Music opportunities

Ctheflute
Wed, 05 Dec 2007 22:21:38 +0000

Case does have great opportunities for non-music majors to get involved with music. The Symphonic Winds group is open to all students on campus (undergrad and grad), faculty, and even a few community members. At the beginning of the year, all band members audition - just for the director to get a feel for how to divide parts up. Although there is a wide range of ability in the group, we play a lot of difficult and interesting music. (Music majors are required to be a part of Symphonic Winds, so it has to be somewhat interesting for them!) Symphonic Winds typically has at least 2 concerts a semester and practices twice a week (although you are welcome in the group even if you have a conflict with one night’s rehearsal). Playing in Severance Hall is an amazing experience.

For students that want to get more involved with the large music ensembles, they can ask at their Symphonic Winds audition to be considered for orchestra or Wind Ensemble. Wind Ensemble is made up primarily of music majors and students at the Cleveland Institute of Music, but there are some non-music majors in the group as well.

I’ve had a lot of fun in smaller music ensembles too - there are a wide range of groups that may or may not require auditions but anyone is welcome (flute choir, percussion ensemble, jazz bands, etc). I’ve heard that non-music majors can take lessons, but I never bothered to figure that out…I don’t have the time to devote to lessons on top of everything else :-)

There are about 10 practice rooms available for everyone to use (conveniently located by the band room which is in the middle of the dorms on northside). Each dorm also has a piano somewhere, and that often turns unofficially into a practice room. The Village at 115 apartments each have 1-2 soundproofed practice rooms that are very nice :-)