By Karima Harrison
The Scene staff
Music composed by a well-known Forest Park student will be featured in a Master Class video series broadcast on the college’s YouTube channel and used for instruction.
Mass communications major Brian Jiles, 24, won a competition with his 3-minute, 35-second instrumental piece, “Beat One.” He created it with a keyboard and the computer program Reason.
“(It has) a jazz-type feel but was contemporary enough for our younger students,” said Assistant Business Professor Angelic Cole, one of the competition judges.
“It transcends through different ages. It was upbeat enough to not put anyone asleep but at the same time had a smooth musical flair that could be used for multiple purposes.”
Four students entered the competition. Cole judged it with Assistant Music Professor Thomas Zirkle and Kelli Harris, president Rod Nunn’s executive assistant.
“I loved (Jiles’) transitions,” Harris said. “It wasn’t the same beat all the time.”
Jiles has been attending Forest Park for five years. He works for Campus Police as a traffic director and patroller and often is seen with a walkie-talkie and a smile. He’s also a student ambassador and Video Club member.
In January, Jiles saw a sign about the Master Class original music competition and decided to give it a try.
“I had a lot of beats made,” he said. “I just chose one that was R&B and hip-hop and submitted it. It took them a while to make a decision.”
Cole was inspired to start a Master Class speaker series on campus two years ago after watching James Lipton’s “Inside the Actor’s Studio.” The series won the St. Louis Community College district’s Innovation of the Year award in 2013.
“The Master Class brings alumni and business leaders from our community to our school for an intimate presentation for our students,” Harris said.
Jiles started playing drums and piano at 3 and composing music at 20. Today, he performs with a local reggae and soul band, the Majestic Lions.
“I just get music in my head, and I go home and make it,” he said. “I can play music by ear.”
Jiles was seriously injured in a car accident as a child and lost the use of his right arm, but he doesn’t think of it as a handicap.
“People see me playing (music) with one arm,” he said. “People ask me, ‘How do you play with one arm?’”
“I’m just skillful,” he answers with a grin.
Jiles is unsure of when he will graduate from Forest Park, but he plans to transfer to Southern Illinois University Carbondale and major in fire service management. His dream job is being a firefighter.
Jiles already volunteers as a “pipes man” for St. Louis Fire Department, which involves putting nozzles on fire hydrants and taking them off.
“Brian does not let any obstacle, external or internal, keep him from participating and striving for excellence,” Cole said.
“He has a positive outlook that so many of us could benefit from,” Harris added.
Jiles’ beats can be heard online at https://soundcloud.com/b-smooth-2.