Current Students

• Virtual auditions for Brock University choirs now open to community

  Wednesday, July 14, 2021 | By gminaker

  

  Originally published in The Brock News | WEDNESDAY, JULY 14, 2021 | by Gillian Minaker

  Image caption: Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Associate Professor of Music at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts and Artistic Director of Brock University Choral Activities, is excited for Brock choir auditions to get underway in advance of the fall 2021 season.

  Brock choirs are back this fall and singing a hopeful tune for a busy season of choral activities for the University and wider Niagara community.

  Choir auditions are now open and will be running online throughout the summer for two ensembles: University Choir and Sora Singers.

  University Choir is a mixed voice ensemble for soprano, alto, tenor and bass voices and is open to all members of the Brock community, including students, faculty and staff.

  Sora Singers (formerly the Brock Women’s Choir) is an upper-voice ensemble for anyone with a soprano or alto voice. Auditions for Sora Singers are open to the Brock community as well as the wider Niagara community.

  Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Associate Professor of Music at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) and Artistic Director of Brock University Choral Activities, is hopeful that choir members will be able to sing together in person, pending public health and Brock University protocols.

  “It has been a really tough year and as singers, we are all feeling rusty,” she said. “Building our vocal technique will certainly be the top priority when we convene in the fall to rebuild our singing community.”

  While the past year posed challenges for Brock’s choirs, Rensink-Hoff feels there were key lessons learned through experimentation with digital platforms, which she hopes will be integrated into the program going forward.

  “Because we are all familiar with collaborative opportunities in online formats, this coming year we will be virtually welcoming several composers whose works we will be studying and performing,” she said.

  Diversity and inclusion are also top of mind for Rensink-Hoff as the she plans for the coming season.

  “I am committed to diversifying our performance repertoire and spending more intentional time together exploring the voices of under-represented composers and communities,” she said.

  All audition details and rehearsal times can be found on the Sing at Brock! website. The audition is a two-part process involving a singing recording followed by a meeting over Zoom. Students who are interested can enrol in a choir for credit as a Brock course elective.

  The last day to audition for both the University Choir and Sora Singers will be Monday, Sept. 13.

  Choir rehearsal and performance formats are subject to change and will be delivered in adherence with Brock and public health protocols.

  Tags: Brock University Choral Activities, Choirs, community engagement, Department of Music, humanities, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, MIWSFPA, MUSI, Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Sora Singers, University Choir
  Categories: Alumni, Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised

• Fine and Performing Arts grads poised to shape the future with creative skills

  Monday, June 21, 2021 | By gminaker

  

  Image caption: Soo Myung Oh, at her piano, will graduate with a Bachelor of Music and plans to perform professionally in addition to pursuing teaching performance after completing her degree at Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts. Image credit: Photo by Shannon Peebles, Ventures & Vows Photography.

  Students graduating from Brock’s Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA) are ready to make their mark in the world.

  From creating innovative art in support of social justice causes, to utilizing professional art practices in the mental health field and pursuing careers in live performance bringing joy to audiences, MIWSFPA grads are drawing on their academic experiences and diverse skill sets to propel them forward on their career paths.

  For Ian Ball, who will graduate Friday, June 18 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dramatic Arts and History of Art and Visual Culture, continuing his creative work in digital media is a top priority.

  

  Music graduand Nick Braun will continue to write and record his own music after graduation.

  Ball is currently working with Toronto-based [elephants collective]’s Telethon Telethon! This collaborative project is a monthly digital performance experiment that aims to provide aid to various social justice causes and is currently supporting the Anishnawbe Health Foundation.

  Ball is looking forward to the easing of public health restrictions within the arts when it is safe to do so.

  “I’m hoping I’ll get a chance to develop a follow-up to work I co-created in 2019’s Nuit Blanche in Toronto,” he said.

  Combining his interests in dramatic arts and visual culture, Ball will be pursuing a master’s degree in Cultural Studies at Queen’s University in the fall, with hopes of one day completing a PhD and working in the cultural field.

  As Music graduand Soo Myung Oh looks to the future, she reflects on her time at Brock. The busy mother of three pursued her degree during the day, reserving her evenings for family time.

