Music department’s resources are available to all students

Photo courtesy: home studio expert

Florida A&M University is a school filled with talent, especially musical talent.

And it’s fair to say that FAMU’s incomparable “The Marching 100” and the Concert Choir can back that up.

But a question arises: What is the university doing to help other students with their musical careers?

FAMU’s Department of Music offers an impressive series of programs for its undergrad students including access to a diverse university setting and specialized music training.

While some may think that only applies for students in that major, but it does in fact include all students.

“I love the music department,” first-year graduate student Tyriq Stewart said. “It is full of talented professionals who know their craft, but I do feel as if the department can go harder with pushing the different resources and artists that we have.”

The department’s goal is to not only maintain a positive creative space but also create a rich a collaborative community of independent and self-directed artists, according to FAMU’s official website.  It is also a goal to provide professional service to school music programs and arts agencies and organizations.

Although Stewart agrees with these statements, he also sees a need for a change.  Stewart is an artist himself, while also being a member of The Marching 100, and the music industry club. Stewart says that the music industry club is a great step for musicians because it allows multiple creative minds to come together to collaborate.

“I can definitely say there are many accessible resources for artists, such as on-campus multipurpose music rooms and on- campus studios,” Stewart said.

He was a frequent user of these sources when he was an undergraduate, he said.

But some believe that more can be done and promoted. Music industry major Kennedy Hayden believes that if more time was taken to help get the word out, then the music scene would gradually expand.

“I’m in the department so it’s easy to know about all of the on-campus resources we have but students in outside majors don’t have much knowledge of them,” Hayden said.

Stewart believes that more showcases need to be put in place to help expose the musical artists and the Department of Music in general.

Students who aren’t music majors but who have an interest in music need to know what tools are available to them to make them successful.

The piano and musical rooms can be found in the Foster Tanner music building, and the studios are located in the journalism building.  For access, students have to contact any musical industry faculty.