value to the community, especially those of underserved communities, and quality of life in Northwest Arkansas.