Students practice music appreciation through collecting vinyl records
A poll of 203 students showed that the school is fairly divided when it comes to music taste.
The needle lowers after the glossy disc starts spinning. When the two finally meet the smooth sound of classic rocks fills the room. The perfect way to destress after a long day.
“I like to listen to my vinyl records at night when I am gaming or cleaning and I can just relax,” senior Brendan Kershner said.
Kershner, like many teenagers have found a new way to appreciate music in the form of vinyl records. This model of music storage where grooves are pressed into vinyl discs that have a needle pass over it to produce sound has been around since the early 1900s but experienced a surge in popularity in recent years.
An interest in this old-fashioned method of enjoying music sparked when Kershner would visit his grandma throughout his childhood.
“My grandmother has always had vinyl records and I personally have always enjoyed looking at the art and listening to the classic ones from when she was a kid,” Kershner said.As time has gone on Kershner’s collection has continued to grow. His personal music library now includes 30 regular sized records and 40 of the smaller 45 rpm (revolutions per minute) sized records.
“My first record I ever got was the White album by the Beatles and my favorite record I own is Nirvana’s Nevermind which I have in a silver pressed color,” Kershner said.
Standard records come in three sizes, 7-inch, 10 inch, and 12 inch and there are typically two different speeds they will play at, 33 1/3 rpm and 45 rpm. The records are typically black, but more color variations keep being created.
With all these new options available Kershner has developed a bit of a vinyl wish list. The record he wants the most right now is Californication by the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
While Kershner has been exploring this hobby since childhood, some have developed this interest more recently. Senior Antoni Leiker’s love for records sparked when his friend showed him their vinyl of Blue Neighborhood by Troye Sivan.
“My favorite part is the impracticality, such a fragile item just to listen to music you could find online,” Leiker said. “Listening to music on Spotify or something is quick and easy but when you listen to it on vinyl it’s almost like picking music out from a library if that makes sense.”
One of the major appeals of vinyl records for Leiker is the artwork or posters that sometimes come with the record. A lot of times these posters are specific to the vinyl and cannot be found anywhere else.
“My favorite record is Free Spirit by Khalid, specifically because of the art, however I hope to have Blue Neighborhood myself one day,” Leiker said.
Whether people get into collecting records because it is trendy or their family members pass it down to them, a genuine love of music seems to be what keeps them interested.
“I love music a lot,” Leiker said. “I have had this love for as long as I can remember.”
This is a fun hobby that Kershner recommends everyone get into at some point. It can feel overwhelming at first, but he suggests starting with music you are comfortable with.
“Honestly when starting to collect them find one that you really enjoy to start and build off of it,” Kershner said. “I’ve always been really into rock music so starting off with some classics really gave me the motivation to branch out.”
21abrooks@usd489.com
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