  “My four years in the Music program were about the process of identifying myself as a musician,” said Oh, who graduates Friday with a Bachelor of Music, Concentration in Music Education and Minor in Applied Linguistics. “Although I played piano for years in my youth, I was completely new to public performance and I had to learn how to play music and deliver it to audiences.”

  Oh fondly remembers the experience of performing in the Recital Hall at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre, adjacent to the MIWSFPA in downtown St. Catharines. Performing on a professional stage was a defining moment for the musician.

  “I can still recall the way the piano sounded as I played, and the interaction between the sound and the air in the hall on that special day. It was simply an amazing experience,” she said.

  After she graduates, Oh will continue to perform professionally and would like to eventually teach performance, inspired by her concentration in Music Education. Her current interest for further study is therapeutic recreation and gerontology.

  “Since my musical experience at Brock started from my own experience of retrieving memories, and my process for preparing my solo piano recital relied heavily on the cognitive process of music and brainwork, I became interested in the connection between the two and implications of aging,” Oh said.

  “My degree has allowed me to write music and produce my own recordings,” Braun said.Nick Braun, who will also graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Music, is excited to continue writing music.

  His studies have given him a unique skill set “to make modern, unique and refreshing music,” he said, adding his style fits somewhere in the alternative rock realm.

  Braun will take some time after graduation to work locally, save money and continue to work on his personal music projects.

  “Between me and my network of friends in the music industry, I will be taking on opportunities to work with various people and explore our creative potential as young artists,” Braun said.

  

  Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture graduand Maya Meyerman is excited to continue her scholarly and creative work in the cultural field and will pursue a graduate certificate in the arts and culture sector at Humber College in September.

  Graduand Maya Meyerman, who will receive her Bachelor of Arts in Studies in Arts and Culture with a concentration in Cultural Management on Friday, discovered her career pathway through diverse experiences within the interdisciplinary program.

  Gaining a critical view of contemporary culture and connecting with the local arts scene led Meyerman to pursue a graduate certificate in Arts Administration and Cultural Management at Humber College.

  “I’m excited to pursue opportunities in Toronto and build upon my experience at Brock,” she said. “The MIWSFPA is such an inspiring place to learn and connect with the arts, and I have made deep connections with the arts community.”

  Meyerman recently produced an arts festival for youth ages 13 to 30 in Kingston and will be spending the summer preparing for next year’s edition.

  “As someone who didn’t want to study just one branch of the arts, the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture and the MIWSFPA provided me with a creative and safe venue to explore my personal interests, introducing me to the many versions of what ‘the arts’ can be,” she said. “I know that it has prepared me to take on the next step towards my career in the arts industry.”

  Visual Arts (VISA) graduand Kendra Bosse has developed her art practice and realized her passion for photography as therapy.

  Bosse, who will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Psychology and Minor in Indigenous Studies, is committed to engaging with her art to positively impact individuals experiencing mental health issues and addiction.

  “After graduation, I will be attending Canadore College to study mental health and addictions counselling to gain experience in the field before pursuing graduate school,” she said.

  Bosse and fellow VISA graduand Cree Tylee are capping off their final year at Brock with a double exhibition “treasured | (A)part,” currently on view virtually in the VISA Gallery on the first floor of the MIWSFPA until Monday, July 5.

  

  Relationship as Deep as The Ocean, 2021, Cyanotype on Cotton (24 in x 36in) by Kendra Bosse as featured in the double exhibition “treasured” and “(A)part.”

  The bodies of work were developed under the supervision of Visual Arts Chair and Associate Professor Amy Friend for the students’ independent studies courses in the Visual Arts.

  “The double exhibition of treasured and (A)part was a cathartic way to finish the end of an unconventional graduating year,” said Tylee, who will graduate with her Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Minor in the History of Art and Visual Culture. “Working with Visual Arts Media Resource Co-ordinator Max Holten-Andersen to create a virtual exhibition for our show (including a 360 virtual tour) was an insightful experience that wouldn’t have happened under different circumstances.”

  Even though they were unable to have a traditional gallery opening, the ability to learn and become well-versed in the creation of virtual exhibits is a valuable skill the students will take with them, she said, calling it a “silver lining.”

  

  Title wall of Cree Tylee’s body of work entitled (A)part. Tylee describes this exhibition as a “very introspective and multi-faceted body of work with multiplicities of concepts I’ll be able to draw on for further graduate studies.”

