Tag: Music

Title: Gold Rush of 1849

Abstract: A first-person view on the gold rush of 1849. This concept album puts you in the shoes of some of the people that were affected by the Gold Rush. The view points are fictional.

Keywords: gold rush, 1849, music, album

Title: Gifts of Beauty: Music Non-Profits of Lancaster County

Abstract: Music plays a vital role in all societies. Music has impacted the course of history and the lives of all individuals touched by it. Music is often cut from schools and, viewed as less important than other subjects. Music non-profits within communities help to spread music. Through an oral history approach, I interviewed a director and teacher from two non-profits. One non-profit was Music for Everyone with executive director/founder John Gerdy and teacher Janet Rawleigh. The second non-profit was Scaling Walls a Note at a Time with executive director/founder Diana Voulo and teacher Heidi Shannon. Using a life history approach I asked about the individuals experience with the non-profit Beginning with their early experience and culminating with inspiring stories, these interviews offer personal view of the social capital and benefit of music non-profits in Lancaster county.

Keywords: music, Lancaster County, non-profits

Title: Music Funding in Schools

Abstract: Music programs across the country are constantly seeking out for more funding and attention. Millersville University’s music program is no different, although it is housed in the most expensive building on campus. The university’s music program has been rapidly growing over recent years. There are three disciplines within the program that students can choose to study; performance, music education, and music business technology. The music business technology program has probably seen the most funding, with its recording studio, piano lab, and plans to expand even further to the Ware Center in Lancaster City. The research question is: Does the generous funding of the Millersville University music program hinder other departmental expansion plans? This article (www.pbs.org/wnet/tavissmiley/tsr/dudamel-conducting-a-life/the-consequences-of-curtailing-music-education/PBS) discusses the dangers of curtailing music programs in public schools because of is positive effect on student performance in core classes such as math and English. It would be ideal to examine this article and point out the flaws in prioritizing a program that supplements core classes, rather than prioritizing the core classes. In contrast, this article (educationnext.org/breaking-down-school-budgets-2/) from EducationNext.org breaks down the thinking behind school funding, and even states that music is among the most expensive classes to fund. With these two articles, a sound argument may be presented in favor of prioritizing core classes before music and arts. This isn’t to say that the arts are not important in the educational spectrum, but they should not be prioritized over English and math, for instance. The thesis is: As a result of Millersville University spending a copious amount of money on the music program, other departments, including art, have suffered.

Keywords: music education, music, funding, college music