Low note: music students no longer singing uni’s praises
Sunday, June 1st, 2008Jessica is angry about cuts to the music program which will drive many of her fellow students to Brisbane, where the Queensland Conservatorium of Music has offered them places.
“The opportunities just aren’t here at USQ anymore,” she said.
“I’m extremely angry because students weren’t given any warning that these changes were going to happen.
“I would like to ask the vice-chancellor to understand that changes might be made because of budgets, but those changes affect real people.”
Jessica is in the final year of a degree specialising in voice and had planned to undertake the USQ honours program next year. This extra study, she said, is necessary for any performers keen to get a foothold into a highly competitive industry.
But those plans are on hold.
“There is no point in doing the honours program here anymore because it has been changed to a general “creative arts” course (at both degree and post-grad levels) which is not specific to our needs (the Masters level program has apparently been abolished altogether),” Jessica said.
“The USQ has always had a great reputation for the standard of performers it produced that was one of the reasons so many of us came here.
“I have been approached by the Con to finish my studies there, and I know many people in my course are considering that offer. Certainly some of the students feel they will be in a better position career-wise if they go.”
Sharing Jessica’s concern over the introduction of a creative arts course is chief executive and artistic director of Opera Queensland, Chris Mangin.
While USQ and Opera Queensland have long shared a productive relationship, he said that “may not be the case in future”.
“I find this news disturbing,” Mr Mangin said.
“USQ has done very good work in the past, but they have chosen not to have a conversation with us about this decision.
“In my experience, where there is non-specificity in a course, you prepare the students for nothing. A fleeting connection does not set students up to work in this industry.”
USQ’s Faculty of Arts associate dean and senior lecturer in music Rhoderick McNeill denied claims that the course changes would result in a lower quality program, or impact on career opportunities for graduates.
“I believe we will be providing a very similar standard to what we’ve provided in the past,” Dr McNeill said.
“Practical elements of the course are unchanged, and now allows for composition and musicality; the main area of change is in music theory. Students will have plenty of opportunities to reach professional standards, particularly in opera.”
The mixed messages and confusion surrounding the course changes have left students angry and fearful, according to second year Bachelor of Music student Anna Marangelli.
She said with “subjects being scrapped, staff leaving left, right and centre, and classes just not happening”, USQ had become an unstable learning environment.
“It’s just an absolute joke no-one knows what’s going on, not even the lecturers,” Anna said.
“USQ had a great reputation. Now the whole place is broken.”
A common concern among students was the possible abolition of productions which showcase USQ to the community, and bring students to the campus.