Internships Open Scores of Doors for Music Students

This spring semester, six students from Buffalo State’s Music Department received most of their education outside of the classroom.

Through professional internships, the students acquired firsthand experience and insight in their chosen field while earning credit toward their degrees.

Geoffery Kutnyak, a pianist, and Ariel Bauerlein, a cellist, worked at the Buffalo Suzuki Strings Music School. Kutnyak and Bauerlein assisted the Suzuki staff with group lessons and individualized attention for students. Kutnyak also provided piano accompaniment for performance classes.

At the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Michael Campbell and Jennifer Schelm worked on a variety of projects including educational programming, public relations and social media initiatives, and events planning. Campbell and Schelm also helped manage the musical score collection.

Jennifer Babcock completed her internship at Buffalo State’s campus radio station, WBNY 91.3FM, focusing on music promotion.

Joshua Moore interned as a musical assistant at the Great Lakes Guitar Society. Moore helped to plan and organize professional development events for the Society, and was asked to continue his work with the organization in the fall semester.

“Through internships, students gain a view of how the arts world actually operates,” said Carolyn Guzski, assistant professor of music. “Equally important is the opportunity to meet and network with active arts professionals and to profit from their experiences as well as their regrets. Everyone's story is different in this field, and chance encounters with a variety of artists can send a newcomer spinning in exciting new directions.”

Although internships are encouraged, they are not guaranteed. Students are responsible for seeking and securing positions for the semester as well as filing the necessary paperwork to receive credit for the experience. As an upper-level elective, students are held to high standards in their positions as they apply what they’ve learned from the music program at Buffalo State.

“There simply is no substitute for this invaluable, ground-level field experience,” said Guzski. “Internships offer a unique curricular option which we hope every student will choose to include during his or her course of study.”

For more information about the internship program, visit the Music Department website.