Throughout the month of February, the music department is hosting a series of four master classes, featuring several faculty members and an alumnus, as part of the annual February Music Sweeps. They are held every Monday of the month at 3 p.m. in McInnis Auditorium and admission is free. These provide an opportunity to see into the mind of a performer and learn more about why they are committed to the music they make. Musicians and music-lovers alike will find their appreciation and knowledge of music enhanced by these events.
The series began on Feb. 1 with Erikson Rojas, a member of Eastern’s piano faculty, who held an open discussion on greatness in music. His discussion was bookended by performances of two Samuel Hsu pieces for piano, both of which were based on hymns and modeled after the style of two great composers, Debussy and Chopin. The following week, Nimrod Speaks, another faculty member, gave a master class on the double bass.
There are two master classes remaining in February. The first is on Feb. 15, featuring Young-Ah Tak, another member of Eastern’s piano faculty. The series will conclude on Feb. 22, when Eastern Alumnus Kyle Herman (’07) will share what he has learned about the music business from his work at Theodore Presser Company and J.W. Pepper. The Eastern University Music Department invites all who are interested in growing in their appreciation of music to join us.