Guitar student finds musical inspiration at South Texas College
Student of the Week: Ben McGhee
Coming from a musical family, Ben McGhee says South Texas College has enabled him to expand his skills in guitar by introducing him to the classical side of the instrument.
Ben says he has been playing guitar since the age of five and has been coming to STC off and on since 2013.
He shares his talent as a musician by participating in outreach activities both on and off campus and exemplifies a strong work ethic in his music training by going above and beyond his regularly scheduled music classes.
“I took a couple of breaks and began working until I decided to commit and come back,” he said. “I fully came back in 2017 and I chose to study music because it has been put in me all my life. My dad plays guitar as does my older brother and my sister, who plays multiple instruments.”
“I took a couple of breaks and began working until I decided to commit and come back. I fully came back in 2017 and I chose to study music because it has been put in me all my life. My dad plays guitar as does my older brother and my sister, who plays multiple instruments.”
The Associate of Arts in Music Degree at STC focuses on establishing a solid music foundation in music theory, music literature, applied instrumental and voice lessons, piano proficiency, and participation in solo performances as well as various music ensembles. These foundational studies are in preparation and designed for transferability to higher education institutions by the serious music student wishing to complete a Bachelor of Arts or Bachelor of Music Degree.
Inspired by guitar masters like Eric Clapton or Stevie Ray Vaughn, Ben said he began right away with the college’s advanced ensemble and performed his first solo piece “Suite del Recuerdo” by composer Jose Luis Merlin in 2018.
“When I arrived here at STC I began studying classical music, which I had never played before. When I began playing it here, I realized it was just a whole different experience I had never touched before.”
Slated to graduate in 2019, Ben says he plans to transfer to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in order to obtain his bachelor degree and eventually begin teaching music.
“To students, I would like to tell them to pursue what you love the most,” he said. “Put your heart into it, try your best but never go into something halfheartedly.