Instructor Kai Narezo teaches Senior Recital pre-recital online. Photo courtesy of Dr. Scott Morris.
by Angelica Mozol, Social Media Manager
As COVID-19 has proceeded to change the course of history and society as we know it, it also just so happened to change the course of classes on campuses. More specifically, the music department. Many concerts and future performances were completely changed due to social distancing and the stay at home order.
There were many courses that had no issues switching online such as the music history and GE lecture classes, but the challenge posed with the ensemble and activity classes.
The department has nine ensembles: Early Music Collegium, Chamber Singers, Jubilee Choir, Pep Band, Jazz Ensemble, Band, Orchestra, Chorus, and Guitar Ensemble. The solution was to have directors take action by assigning musical excerpts to students who then showed what they have learned via Zoom. The focus has shifted more on score analysis and the historical context of music. Some groups such as the guitar ensemble and early music have been rehearsing through video and audio streaming with varying degrees of success.
Activity courses such as musicianship sequence along with classroom piano, guitar, and voice faced similar issues. Students taking music education required method courses varying in strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, and marching band techniques which was solved by using Zoom to demonstrate the learned techniques. The department was also able to purchase electric keyboards for students who did not have access to one at home.
The Chair of the Department of Music, Dr. Scott Morris, explained how the faculty were already experienced in conducting Skype lessons and have done them for years in their own home studios so the private music lessons came easy.
“Several of our instructors, such as Kai Narezo, have professional-level home studios complete with video cameras, lighting, and high-end audio and have already mastered the art of distance learning and instrumental instruction,” Morris said.
Requirements were adjusted just like the other courses at CSUDH, although some have become difficult to readjust such as the music education students visiting K-12 schools for classroom observations. The solution that instructors had was to have students watch videos of how classes are conducted, but it doesn’t provide the same experience as actually being there.
Most ensembles have performed prior to the switch to online so those students will be graded on the work that was already done. All guest artist concerts and masterclasses have been postponed to fall along with any recruiting events like Guitar Day at Dominguez. Guitar Day was planned out to have about 150 students from local community colleges and high schools on campus for a full day of performances and classes.
Morris explained how this was very disappointing having to postpone the event, but also served as motivation to plan big for the following year.
“I have been so impressed by our music students and faculty members,” Morris said. “They have stayed quite positive and showed so much creativity and flexibility in this crisis. I’m not really surprised since these are necessary traits for musicians and artists. We can’t wait to get back on stage and hope to see everyone in the Toro family at one of our events this fall! ”
The Senior Recital Series was the bane of where the brainstorming ensued for the department as the capstone of the music degree is a one-hour performance by students live on campus. There had been 21 planned recitals for this semester so what Morris and instructors planned was to give students a choice between streaming their recital or wait until fall to play for an audience in Laser Recital Hall. The outcome was that about half will perform via stream and others will return in the fall.
“I get daily emails from students who are passing the time at home by working on new music, writing songs, home recording sessions, collaborating remotely with other musicians,” Morris said. “It is really inspiring!”