For Penn State student bands and singers, a larger audience is now only a click away.

Through Napster, individual music talents now have the opportunity to upload their original recordings for other students to play.

"It gives Penn State student bands an opportunity that other student bands will not have," said Robin Anderson, Information Technology Services (ITS) spokeswoman.

Anderson said both Penn State students and Napster Premium Service users could hear the student bands' music.

Napster and Penn State are helping students who want their original music in the Napster library by simplifying the normally extensive process, said Sam Haldeman, assistant to the associate vice provost for ITS.

"With this, they [students] can concentrate on music or academics for that matter," Haldeman said.

Haldeman said students and groups have to complete a checklist, including song information, copyright information and a digital copy of the music to send to Napster.

When additional information is needed, the request is sent to the students via e-mail. This information is then sent from Penn State to the correct channels at Napster.

"This, like the entire initiative, is a new venture for us and Napster," Haldeman said in an e-mail message.

Haldeman said Napster is looking for real material that students spent time writing and producing.

The new service began a few days ago and students can start the process by going to www.napster.psu.edu, Haldeman said.

"They [Napster] are pretty anxious, and we are pretty anxious for the students to participate," Haldman said.

Anderson added that she believes Penn State is the first college trying out this service and it will receive a lot of attention for it.

Tim Sonnefeld, guitarist, bassist and producer for the band Townhall, said he is supportive of downloading on the Internet and said it is great that Penn State is educating on something real.

Townhall is a band from Philadelphia that plays on the northeast circuit including State College.

Sonnefeld said he thinks this is an opportunity for students and their bands that should not be passed up.

"Every band should pay attention to it," Sonnefeld said. "It can be your break."

Tom Connolly (senior-marketing), drummer in the band Dr. Naqleus, said the band has a Web site that includes original music, but it is up to people to find the Web site and music.

"Anyone in the right mind can see it as valuable," Connolly said.

Connolly added that the program is interesting, even for students with guitars in the dorms.

Shawn Harrington (senior-engineering science), the lead vocalist and guitarist for Strike.Fire.Fall, said it is tough to find non-mainstream small bands and independent labels.

He said he hopes more students use Napster to find different types of music.

"It is the weirdest industry. Who knows who is listening out there," Harrington said.

"If you just gain fans, that's what it is all about," Harrington added.

John Marsh (senior-broadcast journalism), who is in the band Tokyo Vertigo and a Napster user, said music is more of a realistic art.

"I'm for the university encouraging students making music in any way, shape or form," Marsh said.

"It's not about selling CDs; it is about sharing your gift with the world," he added.