Department of Music

Valdosta State University

Background

Bachelor of MusicUniversity of Cambridge (1464)1

Music Degrees in the United StatesSinging 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 University3

Georgia State Women’s College (1924-1949)Valdosta State College (1950-1969)Valdosta State University (Present)

Background

National Association of Schools of Music (NASM)4

Founded in 1924VSU Accreditation

1 Bachelor of Music. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bachelor_of_Music2 Rudolph, F. (1990). The American college & university: A history. Athens, London: The

University of Georgia Press.3 Schools of Arts- Music Department. (1924-1969). [Multiple documents]. Box 2, Folders 6-9. Valdosta State University Archives. 4 National Association of Schools of Music. Retrieved from http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/

Methods

Focus group

Interviews

Observations

Document analysis

Informal conversations

Researcher ScheduleMon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun Mon

9am

10am

Recital

Interview

Interview

Orch

11am

Wind Wind Perform

Orch

12pm

Wind Chamb

Wind Chamb

1pm Chamb

Chamb

FG Chamb

2pm Interview

3pm Concert

4pm

5pm

6pm

7pm Orch Orch Perform

Jazz

8pm Orch Orch Perform

FindingsDevoted/PassionLove 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 MemberTime Management Required Classes/Events

VERY lengthy list of Events to attend on the calendar page on the Music Department website. http://www.valdosta.edu/music/calendar/Private Lessons/EnsemblesOutside work is involved

FindingsParticipate 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

http://www.valdosta.edu/music/documents/CheckSheet-BachelorofArtsinMusic.pdf

Audition dictates which program you will be placed in.

FindingsProblems:

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

FindingsStress

Auditions

Recitals

Juries “Have to be able to take criticism. They grade you on

that performance alone” - Graduate Student

Themes

Methodological

TogethernessPrecision

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

FacultyDifferent 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

FacilitiesPoor 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”