News Article

Rex Goudie teaches CNA students ins and outs of music industry


12/6/2010 11:22:01 AM


Canadian recording artist Rex Goudie jams with Music Industry and Performance (MIP) students at CNA’s Bay St. George campus. Goudie will be a guest instructor at the campus until December 10, working with both MIP and Recording Arts students.

Students enrolled in the Music Industry and Performance (MIP) and Recording Arts programs at College of the North Atlantic (CNA) have a special guest joining them for the end of the fall semester.

Canadian Idol star and platinum album solo artist Rex Goudie is teaching students at the Bay St. George campus as part of a visiting instructor program until December 10.

The arrangement was established by Kevin Baker, campus administrator for Bay St. George’s L.A Bown Building. After learning Goudie would be touring in Newfoundland and Labrador to promote his new album One Hundred Pages Later, Baker contacted him to see if he would be interested in working with CNA students. He immediately jumped at the opportunity.

So – what does Goudie think students will take from his account of the Canadian music industry?

“That remains to be seen, but I think the first-hand experience I have with touring and recording music could be good to help put realism to the theory and knowledge being taught by the talented instructors at CNA,” he explained.

“I've had an extraordinary past five years doing nothing but music for a living. When Kevin approached me to come to CNA and be a part of the visiting instructor program, I jumped at the chance to relay the little bit of knowledge I've gained from my experiences to the next wave of producers and performers in Newfoundland. Hopefully people can learn from what I''ve been through and use what I have to say to further their knowledge about their careers and future.”

That sums up what first year MIP student Robyn Terry is hoping to take away from this experience.

“I’m hoping to learn about the different productions stages; working with producers and business people and how it can help your career – basically what goes on after you get recognized and how that process works,” says Terry.

“We’ve had Rex for a couple of classes so far, folklore and HR. It’s been great, he’s been a big help. You can tell he’s prepared and has experienced these things from the way he talks. I was a really big fan when he was on Canadian Idol, I also have his first two CD’s and he’s been a big influence on me… it’s been great!”

Goudie has been through a lot since being named the runner-up at the 2005 Canadian Idol competition. Since then he’s travelled a road of ups and down; from platinum album status to being dropped by his record company, Sony BMG. But in common Newfoundlander style, Goudie takes it all in stride and chalks it up to another lesson learned.

“I've seen a very different side to the music industry since 2006. Before that, I was signed to a major label, touring in a bus, doing everything that the label needed me to do. Since then, I've changed management, managed myself for a short time, and basically had to start my career over,” says Goudie.

“Recording my first independent record was very eye-opening and very liberating because I knew that I had to live or die by my own decisions and hard work, but could finally make the record I've wanted to make since day one.”

Baker says the resilience that Goudie has shown throughout his career is the type of message and experience he wants the RA and MIP students to learn from.

“Rex is a great ambassador for our province and he is respected in the industry,” says Baker.

“Knowledge transfer from artists like Rex is an essential part of these programs. His insights will undoubtedly serve our graduates well as they pursue their own careers in industry.”

Goudie will be releasing his new album in Stephenville on Wednesday, December 8 at the Arts and Culture Centre. He will be joined on stage by Billy the Kid of Vancouver. For more information on the new album or Rex’s tour dates visit, www.rexgoudiemusic.com.

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Media Contact:

Roger Hulan
Communications Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
(709) 643-7938
roger.hulan@cna.nl.ca


For more information on Rex Goudie contact:

Samantha Pickard
Strut Entertainment
(416) 861-0387
samantha@strutentertainment.com