Bring Back the Music Major!

By: Samara C George

The Salemite. [Winston-Salem, N.C.], Nov. 25, 1920. North Carolina Newspapers, North Carolina Digital Heritage Center, https://newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/2015236777/1920-11-25/ed-1/seq-1/ 

Once upon a time, there was a college located in the heart of Winston-Salem. This college had a rich musical culture, informed by years upon years of musical traditions. There were pianos in every practice room, and they were all in tune. There was a beautiful and varied music library, containing devices — CD players, a computer, maybe even a record player — to listen to a wide array of music stretched across time. Of course, fables of this mystical place floated across the world. Tales of a thriving musical education program, a school orchestra, and challenging classes offered every semester for all levels of music. Young musicians from far and wide would travel to this college, seeking out this fabled musical promised land…

Salem College used to be this promised land.  Our music program (especially our music education program) used to be known for its quality of education. It’s evident in old editions of Sights & Insights, course catalogues, alumni records that the School of Music was both diverse and sizable. Now, we don’t even offer a major in music, much less a music education program. It’s not too late, though! There are still quite a number of Salem students who have an interest in music, but become discouraged due to lesson fees and lack of specialized classes. On the accessibility of music lessons and classes at Salem, one student remarked: “When I came to Salem, I took one look at the organ and Hanes [auditorium] and thought to myself ‘I want to learn to play that.’ I think it is accessible if you want to take the lessons, … but 400 dollars every semester to learn? Sitting in the basement of the FAC, it feels like I’m sitting in the hollow ghost of music… we used to put the FAC basement to work!” 

The lack of a music major dissuades students who are serious about music from pursuing a degree here at Salem. Even those of us who can’t read music or play an instrument have expressed interest in music! Music has always been a part of the Salem story. An edition of The Salemite from November 25th, 1920, tells the tale of students questioning the choice to hire an orchestra over a Thanksgiving dinner. These students, said to be “infected with a malignant case of the Salem spirit,” were passionate about the school orchestra and promoting student-created music. 

Oh, Salem, musical Salem! So many of us harbor hidden musical talents which have never had the chance to see the light of day. Brilliant musicians, I see you out there! We need music! We need live music! More public music! More students! Music! Music! MUSIC!!!!!!!! And I’m not talking about the cafe blasting horrible pop remixes at 2 in the morning, or the speaker inside of the Student Center Great Room also doing that. Maybe that’s an added perk of us all mysteriously losing access to the 24/7 Student Center — we don’t have to be subjected to “Trumpets” by Jason Derulo followed by “One Kiss” by Calvin Harris and Dua Lipa, on repeat for hours and hours until someone with better taste comes to put us all out of our misery. 

Please… advocate for more on-campus music! Music is the food of love, after all. Play on, musicians, play on!