Department of Music Valdosta State University

Background Bachelor of Music University of Cambridge (1464) 1 Music Degrees in the United States Singing School in Boston, Mass. (1717) 1 Literary Societies (1800s) 2 Boston Academy of Music (1832) 1 Yale University (1899) 2

Background Music at Valdosta State University 3 Georgia State Women’s College ( ) Valdosta State College ( ) Valdosta State University (Present)

Background National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) 4 Founded in 1924 VSU Accreditation 1 Bachelor of Music. Retrieved from 2 Rudolph, F. (1990). The American college & university: A history. Athens, London: The University of Georgia Press. 3 Schools of Arts- Music Department. ( ). [Multiple documents]. Box 2, Folders 6-9. Valdosta State University Archives. 4 National Association of Schools of Music. Retrieved fromhttp://nasm.arts-accredit.org/

Methods Focus group Interviews Observations Document analysis Informal conversations

Researcher Schedule MonTuesWedThursFriSatSunMon 9am 10amRecitalInterview Orch 11amWind PerformOrch 12pmWindChambWindChamb 1pmChamb FGChamb 2pmInterview 3pmConcert 4pm 5pm 6pm 7pmOrch PerformJazz 8pmOrch Perform

Findings Devoted/Passion Love for music “Provides an astatic outlet for students who like to perform music” - Faculty Member “Music is more like a passion for me, I enjoy the whole aspect of working hard to get up on stage and perform a piece” - Student from Focus Group Drive to excel “One on one teaching” “ Quest for excellence. Develop yourself as much as you can” - Faculty Member Time Management Required Classes/Events VERY lengthy list of Events to attend on the calendar page on the Music Department website. Private Lessons/Ensembles Outside work is involved

Findings Participate with campus and community 9 Student Ensembles; 4 faculty Ensembles Marching Band being the most visible Wide Variety of offerings (Vocal and Instrument) They are a growing department 8 different bachelor’s degree concentrations Areas of Study: Brass, Jazz, Keyboard, Percussion, Strings, Voice, and Woodwinds, Education 2 master’s degrees, 1 minor in music, New Masters of Conducting Major Intertwined liberal arts and specific degree requirements Audition dictates which program you will be placed in.

Findings Problems: Time Management (Learning) “ A very lonely lifestyle. Have to be devoted spending long hours by yourself in a practice room going over and over the same things. The key to success is repetition.” - Faculty Member “Learn to mange your time wisely so you can be efficient and get all the work done. Because it is not just homework and classes you have to do. You have get in your own personal practice time. Hours every day.” -Graduate Student If they get sick Allowed to only miss 3 days Lack of communication with other majors Lack of Free time Isolation from the outside “You come in the building you have been here so long and the sky has changed” –Student from focus group

Findings Stress Auditions Recitals Juries “Have to be able to take criticism. They grade you on that performance alone” - Graduate Student

Themes Methodological Togetherness Precision Aesthetics and artistry Isolation Pressure “There is that pressure to be perfect, but honestly the main goal has to be proficiency and not perfection.”

Student responsibilities Practice Performances Recitals Juries Auditions

Different perspectives Faculty Different teaching style from other departments More interaction with students Skill Graduate vs. Undergraduate experience “Conflict of interest” “Faculty understand that I am there to make their job easier”

Obstacles to overcome Facilities Poor condition Budget “Adequate to maintain, not adequate to grow” “Music and the arts are very expensive areas to fund” Presentation “Music needs its own setup”