University of Michigan - Michiganensian Yearbook (Ann Arbor, MI)

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University Students Rattle and Hum Towards Excellence From a non-musician ' s perspective, the School of Music may have seemed like a building that housed a sophisticated (albeit somewhat chaotic) collection of voices and instruments. In actuality, this collective array of sounds did exist and was organized under the pretext of a rehearsal or exercise. Every day, music students arduously strived to excel in areas ranging from voice performance to music education. Indeed, the self-assured musicians who performed on stage were products of years of learning and self-exploration at the School of Music. ' I I It IVTLJSI Perhaps the primary subject that first-year School of Music students learned involved exploring their respective fields and deciding on a specialized area within that field. Being a freshman, I expected to be a little lost here, but it didn ' t happen that way, said Ryan White, School of Music first-year student. I like the atmosphere; I don ' t feel like a number. Right now, I ' m just trying to figure out what I want to do. Voice performance gives me an opportunity to study the basicstheory, history, technique and go from there. Extracurricular activities helped many students identify their musical talents and interests. School of Music sophomore Michael Budowitz decided on a music concentration after serving as a substitute for his church ' s organist. Since that time, he discovered some unique features of the instrument: The organ makes a lot of noise. That ' s one of the cooler things about it. It ' s also probably the most flexible instrument. However, he also identified some challenges in his field. One of my personal missions is to get away from the association with church music, said Budowitz. Since people don ' t realize that there are twentieth century organ pieces it ' s difficult to get people to listen to the organ. One School of Music junior made a decision about her music career after taking certain classes. Her original intentions were to teach choir, but she found a different age group more enjoyable to teach. My first education class on elementary methods involved teaching third graders. They were such a blast! I told them to clap and they were clapping even before I finished my instructions to them, said Lainie Nabb. By taking intro classes on winds, percussion, and violin, Nabb discovered that she wanted to teach elementary band. In addition to its broad curriculum, the School of Music featured a prestigious and well-respected faculty. The fall opera conductor Professor Martin Katz brought a friend to a performance of Dialogue of the Carmelites. His friend was renowned opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa, who appeared backstage after the performance much to the surprise of cast members. No one expected to see her there. We were all astounded and stood around kind of dazed until Martin Katz said, ' You know, she ' s just a person. Go and talk to her. 1 said Deena Hausner, School of Music junior. By Miriam Yabut 120 Academics

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tudent volunteers helped keep children occupied with arts and crafts projects at the Pound House Center for Children in Ann Arbor. -Caroline Ko Quiet times during reading hour . ' d student volunteers reflect on the difference that they were making. -Caroline Ko Hit X Academics 119

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he University Symphony Orchestra provided frills, thrills, and chills during the annual Halloween Concert (left), -courtesy of the Music School edicated students found that focus and determination in their chosen field provided enjoyable results (below right). -courtesy of the Music School his presentation of Our Town , the classic play written by Tennessee Williams, typified most music theater presentations (below left). -courtesy of the Music School Academics 121 ! j H i. , II,. | ,1