I am a student. In order to graduate, certain requirements are placed upon me that I have to meet in order to have my desired degree. In my course catalog, there are a set number of credits that I have to earn in order to meet those requirements and certain categories of classes that those credits must be earned in.
This is a simple concept that we all understand, but ponder with me for a moment on something else. What if you were required to participate in classes over and over far after the time that you had achieved the number of required credits to earn your degree? What if in order to graduate on time, you had to intentionally overload your schedule, spend more money than you are comfortable with and continue to put time and effort into an area that had no direct benefit to you?
Now if what I’m describing sounds unfair and like a bit of a nightmare, I can personally confirm that you are correct. This is what is required of music majors in regards to ensemble participation. I am unaware if other majors have a similar requirement, but I know we do.
Music majors at Southern must be enrolled in an ensemble related to their major during every semester in which they are enrolled students, unless they are student teaching. For me–a senior in the education program–that means that I am taking 16 credits of coursework and auditing my ensembles. Yes, that’s plural because voice majors must also enroll in I Cantori. Being in I Cantori requires you to be in either the men’s or women’s choir. These classes meet for the same amount of time as a three credit class even though they are only considered one hour courses.
The result for me is the feeling of burning out. I would look forward to spring break to rest and rejuvenate myself, but that week is going to be spent on a recruiting tour with I Cantori.
I would like to clarify that I understand the importance of the ensembles. I understand what they do for those who hear performances as well as the members. However, at some point, I think the costs outweigh the benefits.
Can you really expect students to be able to perform their best when they have 80 to 90 hours of homework, classes, work and other responsibilities? I think not.
Here is my challenge to administrators and professors reading my words: Listen to your students. Most of us have worked hard to be in college and really want to succeed. We complain for good reason. We want to do well. We attempt to do our best, but sometimes the requirements set before us are too steep to manage and too draining to maintain over four or five years. We want to do our best, but we desperately need your help to make it there.