MUSIC WING
DESERVES AN
UPDATE TOO
By Priya Pindiprolu
The music wing is a very prevalent part of our school. It hosts some of our favorite performances, such as Winterfest, The Musical and Springfest. Also, it is a place of learning new skills such as composition, music theory, and jazz improvisation.
The music wing has also faced some small challenges with the fact that it is pretty tiny. There is a chorus room, a band room, a room for orchestral cases and the auditorium. It gets pretty crowded during first period and fourth period, when several groups are rehearsing. Everyone in the music wing has hoped for an extension, to provide more space.
With the building of the turf complete and ready for the grand opening, the music wing will be able to begin preparations for a new addition. With the new space, the music wing should have an orchestra rehearsal space. As of now, the orchestra rehearsing in the auditorium. For the most part, it is very convenient, but when the Fall Play and Spring Musical roll around, the orchestra crams into the chorus room and the chorus rehearses in the seats of the auditorium. This leaves us with a slight logistical problem.
In addition to the orchestra rehearsal space, students should have access to a computer lab with music notation software and keyboards. Many students elect to submit compositions to The NYSSMA Composition Conference and The Poetry Music Art and Dance Celebration in spring, and with the help of more computers for learning and notating purposes would make life much easier.
With the abundance of music that students are given to learn, the practice rooms are constantly in use. Currently there are three practice rooms that are open to anyone that is a part of an ensemble, whether it is chorus, orchestra or band.
At a district faculty meeting, our superintendent, Dr. Martzloff, announced plans to renovate and expand the music wings in all three high schools. An addition of practice rooms would benefit the music wing, instrumentally. Not only do students use the practice rooms during lessons, but they are also used during free periods.
More practice rooms will help East students prepare more for auditions and concerts. And, if people are able to use each subject’s office to get extra help, the music students should also be given the opportunities to use more practice rooms, to receive more help and to excel.
