Tyler Pipon’s Journey with MusicMakers!
by Tom Berich, Operations Manager
In a recent conversation, Tom Berich, Operations Manager for Luminari, sat down with Tyler Pipon, a talented student from Franklin Regional High School, nestled just outside Pittsburgh. Tyler had the incredible opportunity to take part in MusicMakers! in 2024—a program that struck a powerful chord in shaping his aspirations. As you dive into this interview, you’ll discover how his experience with Luminari, and especially MusicMakers!, has influenced his journey and future plans.
TOM: Tyler, tell me a little bit about where you’re from originally.
TYLER: Originally, I’m from Plum, PA, in Allegheny County. It’s where I grew up and spent a large portion of my childhood until I moved to Murrysville when I was around 11. Both houses mean a lot to me and played a huge role in shaping my upbringing. I was constantly surrounded by kids my age who loved playing outside, which was a great experience to have.
TOM: What school district are you from?
TYLER: I am from Franklin Regional, located in Murrysville. I am currently a senior. I love it here and involve myself in many activities at school. My soccer season recently ended, which was a huge part of my high school experience. Right now, I’m just enjoying the last few days of high school.
TOM: When were you with Luminari, and which camp did you attend?
TYLER: I attended the MusicMakers! camp in June 2024, located at The Vault Recording Studio in Pittsburgh. I live about 30 minutes from the studio, so the travel distance was fairly short. Every morning, I would wake up, have my breakfast in the car, and take the highway. It was a super relaxing drive.
TOM: And how did you find out about the camp?
TYLER: I found out about the camp through my parents, who didn’t need to do much convincing to get me to go. As soon as they told me about it, I was stoked and immediately asked them to sign me up. I had never heard of The Vault or Luminari before this, so learning that something like this existed was exciting news.
TOM: So tell us about that opportunity. What were your takeaways from the camp? What did you really enjoy about it? What kinds of things did you participate in last year?
TYLER: The camp was undoubtedly the coolest thing I did that summer. I learned so much and got to meet incredibly talented people. The setup was amazing—you got to see and interact with almost everything in the studio. For example, we had a blast in the reverb room, and one of my personal favorites was the room with complete surround sound. You could hear every single element in a song playing from a different part of the room. I forget the exact name of what Bob called it, but it was fascinating. Listening to “Breathe in the Air” by Pink Floyd in that room became a core memory for me.
For the camp’s finale, we created a pop song that combined all of our team members’ talents and passions. I played the guitar for the song and helped with the mixing. This was by far my favorite part—getting to apply all the techniques and skills we had learned throughout the camp and funneling them into one big, awesome-sounding project! We followed a completely professional process, from laying down a chord progression to recording vocals in a vocal booth.
One of the parts I really enjoyed was hearing from audio engineers who worked with famous musicians. Their stories about how they got to where they are were so interesting, and some were hilarious. I remember one person talking about their encounters with artists like Snoop Dogg and Michael Jackson—it’s crazy to think they actually worked with those legends! Bob McCutcheon (MusicMakers! camp director) did an amazing job setting up the interviews so we could get a glimpse into their lives.
I also loved learning about the extreme details that go into every song. One section of the camp covered exactly where and how to set up microphones for drum kits—something that will be very useful in my future in music.
TOM: What are your recommendations for students—or anyone—who might be considering the camp but are unsure?
TYLER: If you’re on the fence about participating in this camp and need a reason to sign up, getting to create a song using nearly everything in the studio should convince you! Every day, you learn something new and get to actually try out what you learn, which was one of my favorite parts. The whole experience was incredibly interactive—you’re not just sitting down listening; you get to experiment with everything you’re taught.
If you have even the slightest interest in music, I would 100% recommend this camp. You won’t regret it.
TOM: Okay, well, what’s next for you?
TYLER: This fall, I’m leaving for the University of Pittsburgh, still undecided on my major. I’m in the School of Arts and Sciences, so I hope to pursue something in that category. No matter what, though, I don’t see myself ever stopping making music—whether it’s playing guitar or creating songs, it’s definitely a part of who I am.
TOM: Tyler, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today….
For more information on MusicMakers! or any of the other summer camps that Luminari offers (I Want to be an Ambassador!, Camp Delicious!), please visit luminari.org or call (412) 877 – 1888 today.
