With the recent announcement of the new Adams Center for Music, students have already started talking about their opinions; but they’re not all saying the same things. Some, like Ana Larsen and Boston Lamb, are sharing positive opinions. While others like Courtney Johnson are not sharing the same positive feelings.
Courtney Johnson is a Communication Arts major with a minor in Sports Media graduating in 2028. Although she is part of the Adams School, she is not too keen on the announcement of the Adams Center. On the other hand, Ana Larsen, a Music major graduating in 2028 shares her take on the need for this new addition. Lastly, Boston Lamb who is not in the Adams school, but rather is a Philosophy, Pre Law major graduating in 2028, expresses his positive impression on the new addition, although he does not directly benefit from it.
One of the most popular reasons students have negative feelings towards the upcoming addition of the Adams Center stems from a lack of understanding the need for the building. “With this building, they’re getting a new recital hall. We already have a recital hall.” Johnson shares. While this is true, Larsen explains how the current spaces for musical performances are available, but not always adequate for the needs of the performers and the audience. For one, “acoustically it’ll be a lot better.” Larsen explains that when the orchestra, for example, performs in the chapel (which is currently the only space for them), it becomes difficult for the performers to hear each other and thus, perform at their best. In addition, due to the design of the chapel, audience members do not receive the best sound quality. “Because it’s not a space that’s built for performances like that. It’s built for chapels. And so the acoustics are not good for [performances].”
Larson goes into further detail about how the new Adams Center will meet the need for better quality for audience members. She explains how currently, the recital hall located in Phillips often fills up quickly and does not have enough room for all the people that would like to participate in music events. “We host a lot of events in the Phillips Recital hall that, for example, like the jazz concerts that are always sold out, or, there’s not enough seating to fit everybody that wants to be there.” The new Adams Center will have significantly more seating, allowing “more people to be able to enjoy the arts at Gordon when there maybe before there wasn’t capacity for that.”
Not only will the new building provide higher quality, performance level acoustics and adequate seating, Larsen explains an additional perk of the newly designed performance space. The new performance hall is designed to be round with elevated rows of seating circling the stage. “Everybody’s around the performer. Everybody has a good view of what’s happening. It feels more like everybody’s together.” Larson expresses.
But regardless of the amount of perks the new Adams Center will provide for musicians and their audiences, Johnson voices the popular opinion that other departments deserve perks too. As a member of the Adams School, Johnson explains how she feels the music department already has a lot more attributes than other areas of the school. “I think that [the money] could definitely be put more towards the other aspects of the arts… Especially theater, because theater doesn’t even have a stage.” Johnson states. “We already have a huge building dedicated to just music” how come the music department gets two buildings when other departments don’t even have one?
Lamb agrees that music is heavily pushed here at Gordon, but he argues that it’s deserved. “It’s a good thing that it is overemphasized as opposed to other departments,
because it is one of those things that it’s a big field here.” Lamb explains that it can feel like most students are involved one way or another with music on campus, whether it be as a major, a minor, member of a band, orchestra, or choir, or even as part of worship bands through the chapel. “[The music department] definitely does come with a lot of perks, I suppose, but at the same time it is a popular field to go in… I think it’s great that they have those opportunities.” He makes the argument that everyone on campus benefits from the facilities they get. These spaces and “perks” allow them to have spaces to practice, which in turn leads to quality performances everyone can benefit from if they choose.
Lamb does express one possible concern over the new building. “I would love for this not to add to my tuition because if it does, then I’d say it’s probably bad”. Johnson expresses similar feelings. However, both students understand that the building is being funded through a generous donation by the Adams family and thus, shouldn’t add any additional cost for students.
The last issue Johnson brought up is related to how long construction is planning on taking. “It’s going to be inconvenient for construction purposes because we’re gonna have to walk around that to go to our classes and to go to Lane or even to go to Phillips.” She expresses how this is especially frustrating to think about because students like her or older will have to deal with the construction for the next several years, but will graduate before its completion. “Even though it will be done after I graduate. I think it’ll be quite nice.” Larson adds. “I’m very excited about it.” She explains that she’s sad she won’t be able to perform in it, but there may be alumni events which she looks forward to possibly performing in. “I’m excited for the people who will get to experience it because it’ll be very nice.”
The process of getting to the completion of the Adams Center for Music will be long and possibly frustrating, but the value will be high. Yes, the music department already has a building and other resources, but the addition of a new building is not to say that other departments don’t deserve resources too. And it’s not unnecessary. There is a legitimate need that is currently unsatisfied without this center. This new building will allow for higher quality music related spaces and events that everyone will benefit from, not just music students.
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