To the editor,
Re: Vancouver Island University may cut the music due to budget troubles, March 8.
I am a student in the music department at VIU. I have observed a high degree of excellence and dedication to their craft among students in the program.
There are many benefits to a music education. Whether as a hobby or a serious pursuit, music enriches lives and opens doors to life-long learning and creativity. The work ethic and dedication required to achieve excellence in music carries over to other areas of one’s life, an effect that continues over a lifetime.
Music majors tend to become very confident people because they have a lot of experience performing in front of others. The confidence gained from completing undergraduate studies in music will translate to other areas of life. Making music with someone is a bonding experience that can lead to life-long collaborations and strong friendships.
A music degree will make for a better, more marketable musician and can lead to future employment in the music industry; with a wide array of career paths and employment opportunities.
The VIU music program is well-known and highly regarded for its high degree of excellence and highly trained instructors. Respectfully, I am not sure that those in positions of authority to make these cuts are completely aware of the huge impact over several generations that the VIU music program has had and continues to have in the local community and the greater community at large.
The fact that enrolment was discontinued in 2020 has led to a very small student base in the program. Curtailing enrolment has had the effect of devastating the program, which to me, respectfully, appears to be intentional. This can still be reversed with the launch of the new planned diploma program in the fall, along with suitable promotion and notification across the country. It is still a great option for students who want an affordable and accessible music program, from which they can either launch their career in the music field, or go on to higher music education elsewhere.
I personally am very distressed by the possibility of the end of the music program. In fact, it isn’t an exaggeration to say that if it ends, I will be heart-broken. I have spent many happy and productive hours in the music building. It has also changed my life, giving me the confidence to pursue my interests in various areas of music. I believe that the loss to the community will be immeasurable.
Lynne Coverdale, Nanaimo
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Save VIU’s music program
To the editor,
It is very sad that VIU is considering the discontinuation of the music programs.
For decades, the area has produced musicians of the highest calibre. Nanaimo is known across North America as a place where the highest quality of music is heard. Nanaimo secondary school music programs have a reputation of excellence nationally and internationally.
Quite simply, young people here need a vibrant post-secondary music program to move forward in their music studies.
I studied piano and trombone from a very young age, started my career as a bass trombonist at age 18, and during my twenties I went to university for a degree in music. After 20 years in Toronto as a professional musician, I moved my family back to the West Coast and brought my considerable knowledge and experience to VIU to teach and conduct for 25 years.
The program at VIU has many facets. The two-year diploma program is well-suited to the needs of students just out of high school and adults working in pop/rock bands in pubs who want to upgrade their skill set without committing to the expense of a four-year degree program. They are given options to go further at VIU or other post-secondary institutions where they get credit for the courses they take in the diploma program towards a degree.
It took the music faculty many years to develop and get approval for the bachelor in jazz studies program. Once it got started, this program became very successful – it was well-suited to Nanaimo as the secondary schools have had very strong jazz programs for many years.
To cancel the VIU music program now would be tragic. There is a renewed interest in music in the B.C. schools but there is a shortage of teachers. It is time to support the music programs at VIU to train young musicians, some of whom will become school music teachers and some of whom will go out in the world to perform. Cancelling the music program at VIU will break that continuum.
John Capon, Gabriola Island
The views and opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the writer and do not reflect the views of Black Press Media or the Nanaimo News Bulletin.
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