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Call
it
energico
or
vivace.
Or
a
bold
reimagining
of
opportunity
where
new
initiatives
bring
transformative
awe,
energy
and
excitement
to
something
already
wonderful.
Baldwin Wallace's Conservatory of Music is fueling a culture of innovation, creativity and collaboration within the Conservatory and at BW. New programs, partnerships, strategic priorities and experiential learning endeavors are being planned and poised to launch.
Among them is a focus on expanding the scope of the Conservatory to attract non-music majors and infuse diversity and multicultural awareness and appreciation throughout the curriculum and student experience.
This semester, two courses were introduced that align with both goals. Beyond the immersion into music and its influential role in society, students taking the courses are probing deeper issues of social justice, stereotypes, historical context and marginalization.
Mega-powerful in the entertainment industry, Disney/Pixar films reach back nearly 85 years to the first feature-length animated production, "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Decades later, the industry mogul has been scrutinized and criticized for character portrayals, music and story narrative.
Thought-provoking, contemporary, deep-dive topics are a specialty of BW assistant professor of music theory Dr. Gene Willet, whose fall semester course "Diversity Through Music in Disney Films" hit its 42-person registration cap in a matter of days and is comprised of mostly non-music majors.
"This
course
examines
representations
of
diversity
-
specifically,
the
topics
of
race,
ethnicity,
gender,
sexuality
and
disability
-
through
the
lens
of
music
in
Disney
and
Pixar
films,"
he
explained.
"We
all
grew
up
watching
Disney.
We
have
fond
memories
and
a
personal
connection
to
these
stories
that
extend
beyond
the
films.
Going
back
and
critically
analyzing
them
is
a
very
eye-opening
experience.
"From early Mickey Mouse films, in which negative racial stereotypes were depicted through music and caricatures, to more recent productions, like 'Lilo and Stich' and 'Coco' with authentic music and storylines, Disney/Pixar has made a noticeable shift in remediating past mistakes," he noted.
"Music is a powerful lens through which current and future generations will view us as a society," he added. "A course like this immerses students, both Conservatory and non-music majors, in a multi-dimensional look at who we are and where we need to go to move forward.
"The content of this course is not so much important as the critical thinking skills we are developing in students as they move forward in their studies in their careers and as members of a diverse global society. To be part of an initiative through the Conservatory of Music that focuses on multicultural and diversity awareness, appreciation and activism is personally and professionally rewarding," emphasized Willet.
Amid
the
fast,
slow,
rhythmic
sound
of
hand
drums
is
a
history
that's
as
captivating
as
the
music
itself.
The
precise
strikes
and
slaps
with
the
palm
and
fingertips
are
a
tactile,
aural
and
visual
symphony
connecting
the
performer
with
an
ancient
art
form.
For students in BW professor Josh Ryan's "Intro into Drumming with a Focus on the Music of African Diaspora" course, the experience is an immersive journey into the music of West Africa, Cuba, Brazil and the U.S.
Comprised of mostly non-music majors, the new course is one of the Conservatory's many initiatives to infuse diverse music styles throughout the curriculum. It combines music, history and culture as a way to understand and appreciate the richness of music from its ancient roots of communication and tradition to its mobility as an art form that was transported to new worlds.
"I proposed the course because I always wanted to engage the larger BW community in some type of drumming activity. The new emphasis on diversity and support from faculty and administrators convinced me the time is now," said Ryan.
Students in the course learn about slavery, colonialism and the mixing of global cultures. They explore traditional elements of Afro-centric music and their manifestation in modern American life.
"There are difficult topics we discuss as part of the curriculum," said Ryan. "To look at the tragedy of the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade from the vantage point of music and how it was transported across the globe is not easy. I'm impressed with the students' ability to look critically at history through a lens that isn't often examined.
"Culturally, the U.S. has inherited so much from West Africa. From music to art to language, the influences are many, and our appreciation of them continues to grow. In many ways, this class is an immersion into a global and cultural legacy," he concluded.