  Both artists agree that bringing this final exhibition into fruition has been an enlightening process, acknowledging that completing a thesis under the supervision of Friend and having a final exhibition made their final year very fulfilling.After graduation, Tylee, recipient of the Distinguished Graduating Student Award in Visual Arts, will be taking an accelerated studio program in Ceramics at the Haliburton School of Art + Design while preparing for further graduate studies.

  The virtual exhibition and 360 gallery tour of treasured | (A)part can be viewed on the Visual Arts website.Fine and Performing Arts grads poised to shape the future with creative skills

  Tags: centre for studies in arts and culture, convocation, Cree Tylee, DART, department of dramatic arts, Department of Music, Department of Visual Arts, humanities, Ian Ball, Kendra Bosse, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Maya Meyerman, MIWSFPA, MUSI, Nick Braun, Soo Myunh Oh, spring convocation, stac, Studio Art, VISA, visa gallery
  Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, News, Uncategorised

• Fall/Winter 2021 timetable is live, undergrad registration starts July 6

  Wednesday, May 26, 2021 | By gminaker

  

  Originally published in The Brock News |  TUESDAY, MAY 25, 2021 

  Brock University last week reiterated its hope that students will be welcomed back onto campus starting this fall and today, Tuesday, May 25, the Fall/Winter 2021 timetable went live.

  In it, students will see a course calendar that reflects a significant return to on-campus instruction with a majority of classes being offered in person, while still having many classes offered in a hybrid online format.

  This is the fall scenario Brock is working towards, but the University will be ready to quickly pivot, should the public health situation require it.

  Course registration opens on the student portal at my.brocku.ca on Tuesday, July 6 for first-year undergraduates. Those with 15 or more credits may register starting July 9; 10 or more credits on July 12; five or more credits on July 14; fewer than five credits on July 15. There are a number of other key registration dates that can be found at brocku.ca/guides-and-timetables/dates

  The University realizes students will have questions as they prepare for registration to open on Tuesday, July 6. More information and the answers to many of these questions can be found at brocku.ca/fall and brocku.ca/coronavirus

  These websites are regularly updated with the latest information about the 2021-22 academic plans and the University’s pandemic response.

  Brock is preparing for the upcoming academic year with cautious optimism and with the knowledge all adults in Ontario who wish to be vaccinated against COVID-19 are now eligible to receive their first shot.

  Today’s release of the Fall/Winter 2021 timetable is the next step in that preparation.

  Tags: 2021-22 Academic Year, brock international, course registration, Fall 2021, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, MIWSFPA, Welcome Week 2020
  Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Events, Future Students, News, Uncategorised

• Virtual workshops for Brock Choral Ensembles open to the public

  Friday, February 26, 2021 | By gminaker

  

  Caption: The Brock University Chamber Choir directed by Rachel Rensink-Hoff gathers virtually to rehearse and attend Shared Perspectives, a new virtual workshop series offered by Brock’s Department of Music.

  Originally published in The Brock News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 25, 2021 | by Gillian Minaker

  Brock’s Choral Ensembles are getting front-row access to a diverse lineup of artists — and the public has been invited to tune in.

  Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Associate Professor of Music and Director of the Choral Ensembles at Brock University, launched a virtual workshop series called “Shared Perspectives: Live talks featuring guest conductors, composers and vocal choral specialists” in the fall. Funded by the Centre for Pedagogical Innovation (CPI) and the Walker Cultural Leaders Series presented by the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts (MIWSFPA), the series is continuing this semester, welcoming a guest speaker each week.

  The online presentations are hosted on Zoom, with some artists choosing to give a formal presentation and others engaging in an interview-style format. Time is always allotted for a question-and-answer period, enrichening the experience for all participants.

  “Any opportunity to hear more than one voice should be cherished,” says Rensink-Hoff. “Teaching online synchronously is challenging because there is always only one person talking. I knew in August that I needed to shake things up.”

  Rensink-Hoff has since brought in a diverse roster of guests, many of whom speak to issues relevant to today.

  “This semester, a number of our guest speakers will be engaging us in conversations around cultural appropriation and appreciation in the arts — and how we can navigate these pathways more respectfully and thoughtfully,” she says.

  Upcoming sessions include topics such as cultural appropriation and culture sharing in choral music; decolonizing the music curriculum; debunking myths around vocal health; and traditional South African music.

