Music and Performing Arts

Music Center

History of the Music Center

The music department is housed in the Music Center, a brick and masonry structure that was constructed in 1922 as a physical education building. The building continued to be used in its original purpose first by Strong Junior High School and then Grand Rapids Junior College until 1976 when the Ford Field House was completed. The building stood vacant for three years until it was determined structurally sound for conversion into other educational uses. Renovation work began in September 1979, and was completed in August 1980 allowing the Music Department to move into its newly adapted facility.

The Music Center is a smoke free environment. Smoking is allowed in the outside areas surrounding the Music Center, and we expect that all smoking areas will be kept clean and neat. Eating and drinking is allowed in the student lounge area within the Music Center, but never in any area that houses a computer or a piano. The Music Center faculty and staff are dedicated to providing the best educational environment possible, are very proud of our facilities. We therefore expect that all persons who use the Music Center to do so with great care and respect.

Practice Rooms

The Music Center provides seventeen practice rooms for student's use. A practice ID card will be issued to each music student currently studying applied music and/or Piano Tech. Each practice room is equipped with a piano and a music stand and they are available free of charge. Our enrollment dictates that practice room use be scheduled weekly by filling out the practice room check out card posted on each practice room door.

There are specific practice rooms for percussion, string bass, and piano majors. In addition, piano majors may schedule the use of the concert grand piano to rehearse for recitals and juries.

Music Laboratories

The Music Center houses four Music Laboratories that are an essential part of our student's learning.

• The Piano Lab - located in room 206, is used primarily for Piano Techniques. The lab contains twelve Yamaha Clavinovas, and a teacher's console. This lab enables the instructor to work with students individually or in groups.
• The Music Lab - located in room 133, is a sixteen station MIDI lab. Each station is equipped with a state of the art PC and MIDI keyboard as well as headphones and a microphone. Students use the lab for music processing, ear training and digital sequencing. Students can also use the MIDI lab for required listening of CD's placed on reserve in the GRCC library for Music History and Music Listening courses.
• The Smart Music Lab - a computer accompaniment practice room that allows students to practice with piano or orchestral accompaniment. Students are required to schedule and check out the Smart Music availability in the Music Office.
• The Recording Technology Lab - is housed in room 204 of the Music Center. The lab contains four digital audio workstations and shares space with the Recording Technology classroom and Recording Studio.

Student Recitals

Recitals are not a requirement for graduation; however we do recommend that students who are expecting to transfer to a senior institution prepare a recital. Students who choose to perform a sophomore recital will follow the procedure listed below:

• Submit the Recital Permission Form during the semester prior to your expected performance. - signed by your applied instructor and on file in the Music Office.
• Perform a Recital Hearing for the music faculty during the first quarter of the semester of your expected recital. Your applied instructor must be present for this hearing. All of the material being performed on the recital must be presented at this hearing. If the student is approved for a recital no substitutions or additions of repertoire may occur after this point. The sophomore recital is performed in lieu of the MU 162 Jury and the grade will awarded by the faculty who are present at the recital.

The music faculty will encourage all music majors to be in attendance at sophomore recitals. We feel that it is important that music students support each other in their musical pursuits and that they acknowledge the effort and hard work required in preparing a recital.

Concert/Recital Attendance

Music majors and minors are required to attend five concerts each semester. There are three types of concerts that you will attend:

1. A classical concert - for example one presented by the Grand Rapids Symphony Orchestra or the Grand Rapids Opera. Other examples might be a recital presented by faculty members from GRCC or another college/university in the area.
2. A pop or jazz concert - such as a presentation at the arena or Delta Plex. The GRCC Jazz Night concerts or similar concerts presented at other universities would also work well for this genre.
3. An educational concert - any performance presented by the GRCC choral or instrumental ensembles and those of any other college or university.

Students who are studying Applied Music and taking Music Interpretation are required to write three papers each semester discussing three of the concerts that they attend. These papers require that the student research the performers, repertoire, conductor and genre being presented so that the paper becomes more than just a subjective statement of the author's likes and dislikes about the concert. Instructions for preparing these papers will be discussed and presented to music students at the first meeting of Music Interpretation each semester.

College Owned Instruments

Music Majors and Minors who play large or exotic instruments may check out one of the college owned instruments for use in any of the college ensembles. These instruments will be issued to students, free of charge, throughout the period of time that they are enrolled in that ensemble. Students must complete an instrument use form that is available in the main music office.

Hours of Operation

The Music Center is open on Weekdays from 7:00 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. The building will be locked on Fridays at 5:00 p.m. Weekend hours are noon until 4:00.

Updated on 11-NOV-05
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