Music majors at Fresno City College face a challenging balance each semester, juggling a demanding load of coursework, concert rehearsals, and auditions alongside general education classes and extracurricular activities.
FCC offers a wide range of associate degrees in the musical arts that a person can choose from such as piano, vocals, guitar, and wind instruments, among others.
Like every associate degree within FCC, certain prerequisites must be taken to study music, whereas in this major it has to be Music Theory and Ear Training classes.
Music majors must decide each semester, just like all students on campus, whether to be full-time or part-time students.
They have coursework that varies in units, from general classes worth three to five units to music classes giving one to three units.
Paul Lucckesi, the director of jazz studies at FCC, who teaches jazz-related and general music classes, said some classes are worth one unit because instructors are trying to fit them in to get an AA or an Associate Degree for Transfer.
Students also have the opportunity to receive feedback from invited professionals, providing real-world experience within the classroom.
Quinn Cole, a second-year music major, found it beneficial to focus solely on taking music or general classes.
In preparation for auditions, students typically spend a week rehearsing, whether in designated rehearsal labs or practicing independently.
Auditions are vital for students because they allow them to stay in an orchestra or band, obtain scholarships, or increase their artistic development.
After the auditions, the same instructors analyze each performance in detail to consider who will be in the class or band.
If a student has not been selected to continue in the band or class, students can contact the instructors in person or via email, depending on the instructor’s contact criteria.
Jonah Schiotis, a first-year full-time jazz student, takes advantage of the long gaps between his classes to practice the saxophone or some other instrument to improve his skills and prepare if there is an audition.
In their circumstances, music majors have developed several strategies to balance their time for courseload, rehearsals, auditions and maintaining a healthy well-being.
Like many students, Schiotis tries to reduce the work in the fall and spring semesters.
“One way it could help with that is by taking summer classes to decrease the workload,” Schiotis said.
Some classes are short-term or online which can offer a decrease in workload for some students.
Jorge Chavez, a first-year music major, has opted to lower the number of units that he is taking to maintain a lower stress level.
Music professors mentioned the importance of a balanced life where students must manage their music schedule and daily activities.
Brandon Bascom, a professor of piano and general music classes, mentioned that students first have to examine their priorities.
Lucckesi mentioned the necessary activities a student must do to stay healthy, things as basic as not drinking water, not getting enough rest or overworking can wear a student down.
“For music students here, there’s a finite amount of time to get as much as they can out of education. So there are a lot of opportunities,” Lucckesi said. “I think it’s important to have hobbies that are outside of music.”
Students like Schiotis have found activities outside of school to do on the weekends to clear their minds a bit. Cole finds more time during the week due to work.
First-year music student Estefani Jiménez Hernández has found a taste for other types of arts such as painting and fashion. For her, having hobbies outside of school has helped a lot for her mental health.
“I did notice a decline in my mental health my first semester coming because I was new and I had no idea what I was doing, and so my mental health was not at its best,” Hernández said. “It’s gotten better.”
Despite having such a busy schedule and having to carefully manage their timetable, some students have not forgotten the beauty with which they see this career.
“I love my major to death. I love everybody I hang around with, and we’re like a big family like we all know each other,” Cole said.
FCC instructors also said people have a passion for music.
“It’s people’s passion, it’s people’s hobby,” Lucckesi said.
Knowing how busy a music student can be, Chavez mentioned the importance of staying true to oneself when it comes to creating music.
“Always do what your heart wants to do with your music,” Chavez said.
