Volitions Advocate
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Hey guys. I didn't know where this would be most appropriate to post, but since we're all musicians I figured this would be an interesting topic to share and discuss. So I figure this would be the right place.
I've been having some conversations with my peers about our studies, and frankly several of them whine a lot about having to do stuff they don't want to learn about.
My response is to suck it up and stop being a baby, because you're in university dammit... but some of them see it differently, and have managed to get some things changed by whining to the right people.
So I decided to email the chair of the program. Our program is new. I'm a 2nd year student, in the 2nd year it has been offered and already some things have changed. thankfully nothing changed in a negative way when you read my letter, but I'm worried it might.
I'll just skip explaining my issues and let you read the letter I wrote, I'd like to hear your thoughts and get some feedback.
Note: Rolf is the chair of the program, and Ian and Thilo are professors that are teaching me.
Please, discuss your views.
I've been having some conversations with my peers about our studies, and frankly several of them whine a lot about having to do stuff they don't want to learn about.
My response is to suck it up and stop being a baby, because you're in university dammit... but some of them see it differently, and have managed to get some things changed by whining to the right people.
So I decided to email the chair of the program. Our program is new. I'm a 2nd year student, in the 2nd year it has been offered and already some things have changed. thankfully nothing changed in a negative way when you read my letter, but I'm worried it might.
I'll just skip explaining my issues and let you read the letter I wrote, I'd like to hear your thoughts and get some feedback.
Note: Rolf is the chair of the program, and Ian and Thilo are professors that are teaching me.
Dear Rolf:
I'm really glad that the 2nd year of studies has finally started. All summer I was really itching to get back into the work and I can really tell that we're starting to get into the thick of it.
I'm happy that you have such an open door policy with concerns that all of us students have and I'm emailing you because I've got a concern I wanted to share with you and some of the faculty, Although I'm not sure if you can even really call it a concern because there isn't really anything I'm asking you to do or change. So thank you for humoring me and listening to my thoughts.
Since coming back this fall for studies I have had a handful of conversations with fellow students about the nature of our degree. These weren't planned conversations or debates but they came up while discussing some of the things we are learning in our classes this semester.
Everybody is excited about the new Studio, and I am no different. But I've been hearing a lot of comments such as "why would you take an audio engineering program if you're not going to be an audio engineer?" and the like. Today in class helping some classmates with a MaxMSP patch I was met with a bit of frustration and questions like "how does this help me write music or be a better musician?"
I realize that the physics and the math and the computer programming is difficult and I sympathize with the students who don't have much interest or background in those areas. But I think this program is so much more than simply making us into the next batch of audio engineers for recording music that just happen to have a university level understanding of Music theory. The music conservatory part of our degree is important and will be useful to us in the future both in terms of using our expertise and gaining employment, but I'm sure it was not intended to be the ONLY edge we have on people who can go to Vancouver to get a 2 year audio engineering diploma.
The reason I am bringing this is up is because I really enjoy the math and the physics and the computer programming, and as excited as I am about getting the chance to learn about the equipment in W700 and using it to record school related projects as well as some of my own projects, I know that my best work in the program will probably be done elsewhere.
I've been working on some software prototypes which I've gotten some help from Ian and Thilo, and I think I am most definately a student who has joined the Digital Audio Arts program to be something other than an Audio Engineer. And I think the classes available reflect that direction. And even if somebody here wants to go full bore into the Audio Engineering side of things where they are producing music and recording bands, ensembles and artists, they still need to take other important aspects involved, even if it isn't something they will use practically in their field, Just like Math students have to take Computer Programming which is Computer Science, and Logic which is Philosophy, Or Political science students who have to take Sociology. We are a university after all and these are the things which make us the best of the best when we graduate, to prove that we put forth the effort rather than just doing the minimum for what we feel we need to know.
I'm assuming for the most part you would agree with me, I just wanted to share my feelings because I feel a little bit isolated in that I may be the only person in the program that is absolutely interested in the math formulas, and the physics, and the computer science involved, and I'd really hate to lose out on opportunities for being the minority in the program. I would assume you wouldn't cancel classes that I would be interested in taking, but I know that a lot of students want an easier and more "relevant" course load to their interests, and I suppose I'm just writing to ask you to stand firm in what the program should represent, and not allow complaints of difficulty or supposed irrelevance to derail the program from its intended purpose.
To be told by a classmate that if I want to "take a physics class then go take a physics class, because this is supposed to be a music class" greatly discourages me if most of my peers feel this way and have even a small amount of sway over the faculty that continues to plan and organize this program for the future.
Obviously I can take what my classmates say about this with a grain of salt, I just wanted to voice my concern about it because if enough voices get together about a subject, they can usually make a change, and I'd hate for a change in that direction to affect my education adversely.
Even though I don't plan on being the next Quincy Jones or Peter Gabriel, I'm still taking the studio and audio production classes.
Thanks for listening, I hope I wasn't too bland or presumptuous.
Curtis
Please, discuss your views.