Monday, June 15, 1998
Passionate sounds from Schoenberg permeate campus
MUSIC: Bruins in
three majors will always have music in their lives
By Jeremy Engel
Daily Bruin Contributor
A squirrel jumps onto the bricks surrounding the inverted
fountain and bites into a leftover sandwich morsel. A few feet
away, a physics student sits, studying quantum mechanics. On the
other side of the fountain, two economics students quietly discuss
capital allocation.
Then they hear it. Softly at first, then building louder and
louder, big-band jazz music comes from Schoenberg Hall.
The squirrel stops chewing. The physics student looks up from
his book. The economics students quit their discussion and aim
their ears toward the sound.
The squirrel can’t help it. He starts tapping his paw to the
beat and bobbing his head.
Next, the physics student slams his book shut and yells, "Play
it! Play it!" Finally, overcome by the sound, the economics
students kick off their shoes and dance into the fountain.
Music always plays at Schoenberg Hall, home of the music,
musicology and ethnomusicology departments. Undergraduates majoring
in these fields at UCLA have devoted years to their passion for
music, a passion that will continue beyond graduation.
"I can’t really say anything specific that I’ll be doing in a
year, but without a doubt, I’m certain I’ll be doing something in
music," Peter Thomas says, a graduating senior in the
ethnomusicology department.
As graduating Bruins of every major prepare to leave their
undergraduate lives behind and find the next goal to tackle,
students of music, musicology and ethnomusicology know that,
although they face new challenges, music will be a part of whatever
they do.
"In the long run, I want to teach ethno, emphasizing in Indian
music," Timothy Preece says, also a graduating ethnomusicology
student. "I’m planning on grad school."
"Graduate school is the next step for a lot of students," Alfred
Bradley says, undergraduate advisor for nearly 300 students in the
departments of music, musicology and ethnomusicology. "Sure, they
express anxiety about what they’re going to do when they get out of
school, but I have to remind them that they chose this major
because it’s something they have to do and are passionate
about."
Music, musicology and ethnomusicology students get an education
based around music performance, research, theory and history. On a
typical afternoon at Schoenberg Hall, one classroom might be filled
with students analyzing Celtic folk music and another with students
learning the history of opera. Meanwhile, a class on Afro-Cuban
drumming might be banging away in the courtyard. It comes as no
surprise with such a broad musical education that graduates find
work in a variety of music-related jobs.
"A lot of former students teach music at high schools and
elementary schools," Bradley says. "The film composer, James
Horner, went here. So did Brian Asawa, a countertenor at the Santa
Fe Opera."
"Some are recording assistants or have assorted record industry
jobs," Bradley continues. "One student is a violist with the New
World Symphony in Florida."
Despite the success many music, musicology and ethnomusicology
graduates find, some people still look down upon the majors.
"People say, ‘Music, what’s that? You bust out with your drums
in class?’" Preece says.
Senior ethnomusicology student Gillian Efros also feels that the
departments based in Schoenberg don’t get much respect from
outsiders. "Everyone on this campus is probably laughing, like,
‘Ha, you’re in music! What the hell are you going to do?’" she
says.
"A lot of people have that philosophy, ‘Oh, music, where’s it
going to go?’" Thomas says. "My mom had a little of that for a
while. Every parent has that feeling when their kids are entering
an uncharted field. The percentages of you being financially stable
go up when you decide to be something like a stockbroker, but for
the most part everyone’s been really supportive."
As UCLA’s music students set their sights on life after
graduation, they use their passion for music as a guide.
"Any diploma from UCLA will help in a job hunt," Efros says,
"but there’s no point to getting stuck in a career if you’re going
to hate it. I’m sure I’ll keep it up with music, because I’ve been
doing it all my life."
Efros specializes in vocals, Thomas performs on the drums and
Preece studies tabla drums from India.
Although their long-term plans haven’t been determined, these
three students know what will come immediately after
graduation.
"I’m going to Delhi University in India to take some music
classes," Preece says.
Thomas also plans to head overseas. "I’m going to Europe for two
months, then back to the U.S., when I’ll drive across the country
and return to L.A. in late September."
Currently interning at Atlantic Records, Thomas may continue
with his music industry position upon his return to Los Angeles.
Likewise, he may choose to continue teaching drums at Washington
High School in Inglewood.
Meanwhile, Efros plans to take it easy.
"I want to take a year off and figure out what I want to do,"
Efros says. "I keep falling back into music whether it be in the
academic or performance aspect, so we’ll see."
While not certain what to expect in the future, graduating
music, musicology and ethnomusicology students know that they will
include music in their lives.
"Besides having a passion for music, they have to learn patience
and discipline," Bradley says. "Nothing happens in this type of
industry overnight."
The squirrel can polish off his sandwich, the physics student
can open his book again and the economics students can dry off
their feet and get back into capital allocation. But for those
graduating from the departments of music, musicology and
ethnomusicology, the music will continue.