UCLA has a diverse student population, positively brimming with ideas and energy! From clubs and initiatives to music and sports, students pursue what they love. However, creative visions, particularly in multimedia, can be difficult to realize without software or technical experience. To help Bruins who enjoy making music, filming videos and recording podcasts — and to welcome those who want to dip their toe into these arts without a daunting upfront cost — UCLA Residential Life provides a wide variety of training and professional equipment in the De Neve Learning Center on the Hill at no additional charge to students.
Two headphones rest on a table, with a Maschine Mikro launchpad in the background. Located on the third floor of De Neve Commons, the De Neve Learning Center is open to all. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
A sign with the much-awaited results of a student-organized beat battle hangs on the wall. The lab room is a student-driven space that encourages creative freedom and events such as these. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
An Alesis V25 MIDI controller glows in blue backlight. Each lab station is equipped with a keyboard, an audio interface and a desktop computer with a plethora of editing and production software. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
A pair of blue and yellow drumsticks lie on the seat of an electric drum set. The set is a popular addition to the lab room. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
With rotated knobs and pushed sliders, this Pioneer DJ DDJ-FLX-6 seems to have been adjusted several times. The room features a DJ set along the back wall, available to all students to use. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
![Sasha Nelson, a first-year business economics major, concentrates as she plays a song by her favorite artist by ear. "I didn&squot;t know this place existed until a few weeks ago, and I live in [De Neve] Birch," she said, "but I&squot;ve come in a few times to work on the song." Although she does not have formal experience with music, the lab space allows her to explore the music she likes in a way she likes. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife](https://bruinlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DSC_6518-scaled.jpg)
Sasha Nelson, a first-year business economics student, concentrates as she plays a song by her favorite artist by ear. "I didn't know this place existed until a few weeks ago, and I live in (De Neve) Birch," she said, "but I've come in a few times to work on the song." Although she does not have formal experience with music, the lab space allows her to explore the music she likes in a way she likes. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
A sound-proof recording booth sits in a corner of the lab room. If a question arises, the UCLA Residential Life staff is just a room away for support with equipment. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
The Learning Center also gives students the option to check out cameras; book the studio down the hall complete with a green screen, mics and a guitar rack; and borrow other equipment for personal use. The one condition: they attend a short, one-time training session that occurs in the lab room at 5 p.m. every Tuesday. Creative Elements explores how students might handle and operate these digital tools to use in their own projects.
Jasmine Speights, a second-year business economics student, records a short promotion for the Black Bruin Resource Center’s 35th Annual MLK Oratorical. Students take advantage of the green screen in the studio room for projects, both personal and for clubs. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
An assortment of guitars are lined up against a warmly lit wall in the De Neve Learning Center for students to experiment with and create their own music. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
Gustavo Tepetla has been the principal producer for UCLA Residential Life since 2021. He takes pride in providing motivated students with resources to complete their dream projects. Photographed by Julia Gu/BruinLife
“At all Learning Centers, we are dedicated to nurturing diverse creative communities,” Gustavo Tepetla, the principal producer for Residential Life, says. “Serving as creative wellness facilitators, we prioritize fostering well-being within secure, collaborative and communal environments.”
This speaks true. Whether it be a musical pursuit or a video campaign, the De Neve Learning Center on the third floor of De Neve Commons is there to help Bruins turn their creative visions into reality.
