Matt Nelson, management and marketing senior, said he has gained a lot in his life through the gift of music, and in turn takes time being thankful and giving back.
Though Nelson spends his weeks on campus as a full-time student, community advisor for Grove Lodge and activities coordinator for Campus Life, every weekend he devotes himself to his church by playing music at Sunday morning mass.
“It’s my way of giving back,” Nelson said. “It also gives me personal fulfillment. I’ve been blessed. God’s given me this talent, so this is my way of thanking Him for it.”
Though Nelson is originally from Mount Vernon, Ind., he found a church community here in New Albany while attending IU Southeast to continue
Nelson said he pursued the music position at Our Lady of Perpetual Hope.“I have kind of always done church music at whatever church I have been at,” Nelson said. “I started playing at church when I was 13 years old, and I have always enjoyed it.
“I got in touch with the music director, and asked if they needed a guitarist. Low and behold they were looking for somebody for one of their ensembles. So it just kind of worked out.”
Nelson said his gift of music has also directed him toward other devotions through IU Southeast.
“My music background helped me get my job with Campus Life,” Nelson said. “I work with Student Program Council as an Activities Coordinator.
We find bands to play campus functions and also in the cafeteria during lunch. I also usually set up the sound system as well.”
Nelson said he started playing guitar around the same time he took his first steps as a child.
“It’s kind of a funny story,” Nelson said. “I started when I was about 18 months to 2 years old. When my uncle would come to visit, he would bring his Marshall [amplifier] and his Gibson Les Paul [electric guitar] and play for me. When you’re young something like that definitely makes an impression on you. I knew that’s what I wanted to do.”
Nelson said his uncle currently lives in Illinois, and he only gets to see him three or four times a year.
Nelson said they get together and play every time he comes to visit.
“He’s pretty dead-set on getting me to play,” Nelson said.
Nelson said his uncle played in a few bands when he was younger, but mainly plays in church nowadays.
Nelson said he has taken several music courses at IU Southeast and learned to write music and play the pipe organ.
Nelson said in addition to bass he is taking the knowledge he learned in his pipe organ class and starting to play piano.
“Growing up my mom used to play piano, so it was always something I wanted to try,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he plays as a hobby in his dorm room. He said he primarily plays cover songs from other artists.
“I usually don’t do too much writing,” Nelson said. “There’s really not that big of a market for it.”
Though Nelson has many musical talents, he said he is not interested in making a career of it.
“It’s a hobby,” Nelson said. “If I tried to make a living at it, I would probably stop liking it.”
Nelson said he is open to what comes his way in the future.
SAM WEBER
Staff
samweber@ius.edu