  Even in a fully online format, the Brock Choral Ensembles meet every week, rehearse online, and discuss musical elements. Rensink-Hoff believes that adding guest speakers in the mix has brought something unique to the “Zoom classroom.”

  “The opportunity to hear different perspectives on a wide variety of topics related to singing and choral music has been very rewarding. In normal circumstances, we would not have had such a rich display of voices in just one year,” she says. “The students are so fortunate to have been introduced to so many amazing artists.”

  The Shared Perspectives series is also open to the public, making this a valuable opportunity for Brock’s Music Department to connect with the local community. Past sessions have seen up to 20 community members in attendance, Rensink-Hoff says.

  The series continues Brock and the MIWSFPA’s strong history of community engagement in Niagara, enhancing vitality in the region and offering experiential opportunities for connection through the arts.

  While this initiative was always designed to be virtual, given its success and positive response, Rensink-Hoff plans to run the series again next year.

  “I hope to partner with other colleagues who want to bring in guests on a range of music related topics. Stay tuned for Shared Perspectives 2.0 next year.”

  To learn more about upcoming Shared Perspectives workshops, please visit ExperienceBU.

  To register for a free workshop, please email sing@brocku.ca

  More information available on the Sing! At Brock website. 

  Upcoming Shared Perspectives workshops

  • Wednesday, March 3, 2:30 p.m.: Rollo Dilworth — Cultural Appropriation and Culture Sharing in Choral Music
  • Monday, March 15, 12:30 p.m.: Cynthia Peyson Wahl — Decolonizing the Music Curriculum
  • Wednesday, March 17, 2:30 p.m.: Leanne Vida — A Spectrum of Sound: Vocal Resonance
  • Wednesday, March 24, 2:30 p.m.: Christianne Rushton — Fact or Fiction: Debunking the Myths Around Vocal Health
  • Monday, March 29, 12:30 p.m.: Ardelle Ries — The SingAble Society
  • Wednesday, March 31, 2:30 p.m.: Michael Barret — Traditional South African Music

  Tags: Choral Ensembles, Department of Music, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Rachel Rensink-Hoff
  Categories: Alumni, Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, In the Media, News, RBC Foundation Music @ Noon Series, Special Events, Uncategorised

• Department of Music Virtual Ensembles – The Show Zooms On

  Thursday, January 14, 2021 | By gminaker

  

  Brock Music ensembles have gone virtual for the 2020-21 performance season! The Department of Music Virtual Ensembles present a virtual concert series The Show Zooms On featuring:

  The University Wind Ensemble, Zoltan Kalman, Conductor
  The Choral Ensemble, Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Conductor
  The University String Orchestra, George Cleland, Conductor
  The University Jazz Ensemble, Zoltan Kalman, Conductor

  The first virtual performance premieres Friday, Jan. 15, 2021 with the Wind Ensemble:

  January 15, 2021 – 7 p.m.
  Wind Ensemble, Zoltan Kalman, Director
  View the YouTube Premiere

  View the Wind Ensemble January 15 program here.

  Under normal circumstances, Music Ensemble performances are held in the acoustically excellent Recital Hall, FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre.

  For the 2020-21 season, the performances will be broadcasted virtually on the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts YouTube channel. Please visit our Concerts page for more information.

  Tags: Brock Music Ensembles, Department of Music, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, MIWSFPA, university wind ensemble
  Categories: Alumni, Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, News, Special Events, The University Wind Ensemble

• Upcoming: The Department of Music virtually attends Royal Conservatory of Music College & University Music Fair 2020

  Tuesday, September 22, 2020 | By gminaker

  

  The Department of Music at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts at Brock University is excited to virtually host future musicians at their online booth! The Royal Conservatory College & University Fair is going virtual this year. Set for October 3, 2020, registration is FREE. It has never been easier for future students to learn about the programs offered, admission requirements and much, much more. See you there!

  Register for free: https://bit.ly/2ZS1cLR

  To learn more about the programs offered through the Department of Music at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, drop by our degree programs page.  

   

  Tags: Department of Music, humanities, MIWSFPA, MUSI, music
  Categories: Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Uncategorised

• Welcome to Music: Orientation for 2020!

