It almost seems as if they are bored: students sitting around tables, fiddling around with knobs and buttons. But soon a beat and other sounds begin to play. Using synthesizers, they are creating their own music, without traditional instruments. This year has brought the introduction of the Electronic Music Club, run by math teacher David Leach.

“I wanted to learn how to make my own music,” sophomore Shojahon Shaturson said. “Aside from issues with copyrights and all, I wanted to be able to make something original and unique.”

Students in the club make techno and electronic music using sounds pre-installed onto various machines. An example of this kind of music is “dubstep,” which has become especially popular in the past year with artists such as Skrillex and Zomboy. The club is a big change from the traditional orchestra and ensemble music that DMAE is used to.

“A lot of students are really into electronic and teen club music- things that are heavily involved with synthesizers,” Mr. Leach said. “I thought I would bring in a couple of my synthesizers and show the kids a couple of things,” he added.

The genres primarily focus on house, electro, and hip hop. Junior Louis Elton is part of a band called Ninth Minute, and he spends time in the club working on their music.

“Louis’s band is a bit more rock-oriented, but he does some remixes,” Mr. Leach explained. “Everyone has something that they’re into outside of school, and there are a bunch of different types of music they can make,” he said.

The synthesizers that the students use generate waves that are modified to emulate real instruments or even create entirely new sounds, which are put together to create music. There are currently 12 people in this brand new club, but Mr. Leach expects registration to increase as more people find out about it. In time, perhaps sound synthesizers and computers will become as much a part of music as trumpets and flutes are at DMAE.