Lack of space remains top concern for School of Music during its re-accreditation process
The Walsh Center was built to help space problems, but students and officials say it hasn’t done that.
By Sarah McNamara
Staff Reporter

Music students say they continue to wait in long lines to practice and rehearse in cramped classrooms despite efforts by the school to alleviate these problems since the school was last accredited.

The lack of practice and storage space was brought up when the National Association of Schools of Music visited in 1992, said Blaise Ferrandino, associate professor and chairman of music theory and composition. In response to comments from the committee, school officials said the Walsh Center for the Performing Arts was built, as were additional practice rooms and an improved band room.

But space limitations are still and issue, officials said.

“The Walsh Center hasn’t been effective in meeting the space issue and I expect (lack of space) to be the main thing on the report again,” said Ferrandino, who served as the interim director for the school from 2000-2002.

Christina Hager, a senior music and English major, served as the opera representative for the music student forum, where she and music representatives met with the NASM visitors to discuss issues and student opinions.

Hager said the lack of space is a huge concern among students in the music and theater departments because they are currently sharing space and, as a result, lose a lot of valuable practice time.

“You can spend your 30 minutes of practice time waiting for a room” Hager said.

Hager said one professor has to store props and costumes in his office, where he also teaches voice lessons.

“Think of how distracting it is to try and have a lesson and there are wigs to the right of you, props all over the floor, costumes in the corner and you have to fight your way around fake fruit and stuff just to stand up,” she said.

Ferrandino said 25 faculty members were split into teams and assigned specific tasks examining the different facets of the school. Two representatives for the NASM visited the school Oct. 1-2 and evaluated whether or not the school is in compliance with NASM standards, said Richard Gipson, director of the School of Music.

Aside from the lack of space, Ferrandino said the school found a strong need for more full-time faculty members. Currently, he said there are 25 full-time and 35 part-time faculty members.

Ferrandino also said the school would benefit from a larger scholarship budget.

“We’re competing with schools that have more of a scholarship budget to get the best music students,” he said.

Gipson said the school will receive the results of the visitor’s written report within six weeks, but won’t find out about receiving full accreditation until this summer.

Members of NASM are required to apply for re-accreditation every 10 years. Since receiving initial accreditation in 1947, the School of Music has been reviewed by the NASM and re-accredited six times.

“It documents what we do is valid, quality work and people can trust what we’re up to,” Gipson said.

Sarah McNamara