Music in the Air
There are many different departments on a University campus. Each of them is special and unique in their own way. During my time of attending the University of Redlands, I spent a majority of my time in one department. The music department was obviously my favorite considering it was the building that held courses for my intended major; I chose to spend as much time as I could within this department. This department was always busy no matter what time of day there were always students coming in and out of this building. The five senses will reveal the inside of what was said to be the most hardworking, challenging and successful department on campus, the music department.
When you first walk up to the glass doors of the building, you can hardly see the glass on the doors because it is always covered with posters of announcements from specific professors about their classes, advertisements for upcoming performances/recitals, audition dates and times for different ensembles and so much more. All of these papers are very brightly colored as to catch the students’ attention as they walk into the building. Inside the doors of this building are several offices belonging to the director and the dean of the School of Music. The doors are usually always open until 5pm which is the end of dean and director’s day. While their work day ended at 5pm, a majority of the students are still within the building. There are two staircases on
Nepper 2
either side of the building. If you walk up either of these staircases you will find practice rooms as well as offices of some of the instrumental and vocal professors. When empty, all of the practice rooms contain the same common objects, a large, black Steinway piano, a music stand, a chair and a mirror. Students are constantly in and out with their instruments. All of the instrument cases you see are different sizes, shapes and colors. There are also large, blue lockers on either side of the walls for students to keep their things in.
As you probably guessed there are always a lot of different sounds coming from throughout the building. No matter what time of day it is, whether it is 6 am or 10 pm there are always students practicing. Most students practice an average of three hours a day. You hear the squeaking of the clarinets trying to hit the extremely high notes (that we all believe are made for flute players), the sweet sound of flutes and piccolos, the loud powerful sound of the brass instruments such as trumpets, baritones, trombones, tubas, etc. Or you may hear the sound of vocalists trying to hit all of their notes within their songs perfectly. There is also the hustle and bustle of students trying to ask their academic professors questions about an assignment or their private lessons professor about a piece they are working on for their next lesson.
There really is not a distinct smell to the music building. Within the practice rooms, it is very musty. The floors smell of drained spit that comes out of the bottoms of most instruments. Also, there is often an overwhelming smell of body spray and/or cologne. The professors most times will have different smelly things such as air
Nepper 3
fresheners, flowers or simply the smell of their coffee within their offices. Other than that there really is not a whole lot to the smell of the music building.
Like smell, taste is not so much a common sense that is used in the music building. There are water fountains throughout the building and students often times bring water bottles with them to practice. Some times after performances or recitals there will be refreshments, usually brownies or cookies or something of that nature there for the students and faculty who went to the recital or performance.
The feel of the music building is typical of any other building on campus or anywhere. The walls are hard and the carpets softer. The door handles are usually pretty warm and probably full of germs from all of the people who touch them throughout the day. The different instruments within the music building all have their own unique feel to them. The metal and brass instruments are usually cold until you pick it up and begin to play them. The percussion instruments such as the marimba, xylophone, etc have bars that are made of wood and feel like polished wood.
In conclusion, the music department is the most productive and busy department on campus. The high demand and expectations of the professors force the students to push themselves and work hard if they expect to succeed and meet the standards set by the School of Music. While challenging, it forces students to really dedicate themselves and learn time management and other skills that will help them later on in life. I have to admit, while I like College of the Desert, I often times miss the music department at the University of Redlands.
There are many different departments on a University campus. Each of them is special and unique in their own way. During my time of attending the University of Redlands, I spent a majority of my time in one department. The music department was obviously my favorite considering it was the building that held courses for my intended major; I chose to spend as much time as I could within this department. This department was always busy no matter what time of day there were always students coming in and out of this building. The five senses will reveal the inside of what was said to be the most hardworking, challenging and successful department on campus, the music department.
When you first walk up to the glass doors of the building, you can hardly see the glass on the doors because it is always covered with posters of announcements from specific professors about their classes, advertisements for upcoming performances/recitals, audition dates and times for different ensembles and so much more. All of these papers are very brightly colored as to catch the students’ attention as they walk into the building. Inside the doors of this building are several offices belonging to the director and the dean of the School of Music. The doors are usually always open until 5pm which is the end of dean and director’s day. While their work day ended at 5pm, a majority of the students are still within the building. There are two staircases on
Nepper 2
either side of the building. If you walk up either of these staircases you will find practice rooms as well as offices of some of the instrumental and vocal professors. When empty, all of the practice rooms contain the same common objects, a large, black Steinway piano, a music stand, a chair and a mirror. Students are constantly in and out with their instruments. All of the instrument cases you see are different sizes, shapes and colors. There are also large, blue lockers on either side of the walls for students to keep their things in.
As you probably guessed there are always a lot of different sounds coming from throughout the building. No matter what time of day it is, whether it is 6 am or 10 pm there are always students practicing. Most students practice an average of three hours a day. You hear the squeaking of the clarinets trying to hit the extremely high notes (that we all believe are made for flute players), the sweet sound of flutes and piccolos, the loud powerful sound of the brass instruments such as trumpets, baritones, trombones, tubas, etc. Or you may hear the sound of vocalists trying to hit all of their notes within their songs perfectly. There is also the hustle and bustle of students trying to ask their academic professors questions about an assignment or their private lessons professor about a piece they are working on for their next lesson.
There really is not a distinct smell to the music building. Within the practice rooms, it is very musty. The floors smell of drained spit that comes out of the bottoms of most instruments. Also, there is often an overwhelming smell of body spray and/or cologne. The professors most times will have different smelly things such as air
Nepper 3
fresheners, flowers or simply the smell of their coffee within their offices. Other than that there really is not a whole lot to the smell of the music building.
Like smell, taste is not so much a common sense that is used in the music building. There are water fountains throughout the building and students often times bring water bottles with them to practice. Some times after performances or recitals there will be refreshments, usually brownies or cookies or something of that nature there for the students and faculty who went to the recital or performance.
The feel of the music building is typical of any other building on campus or anywhere. The walls are hard and the carpets softer. The door handles are usually pretty warm and probably full of germs from all of the people who touch them throughout the day. The different instruments within the music building all have their own unique feel to them. The metal and brass instruments are usually cold until you pick it up and begin to play them. The percussion instruments such as the marimba, xylophone, etc have bars that are made of wood and feel like polished wood.
In conclusion, the music department is the most productive and busy department on campus. The high demand and expectations of the professors force the students to push themselves and work hard if they expect to succeed and meet the standards set by the School of Music. While challenging, it forces students to really dedicate themselves and learn time management and other skills that will help them later on in life. I have to admit, while I like College of the Desert, I often times miss the music department at the University of Redlands.
My descriptive essay was about the music building at my old school, the University of Redlands. I atteneded this school for a year and a half and spent a majority of my time within the music building because I was a music education major. Most people do not realize how much time and effort goes into being any type of music major, in fact most look down upon being a music major and chalk it up to be simply sitting in a room playing an instrument all day. While most other students had four maybe five classes a week, I personally had ten classes a week, not easy at all if you ask me.
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