Music Majors: Why UMD?
By Sarah Hasselquist
Posted Nov. 7, 2006
Students awaiting lessons line the second floor of Humanities where everything from jazz trumpet to opera lessons can be heard. The UMD music department has its ups and downs, but students enjoy studying music here for several different reasons.
UMD’s Jazz Ensemble Director Ryan Frane said that if music students are interested in studying one thing specifically, then they would attend a conservatory or school of music. On the other hand if students want a more well-rounded music education, then they would go for a four-year liberal arts degree like UMD offers.
UMD senior guitar performance major Frankie Roeder says that UMD is also less expensive than other schools in the state, such as the McNally Smith College of Music located in St. Paul, MN, which used to be called Musictech College.
“They’re not very well known but they’re a good school for music students,� Roeder said and paused before he added, “if you have a lot of money.�
“I feel like I’m getting more than my money’s worth for my education,� said Roeder.
Also attractive to music majors, UMD is a small school in a small city compared to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
“Some of the schools in larger cities have extra things to offer, and sometimes schools in smaller cities have extra things to offer,� said Frane. “It depends what your motivation is.�
Interested in playing rock, blues, folk, and jazz styles, Roeder said that he thought the jazz program was better at UMD than it was at the UMTC, and he said that the UMTC was more classically oriented.
“They have really good orchestras and choirs, but when it [comes] down to jazz program I think that this place is definitely way better,� Roeder said.
“I’ve never been trained in classical,� he said. “It kinda just makes me tired.�
The Twin Cities campus is a better place for a constant flow of nearby music events, but if personable professors is a priority, then UMD’s smaller campus may be more attractive.
UMD freshman music education major and trumpet player Erik Leist was not accepted to the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, but he said it would not have mattered if he had been accepted.
“I would have switched anyway because the teachers here are a lot easier to talk to,� Leist said.
Leist added that the music program is being reconstructed which makes directors even more busy and UMD’s music faculty replied to his emails. Frane also said that that UMD’s music faculty are more available than at many other schools.
“There are certainly high quality music faculty at UMD who really love working with students,� said Frane. “They are teachers in their hearts.� Frane added.
Freshman trumpet performance major Justin Cadotte was of the same opinion as Leist on UMD’s professors and program.
“I’m from Duluth and I’ve done a lot of stuff here with the music program, and I know the teachers are really good,� Cadotte said. “The program’s strong and I can do a lot better here.�
Still, no school is perfect.
Cadotte dislikes the practice rooms.
“It’s not the size; it’s just sitting down and listening to the clarinet next door and trying to concentrate,� he said.
Better soundproofed practice rooms is important to Cadotte, but Leist is concerned with playing a greater variety of jazz music.
“I have friends who didn’t come here because they want to do jazz, but it’s all new age stuff that just got written,� he said.
Frane said that jazz students have to travel to see artists perform who can’t make it to Duluth, so Duluth’s smaller city status is something of a downfall. However, that can also be a benefit for students who want to perform outside of the campus.
“Students are able to play gigs here, where if they’re living in the metro area, they’d have to drive more to play gigs because the professionals would be taking all the gigs,� Frane said.
Frane also said that UMD’s music performance environment is not as competitive as other schools which, depending on the individual, may or may not be attractive.
“If you’re the type of student that needs that drill instructor type mentality, this might not be the place,� said Frane.
And, of course, this is Duluth after all.
“You kind of have to like the weather,� said Frane with a laugh.
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