CAO Special - Alex Tantoco: "There's always something new to learn in the audio industry"

"I always knew I wanted to pursue music.

I spent the majority of my childhood training myself how to sing and play guitar. I got guidance from my school choir, which deepened my love for music even more. Adults and teachers tend to encourage young children to be creative.

Children are given pencils to write and draw, and instruments to play. But as soon as they reach a certain age, all that creativity is perceived as a mere “hobby”. A quick message for those figuring out what course to take: I know it’s difficult. Just know that it’s okay to take your time finding out what you want to devote your time to. You can even change your mind.

I started college in America bouncing from course to course. I finished an IT course I wasn’t quite sure or passionate about. Swayed by opinions from my family, studying technology was something I thought would keep me stable. I had some inner turmoil knowing that I wasn’t giving my dreams a chance.

Then, I took a leap of faith. I am currently in my 2nd year, studying Music Technology at Griffith College (on campus at Pulse) in Dublin.

The first reason for choosing this course was that I knew I was skilled in technology, which would allow me to dig deeper into a lifelong passion of mine. I was fascinated by the unknown territory of music and production, and wanted to be a part of that process.

There is always something new to learn in the audio industry and I wanted to be a part of that. It’s fascinating to receive a hands-on education with lecturers who work in the industry and give unparalleled insight. The other reason was simply because I needed to be around music. If you find something that sparks a light in you, go for it. You never know where it’ll take you."

Read the full education special in the Hot for 2023 issue of Hot Press, out now.