Appalachian State University - Rhododendron Yearbook (Boone, NC)

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Any department, whose chair- nan says he isn ' t surprised that someone is doing their homework n the freight elevator, has got to De a colorful, if not a little wacky, Jepartment. And if that homework s practicing arpegios on your cello, JO much more the wacky. The vhole department is humorous, it ' s )ne gigantic laugh, chuckles Dr. =rank Carroll, Chairman of ASU ' s Vlusic Department. I don ' t mean hat in the negative sense, I mean t ' s a pretty happy crowd. There ' s something usually humorous going )n all the time. Benches for students to sit on that they usually 3nd up sleeping on... Someone jracticing in the elevator doesn ' t surprise me at all. Nothing sur- jrises me anymore. He explained how some student lad just been in requesting per- mission to put an antenna on the oof and use his locker for a CB ■adio base station. Lord knows he music program has as much jpportunity for funny things to lappen as anything could, because )f the very nature of what people ire doing; playing instruments that are subject to human failure, or singing— your voice is subject to failure if you ' re singing. Although sometimes peoole are a little light-hearted in the depart- ment, there is work to be done and the students are really put to the test. Appalachian has turned out some excellent performers and the department has a reputation for being second to none. We have quite a few faculty members who are very fine performers. Any number of our members have experience in symphonies. Carroll explains the goals of the department as paralleling those of the individual student. They have designed majors in Music Mer- chandising, Music Technology, Music Education-Instrumental, Music Education-Vocal, Church Music and an individually-oriented program in performance for stu- dents who just want to be profes- sional musicians. The graduate level options offered by the depart- ment are in Music Education and in Junior College-level teaching. The department offers a wide variety of performing groups for students to gain experience. For vocalists, there is the University Singers-a select group requiring auditions; the Chamber Singers-a small, more-select group also requiring auditions; the University Choral Society-open to townspeople, students and anyone else without an audition; the Opera Workshop; the Men ' s Glee Club and the Women ' s Glee Club. For the string player, the department offers the University Symphony; the University Cham- ber Ensemble; and various smaller groups such as string quartets and the like. B rass, woodwind and percussion players may choose from the Wind Ensemble-an audition group; two large jazz bands; several jazz improvisation and percussion ensembles; the Symphonic Band- growing out of the Marching Band after their season is over; and the Brass Choir. Several miscellaneous groups are also included-bluegrass bands, piano ensembles and others. These performing groups are not limited to music majors. Several excellent members are students in other departments, amateur musicians. The opportunities for personal expression are limited only by the individual ' s time and willingness- there is no limit to the originality and individuality produced when combining dedication, humor, enthusiasm, talent and hard work with the tremendous nun.ber of varied courses and performing groups in the Department of Music. ri ACADEMICS TODAY, May 1976 59

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The speech department has had a dilemma to face. Due to the inconsistency of Boone weather (and other variables), they still don ' t know if they ' ll be in their new building next year. For these extreme optimists, next fall will witness the move, but for the realistic optimists, next spring will be the date. In the meantime, classes must be scheduled in both places, even though the facilities in the new building will be much larger. There will be a learning laboratory with audio-visual devices that will afford the class- room more room. There will also be two TV studios for students to practice in. The speech department includes speech communication, theater, and broadcasting. In all these ' areas, the hands on approach is taken, with emphasis on laboratory and co-curricular work. The broad- casting area has recently devel- oped TV capabilities; the students IFFALA HIAN STATf V 5fFFCH... have Channel 6 for use in student programs, especially news pro- grams. The speech communica- tions area works with other depart- ments on campus trying to meet their communication needs. The major thrust in this area is to provide a proficiency program for teacher certification. For many students from small towns all around the state, there is a lot to be learned about the English langu- age. One can ' t teach speech until some of that Southern drawl has been eliminated. In the theater area, the hands on approach is apparent in the work of the children ' s theater. The readers theater has been active this year also. There are always numerous productions going on; as more and more people are going into theater. Productions directed by Linda Welden, Ed Pilkington and Susan Day have made the Speech Department valuable to the entire campus population. rj ACADEMICS TODAY, May 1976 61