Senior contemporary music industry major Nathan Griffiths completed his fall internship with the installation team at Brinoch, gaining hands-on experience in professional audio installation and system integration. Brinoch specializes in audio, video, and lighting system integration, designing, deploying, and delivering customized solutions that simplify complex technology so clients can focus on messaging. With a focus on live sound production, Griffiths pursued the opportunity to explore the technical setup behind PAs, X-ron systems, and smart home technology, while applying his classroom knowledge in a professional setting.
We caught up with Griffiths to learn more about his internship experience and how it shaped his technical development and career direction.
Internship Experience and Hands-On Growth
Griffiths was drawn to the internship because he wanted to better understand the “setup and installation that goes into putting in PAs” and other integrated systems. While classroom instruction provided foundational concepts, he quickly discovered that fieldwork presents unique challenges and opportunities for growth.
“There’s the idea of learning it in a classroom, but it’s really different when you actually go out into the field and start doing it,” he explained. “Problems arise that you don’t ever think of, depending on the space or depending on what the client wants. So kind of learning how to navigate those,” became an essential part of the experience.
A significant portion of his internship involved working on job sites and assisting with physical installation tasks. “The biggest [thing] is just being out on job sites and actually using my hands,” Griffiths said. From “cutting wire and making sure that everything’s installed properly” to assisting with rack building and system preparation, he gained practical experience that extended beyond what could be replicated in a classroom environment.
He also strengthened specific technical skills, including “getting better at soldering” and learning the importance of preparation before installation. “There’s a lot of work that you can do behind the scenes before you’re actually on a job site that I didn’t know of before,” he noted, emphasizing the value of thorough preparation and organization.
Skills, Reflection, and Career Clarity
One project that stood out to Griffiths involved preparing speakers for a PA installation. “When you get all the speakers, first we had to flip the cones to make sure that’s the right way, and then test all of them,” he explained. The detailed preparation process highlighted the precision required in professional audio work.
Although he was not able to attend the final installation, he still gained meaningful insight. “I was still able to get a sense of what it was going to sound like just based off of the speakers and getting to play around with different sound boards, different equipment,” he said.
The internship also reinforced the importance of stepping beyond campus and engaging directly with professionals in the field. “I think it’s really great to get out of the Bushnell dome and go out into local businesses and actually start doing what you want to do in a field that’s related to what you want to do,” Griffiths reflected. “It’s just good to get out and connect with people in the industry that you’re wanting to be a part of.”
He also expressed appreciation for the structure of Bushnell’s internship requirements. “I like how many hours they require,” he shared. While the time commitment initially felt significant, he came to value the depth of experience it allowed. “There’s so much to learn and you don’t have that much time. So the way that they set it up to give you an ample amount of time to start learning is really great.”
Reflecting on the experience, Griffiths encourages students to pursue internships that allow them to test their interests in real-world environments. For him, the hands-on learning and industry exposure clarified his professional goals and confirmed his passion for installation and live sound production.
Looking Ahead
Internships like Griffiths’ provide students with the opportunity to apply classroom learning in professional settings, build technical competence, and clarify long-term career goals.
To learn more about Bushnell’s music program and its academic offerings, visit bushnell.edu/music. To explore internships and career development opportunities, visit bushnell.edu/career-development.