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Wayne State University added two pianos to the undergraduate library and the Purdy-Kresge library last week, leaving some music students wondering if practice rooms will be expanded on campus this year.
The WSU Libraries and Music Department have added digital pianos to the collaboration rooms of both libraries, which are available to all WSU students.
Serena Vaquilar, director of the School of Performing and Communication Arts library, said the library’s rehearsal room is a learning space for music students and students interested in music.
“We wanted to be able to provide space not only for music students, but for everyone in the college community who wanted to use these pianos but might not have time for extra classes,” Vaquilar said.
The library’s piano will accommodate students who cannot join the music department but still want to practice music, said Paul Bishop, the music department’s academic services officer.
“That’s where the idea came in, trying to accommodate some students who weren’t going to be at departmental events, but still trying to provide a place they could go,” Bishop said.
Claire Hall, a music business major, said the new space could make rehearsals easier for students who live farther from Old Main.
“I think it’s a really cool idea,” Hall said. “It’s easier for students who don’t live next to Old Main, and it’s a convenient alternative to practice.”
In accordance with the practice room policy, there are 23 practice rooms and one recording studio within the Old Main for students taking at least one music class. Each room has a piano, chairs and music stand.Bishop said all students can take music lessons, and then students must apply online Use the OneCard to enter the Old Main’s practice room.
All WSU students can access the library piano by reservation online During library hours, it is open longer than the old main practice room.
Vaquilar says students are encouraged to wear headphones when using the digital piano.
“Even if UGL doesn’t have a noise rule, we don’t necessarily want the whole ensemble to come, because that would disrupt the rest of everyone’s study time, but I think we’re open to adjusting within reason,” Vaquilar said. “We just want to see until some people use them first.”
Music students are a priority for the Old Main practice room, Bishop said, because funding is required to maintain the piano and practice room.
“What people don’t realize is — with a piano, once you buy it, you have to maintain it,” Bishop said. “I have to decide every week which pianos can be tuned and which can’t. That’s why everything in the department can be very stressful, and we want to work hard to preserve these resources for students who are actively engaged.”
Hall said she noticed that the old main practice room could do with some renovations.
“Sometimes the piano is out of tune or broken, but I’ve noticed they’ve been fixing it,” she said. “One thing that has nothing to do with the practice room, but what I’m hoping to fix is that there’s been a leak outside the practice room since I’ve been here. I go through it every day to get into a room.”
Old Main’s practice room needed new floors, carpet, new acoustic panels and a replacement piano, Bishop said.
music Despite the need for renovations, the practice room is adequate for music students to practice, said student assistant William Carey — saying the library could give more students the opportunity to rehearse on campus.
“I believe (Old Main) facilities are well maintained and people can practice consistently in these rooms,” Carey said. “The library provides another practice space for music students, as well as a place for non-music students to play and practice.”
Bishop said it was possible to expand practice rooms and music technology to libraries in the future, but any future efforts would require support from students and administration.
“When you can get funding, can actually put forward a proposal, have a vision, and then have administrative support, you can really accomplish a lot of things,” he said. “But all those moving parts have to come into play. It can’t be just me. Got ideas with Serena . . . it would be nice to have support from students and DOSO . . .”
All WSU students can access the library piano by reservation online During library hours.
Shawntay Lewis is The South End’s Arts and Entertainment Editor.she can be Artsandentertainmenttse@gmail.com.
Cover photo courtesy of Shawntay Lewis.
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