  Monday, September 07, 2020 | By dvivian

  

  (a screen shot from the welcome by Dr. Karin di Bella. Watch the video below.)

  ---

  Brock University is launching the first-ever Virtual Welcome Week.
  During this year of the pandemic the Orientation activities are all online.
  Watch the welcome below and visit the official Orientation page for all the details!

  ---

  THE DEPARTMENT OF MUSIC (MUSI)

  Dr. Karin Di Bella, an accomplished pianist and educator, is the Chair of the Department:

  Dr. Di Bella will be holding office hours on September 8th from 2-3 pm on Teams.
  Drop-in and say hi! (click here)

  Reminders from your Music professors:

  • Check Sakai and your Brock email for info about your first class
  • Choir: if you still need to do your choir audition, please look here for more information:
    Sing at Brock!
  • Lessons: if you still need to set up your lesson, contact Dr. Di Bella kdibella@brocku.ca
  • For all other inquiries please contact the Music Office and we’ll be happy to direct you to the right place. nfedj@brocku.ca

  Classes start Wednesday, September 9th! Have fun! We are happy you’re here.

  PS. Our MUSI student yearly welcome/orientation for all new and returning MUSI students will take place on the first Tuesday@Noon.  Ask Professor Di Bella for details.

  ---

  The Department of Dramatic Arts, Music, Visual Arts, and the Centre for Studies in Arts and Culture are all part of the Faculty of Humanities.

  The Associate Dean, Dr. Neta Gordon, Professor of English, welcomes you to Brock University! She’s prepared an 11 minute video to introduce to you to the Faculty of Humanities:

  ---

  Michael Gicante is your Academic Advisor for studies at the MIWSFPA.
  He prepared this video for the April open House:

  ---

  Koreen McCullough is the Experiential Education Coordinator for the Faculty of Humanities.
  Watch her 3 minute presentation about Experiential Education opportunities at Brock University:

  ---

  The Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts

  Located at 15 Artists’ Common in downtown St. Catharines, the MIWSFPA is home to four academic programs. We are right next door to the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre on the main street of St. Catharines, St. Paul.

  Each program at the MIWSFPA is offering a special welcome to their students.  For example, if you are a beginning your studies as a major in Dramatic Arts, check out what that Department has scheduled for you and plan to join in the fun.  You are also welcome to join the activities of each program at the School even if you are only taking one course or beginning a minor program.  The activities and welcome messages from each program are listed below.

  Professor David Vivian, of the Department of Dramatic Arts (he teaches design and production for theatre), is the Director of the School:

  David will be hosting office hours on September 8, 2020, from 12-3:00 pm,on Teams.
  Drop in and say hi! (click here)

  ---

  We all wish you a very successful year at the Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts.

  Tags: 2020, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, MIWSFPA, MUSI, music, orientation
  Categories: Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, News, Uncategorised

• Brock Choir sings new tune for virtual 2020-21 season

  Thursday, August 20, 2020 | By dvivian

  

  (including content published THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 03, 2020 | in The Brock News by Alison Innes)

  Choir at Brock University will look a little different this fall by moving to a virtual rehearsal format.

  “Given the known risks of singing together in groups, we will not attempt to do what we normally do until health guidelines permit us,” says Rachel Rensink-Hoff, Associate Professor of Music and Choir Director.

  While not being able to safely gather and practice in person together is a challenge for those in choir, Rensink-Hoff sees it as an opportunity.

  “We have a unique opportunity to get to know and learn from one another in new ways through online discussion and active engagement.”

  Rensink-Hoff will focus the choir on pursuing some of the things they haven’t usually had time for, such as building individual skills in vocal technique and stage presence, analyzing music as a vehicle for storytelling, and reflecting on the historical and cultural contexts of songs. There will also be a “Shared Perspectives” series of guest interviews and workshops with conductors, composers and vocal-choral specialists from across Canada and the U.S.

  Choir members will need headphones, a video recording device such as a phone, computer or tablet, as well as internet connection.

  The Treble Choir (sopranos and altos) will rehearse together virtually on Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m., and the Mixed Voices choir (sopranos, altos, tenors and basses) will meet Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

  “Our work will emphasize the process, rehearsing, over the product, performing,” says Rensink-Hoff. “This is a tough transition for those of us in the arts, but it is also a chance to for us to strengthen our performance skills and to reflect on the significance of live performance to individuals and communities.”

