College of Rock

Auburn’s College of Education rocks—literally. 

Students in the college’s School and Community General Music Education course have recently teamed up with faculty and graduate teaching assistants to form several rock and pop bands that will perform May 1 for the Auburn community as part of the course’s final exam.

“We have a wide range of skill levels: a few formally trained musicians, a self-taught drummer, several who played instruments in elementary or secondary schools, and some who self-proclaim no musical ability whatsoever (although they won't be able to claim that much longer!),” said Macy Bell, a music education lecturer who teaches the Community General Music Education class. “We are fully embracing the 'community' piece of community music education and having a blast making music together!”

Bell said students in the course have formed six bands, and faculty and staff in the Curriculum and Teaching department have also formed one. She added that they will rotate among all of the instruments in a typical rock band format (guitar, bass, keyboard, drums, and vocals), and the performance will count as their final performance assessment in lieu of a traditional written exam.

A band of support

The performance event, being dubbed a Pop Music Night, will be free to attend and will begin at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, at New Realm Brewing, with student bands performing until the faculty band takes the stage at 8 p.m. Bell said the faculty involvement component is important and demonstrates their support for students.

“I thought it might be valuable to show the students that their professors are willing to put themselves in the students' shoes and engage in the same work that we expect from them,” Bell said. “So, when the students started planning for Pop Music Night in March, I reached out to some faculty to see if anyone would be interested in participating. I was shocked when nine faculty members and three graduate teaching assistants responded!” 

So, what’s on the setlist? The C&T faculty band will perform everything from Proud Mary in the style of Creedence Clearwater Revival (CCR) to The Middle by Jimmy Eat World and Justin Timberlake’s Can’t Stop the Feeling. Among the student ensemble selections will be Uptown Funk in the style of Mark Ronson, Dreams by Fleetwood Mac, Ophelia in the style of The Lumineers, Dolly Parton’s Jolene, Three Little Birds by Bob Marley and Avril Lavigne’s Complicated.

"I am very excited about our Pop Music Night,” said Charlie Howerton, a sophomore Music Education major. “Being a music major often has me focusing on classical music. However, this is a huge step outside of that and really allows me and my peers to explore our interests in music even further. While intimidating at first, the experience has been extremely rewarding in so many ways!" 

A welcoming tune

Courtney Vail, another Music Education major in Bell's School and Community Music course, said she also has really enjoyed the experience.

“It has been so much fun learning the foundational skills of how to play guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum set with my friends, watching each of us grow into our own strengths as musicians,” she said. “We are excited to perform and show off our new skills, playing the songs we enjoy with people we love!" 

Amy Fitchett, a lecturer of Elementary Education in the College of Education, is in the faculty band and said the opportunity will be a first for her.

“Dr. Bell has been such a positive and joyful addition to our department, and the students are having so much fun learning and taking risks with music,” she said. “When Dr. Bell told us about the student performances, I was so excited to cheer them on. Then, when she invited us to form a band. I was equal parts terrified and thrilled.”

Fitchett said she at first offered to be the band’s dedicated fan, noting how she’s never been one to perform music.

“However, when I arrived to bring snacks to band practice, she (Bell) just made it so welcoming and safe that I found myself with a cowbell in my hand banging along slightly off tempo to the songs. My faculty colleagues are all very talented and patient and have provided several supports to ensure that I don’t do too much harm (I also have moved to a quieter instrument that is safer for all parties involved—the egg shaker). It just goes to show what an incredible educator she is that she has created an environment where all are welcome to enjoy listening to and making music.”

A harmonius blend

Members of the faculty band span various disciplines, including those outside of Music Education. Members are: Fitchett, Martina McGee, Sara Ahnell, Tierney Hinman, Heidi Hadley, Mike Cook, Sara Demoiny, Jimmy Lindner, Jesus Tirado, Jennie Baumann, Caleb Norton, Casey Knox, Soroush Shoja and Bell.

Bell said the performance will be the culmination of all that students have learned in her class. 

“We cover topics such as: music technology, guitar methods, music education for exceptional learners and learners with special needs, informal music learning and popular music pedagogies, music education for elderly adults, and the Modern Band approach,” Bell said. “Students have also explored what it means to authentically and meaningfully participate in their local music community by planning, advertising, hosting, and participating in community music events, including an end-of-semester Pop Music Night.”

So, what’s next after the community concert?

“So far, we have had two band practices and plan to meet two or three more times before the event,” Bell said. “We haven't really discussed what we will do after the event, but I do hope we keep going!”