For many people, summer is a time of relaxation and reinvigoration. Time away from work allows time to reconnect with family and friends. While our faculty are “home” for the summer months, many still trek to their offices regularly throughout the summer to practice, to teach, and to work on research activities. I’m always surprised how many faculty show up daily in the department each summer. Yes, we do have lives outside the Boyd, but summer is often used to catch up on work that can’t be completed during the semester.
This is exactly what has been occupying the Department of Music summer staff – Theresa McCall, Secretary; Lance Jones, student worker; and myself – this year. We have been busy with a number of projects that are focused on improving the learning environment for students, faculty, and staff during the upcoming academic year.
Mini “Face Lift”
Thanks to some timely renovations across campus and the diligence of Theresa and Lance, we have been able to secure “gently used” tables, chairs, desks, and cabinetry for distribution throughout the department. The Music Office now has a fresh, modern appearance and our classrooms all have benefited from new tables, chairs, and desks. Twenty additional Wenger artist chairs also were purchased to insure that each practice room is properly equipped while maintaining an adequate seating capacity in the Rehearsal Hall.
Orff Instruments and Elementary Music Education Materials
Lance devoted a good part of June to cleaning up and clearing out much of the old, outdated music basal series and elementary music education supplies stored in our large classroom. Some of the series were older than me! By reducing the inventory and moving the remaining print materials into the Listening/Resource Lab where they will be more accessible to students, we were able to redefine our storage needs. As a result, 5 new, larger storage cabinets will replace the 8 storage cabinets of various sizes that previously housed all of the Orff instruments and elementary music education equipment. The new cabinetry, along with new storage bins, will allow better utilization and organization of all of the elementary music education materials.
Listening Lab Refresh
As mentioned above, much of the print material was moved from storage space in our large classroom to the Listening/Resource Lab. This influx of material, along with the wealth of existing material, necessitated rethinking the purpose, function, and organization of the space. In short, it is my philosophy that students have as much access as possible to the resources and materials that will allow them to be successful, productive students and music educators.
To this end, furniture within the space and elsewhere in the department was re-purposed to allow the adequate storage and display of a variety of materials and resources, from music education materials to scores to music texts. Many thanks to Lance for the many hours he spent reworking the space and cataloging many of the resources found in the lab. And yes, you can still listen to music at one of the listening workstations in the lab.
New Grand Piano
We are excited to have had the opportunity this summer to acquire a fine Yamaha “Parlor Grand” piano for the department. Late in the spring, I was contacted by the Clarion University Foundation about a piano that the estate of the late Mary Ann Banner (Clarion, PA) wanted to give to the department of music as a gift rather than having it auctioned off as part of the estate disposition. I always am somewhat uncomfortable accepting gifts on behalf of the department sight unseen, and was a bit reticent at first. However, our Professor of Piano, Dr. Paula Amrod, had already played the instrument prior to my being notified of the gift, and she confirmed the instrument is of very high quality and in very good condition. Upon Dr. Amrod’s recommendation, we pursued the acquisition of the instrument and expect its delivery in the coming weeks. It will join the Steinway in the Rehearsal Hall.
Our most sincere thanks go out to the Banner estate executors in considering the Department of Music as the recipient of such a generous gift, and to Carol Roth in the Clarion University Foundation who coordinated the donation.
SmartClassroom Installations
We continue to improve our technology resources in the department. We anticipate the installation of two additional SmartClassrooms in the department during August, making all three of our principal classrooms Smart equipped. SmartClassroom installations include a computer with interactive monitor, wireless keyboard/mouse, ceiling-mounted projector, screen, document camera, CD/DVD player, and premium ceiling-installed sound system. Each system costs between $15,000-$20,000. Our first SmartClassroom installation for the 2008-09 academic year afforded both faculty and students new opportunities for learning and instruction. The technology was well used throughout the year, and we are looking forward to utilizing fully the new Smart resources.
UPDATE (8/21/09): I heard within the last week that due to budget restrictions across campus, our installations will NOT take place this summer. I am hopeful for the funding to be in place for installations to occur over the winter break (fingers crossed!).
Dr. Toney Tenured and Promoted
In an upgrade of sorts, I am pleased to announce the granting of tenure and the promotion of Dr. Hubert Toney, Jr., Director of Bands, from Assistant to Associate Professor. Dr. Toney has worked diligently over the last 5 years to secure an outstanding reputation as a conductor, music educator, and musician both on campus and throughout the region. We look forward to enjoying his fine work for many years to come.
So, if you find yourself in the neighborhood this fall, feel free to stop in and see all of our summer “upgrades” for yourself. I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
