An important change for string majors on campus has taken place this semester.
Before the Fall 2011 term, string majors would have been required to enroll in the symphonic or jazz bands or the concert choir as a “large ensemble” course.
As opposed to joining the String Orchestra, students were required to join the other ensembles with which they may not be familiar.
“Students basically had to join Concert Choir to fill the requirement,” said Dawn Chambers, an instructional support assistant.
A music class, Music 40: Applied Music, is where majors get access to private lessons.
“Music 40 is basically the class that defines the music major,” said Goodi Choi, the string orchestra conductor.
In order to take part in the Music 40 class, students must have already taken, or be concurrently enrolled in, any of the large ensemble courses.
Previously, the String Orchestra had failed to meet the 20-student minimum, which is a requirement to be considered a large ensemble.
This is the first semester that the String Orchestra has met this requirement.
“It wasn’t fair to the string major students. They would have to take this class, plus a band or choir class as a prerequisite, while band students only had to take band,” said Choi.