  Choir auditions are open to Brock students, faculty, staff as well as members of the wider Niagara community. Both new and returning choir members may book their auditions online before the deadline on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 11:59 p.m.

  For more information or for assistance arranging interviews:
  * Michelle Pressé, Brock University Communications, mpresse@brocku.ca, 905-688-5550 x4420 or 905-246-1963

  ---

  SING@BROCK ONLINE EDITION: audition for choir 2020-21

  Open by audition to all students, faculty, staff and members of the Niagara community!

  For the 2020-2021 academic year, choir will be fully online until guidelines allow for other forms of gathering. As such, the course will be less about performance outcomes and more about the process of learning, connecting, exploring and innovating as key elements of ensemble participation.

  Singers will engage with a diverse body of choral repertoire in sessions on vocal technique and choral skill development, explorations of movement and stage presence, analysis of music and text, workshops with guest artists, and collaborations through innovative singing projects. Rehearsal and performance skills will be developed in the context of a supportive community that promotes cross-cultural understanding and self-expression.

  Previous singing experience and ability to read music is required.
  For more information contact:
  Rachel Rensink-Hoff, rrensinkhoff@brocku.ca
  SEE >>> brocku.ca/sing

  Tags: audition, Choir, humanities, Marilyn I. Walker School of Fine and Performing Arts, Media release, MIWSFPA, music, News, Rensink-Hoff
  Categories: Alumni, Alumni, Announcements, Current Students, Events, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, In the Media, Media Releases, News, Special Events, Uncategorised

• Redesigned course explores global music and identities

  Sunday, August 02, 2020 | By dvivian

  

  (Published FRIDAY, JULY 31, 2020 | in The Brock News by Alison Innes)

  This fall, Brock University students will have the opportunity to explore how music shapes, and is shaped by, global cultures.

  Music in Global Cultures (MUSI 1P50) will explore how music expresses and shapes identity around themes of race, gender, spirituality, disability and sexuality.

  “Every unit will have case studies from all over the world,” says Nina Penner, Assistant Professor of Music. “We’ll be doing a lot of non-western music.”

  For those who may associate music appreciation classes with symphonies and string quartets by predominantly white men from previous centuries, this course will offer a fresh angle with a diverse repertoire.

  “We’ll be talking about music and its relation to the society and culture in which it is a part,” says Penner.

  Students will be exploring music from countries such as Gambia, India, Nepal, Japan and Cuba in genres including hip hop, jazz, sufi, disco and blues.

  Students will explore issues of race through the music of the Black Lives Matter movement and American blues and examine disability through the music of the Goze, a group of female Japanese musicians with visual disabilities, and the Deaf West Theatre in Los Angeles. They will investigate how Buddhist chant, the Whirling Dervishes of the Mevlevi Sufi order and traditional Jewish music express spirituality, and explore gender expression in opera and Balinese gamelan music.

  Penner hopes students from all disciplines across Brock will consider taking the course.

  “I really enjoy teaching music for non-majors,” she says. “I find it really exciting to take people who like music but think they aren’t skilled in music and show them how much they can learn and develop skills to listen to and describe things about music.”

  In North America, Penner says, students traditionally don’t get a lot of instruction in thinking about and discussing music critically.

  “It’s exciting to see students develop this vocabulary and to talk about music in a precise and informed way.”

  Course enrollment is open to any students who are interested. There are no theory requirements or prerequisites. The course is offered entirely online and the enrolment cap has been lifted to reflect the online learning environment.

  Tags: brock international, Department of Music, humanities, MIWSFPA, Nina Penner
  Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Faculty & Instructors, Future Students, In the Media, News, Uncategorised

• Courses? Electives? a Minor in Music?

  Friday, July 17, 2020 | By dvivian

  

  Introducing a new advising letter to help you prepare for studying Music in 2020-21.

  Bookmark this special letter for everything you need to know about starting your courses with MUSI during the Covid-19 pandemic.

  Check back regularly for updates! Click the link to open Google Docs. You do not need a google account to read the document.

  The Chair of Music, Dr. Karin di Bella welcomes you!

   

  Tags: 2020-21, courses, Covid-19, electives, minor, registration, welcome
  Categories: Announcements, Current Students, Future Students, News, Uncategorised