Applied Music
Previous Page - Table of Contents - Next Page
From the beginning years to the present day, in every music degree program at Evangel, emphasis has been placed on the importance of musicians being able to express themselves well in at least one area of performance and to command at least a functional skill at the keyboard. Applied lessons were first offered in the areas of piano and voice. Quickly added were private lessons in organ and in all of the band instruments: woodwinds, brass, and percussion. It was not long until applied lessons were also available in orchestral stringed instruments: violin, viola, cello, and bass. The guitar was added to the curriculum as an applied option in 1978. As the college matured and demand increased, lessons for less common instruments such as harp, marimba, vibraharp, and others became available. Sometimes great creativity was required to locate a performing teacher within driving distance and to arrange for the necessary transportation, fees, and applied credit. Value was placed consistently on having teachers who were not only proficient in the applied area in which they taught, but also adept at communicating expressively and fluently to their students. These demands required the employment of “experts” who often were not full-time faculty members. These were found as members of the Springfield Symphony, teachers from other colleges in the Springfield area, public school teachers, skilled local performers, and teachers who simply taught out of their homes or one of the local music stores. With a desire to provide for developing young musicians and with good will expressed from both sides, Evangel has been able through the years to provide its students with gifted teachers for almost any area of performance.