Misty Jones, Assistant Professor of Music at Kent State University in Ohio, US

Photo courtesy of Misty Jones.

Misty Jones, who hails from San Antonio, Texas, never imagined she would study for a master’s degree at Berklee’s campus in Valencia, Spain. But after years of contract music production jobs, developing church rock bands, and teaching music, she was ready for change. And she knew the Berklee master in music degree with music production concentration was what she wanted. Attending the program was, she says, “hands-down the craziest, most amazing thing that has ever happened to me.”

Now she’s just finished her first year as assistant professor of Music at Kent State University, Ohio—and it’s just where she wants to be. Below is an edited conversation with her.

How did the Berklee experience shape your music?
Before graduate school I had produced many different genres of music, but I struggled to find confidence in my ability to produce electronic music. The graduate experience pushed me way out of my comfort zone. Not only did I have to study the medium, but had to produce and perform a large amount of work in a very competitive environment. I also learned I was capable of things I never thought I’d be able to do, like engineer on a large format console, or DJ in a club.

Did the Valencia experience help broaden your way of approaching music production?
My time at Berklee in Valencia was hands-down the best year of my life. I spent most of the year working on building a musical suite out of MIDI controllers. I was able to speak at MIT’s EmTech España, the Impulsa Forum, and Madrid Música Days. I was also chosen to present, along with my colleagues, my culminating experience at Sónar+D in Barcelona. Billboard magazine even mentioned us!

What impact has the experience had on your teaching?
I push my students hard because I want them to have the same experience I had: Discovering that you are capable of far more than you could ever imagine.