Tips for Prospective Music Majors

By Marty Wimmer, Program Host on Classical 94.5 WNED & Public School Music Teacher

I was a music major in college. My bachelor's degree is in Music Education with a piano concentration. Coming from a rural town and being first-generation college, I was woefully unprepared for music school. Fortunately, I was a hard worker, and with the help of some good professors, I was able to overcome my deficiencies and graduate successfully. Sadly, several of my cohorts weren't as lucky.

If you're a high school student planning to major in music in college, there are some things you can do now to help you succeed:

How to Help a Child Choose the Right Musical Instrument

By Marty Wimmer

If a child is lucky enough to attend a school with a band program, choosing the correct instrument can be a challenge. In addition to being an announcer on Classical 94.5 WNED, I am also a full-time elementary band director in the Depew UFSD. One of the most important things I do is help children select the right instrument.

Why Music Education is so Important.

By Marty Wimmer, Classical 94.5 WNED program host

As a music teacher, one might think I’d be offended by the question, “Why is music education important?” Music has its own intrinsic value. It needs no further justification. However, some don’t see it that way. Some think of music as an extra. They need further convincing. Thus, this is an opportunity.

Diva in Training

By Misty L. Harris

I was in elementary school the first time I heard un bel di vedremo from Puccini’s Madama Butterfly. There were times when my music teacher would give us a break from studying notes (whole notes, half notes etc.) and allow us to sit back and listen as the notes came together to make these beautiful sounds vocal and instrumental resonating through the tape player (nope, CD’s were not in existence and there were points where the music just stopped and the teacher rushed over to flip the tape and place it back in the deck.)