High School Students Sample Music Program in Interactive Workshop

More than 30 music students from 10 Western New York high schools visited Rockwell Hall on October 30 to sample master classes, participate in ensembles, and meet with Music Department faculty during the second annual “So You Want to Be a Music Major?” workshop.

Among them were 18 students from the Buffalo Academy for the Visual and Performing Arts (BAVPA), led by music teacher Jared Tinkham, a 2015 graduate who frequented the music-filled studios of Rockwell Hall until very recently.

“It was fun to be back and see the faculty again,” said Tinkham, who transferred to Buffalo State as a music education major in 2012.

BAVPA hired Tinkham to teach guitar and music theory in September. When he heard Buffalo State was offering its shadowing day again, he encouraged his students to participate. They not only wanted to go, they wanted to go as a group with Tinkham chaperoning.

“They had a blast,” Tinkham said. “It was so interactive, they really got a lot out of each class, whether it was guitar-related or not. I was impressed with how well the event was organized.”

In early 2014, Emily Boyce, associate professor and chair of music, reached out to music teachers in six districts to have students experience the program during a daylong interactive workshop. As a result, about a dozen high school students came to campus last October.

It was so successful, Boyce decided to replicate and expand the effort this year.

“Music teachers and students have been receptive. It’s a terrific way to expose potential music majors to our program,” Boyce said. “Rather than just taking a tour and peeking into classrooms, these students get to interact with our students and faculty members, asking questions about what we offer and how they might fit into the program.”

At least one high school visitor last fall auditioned for a spot in the program this year, Boyce said.

Tinkham also noted that one of the seniors he teaches plans to enroll in Buffalo State next fall and another two are seriously considering it.