7 Ways to Nurture Your Inner Artist
SMTD classes that non-SMTD students should take
—By Erin Evans and Xu Jiang
Have you ever grown weary of reading, writing essays, or doing mathematical calculations? Have you dreamed of leaving your routine and engaging in artistic endeavors? For University of Michigan students, it can be easy to get stuck in the classes surrounding your major—but there are so many other opportunities to explore. The School of Music, Theater & Dance (SMTD) offers classes different from those found anywhere else at the University. From music to performance to arts administration, the following SMTD classes are the top choices of students within SMTD. They range in difficulty and subject matter, but all are open to non-majors. If you have any inclination to branch out from your current studies or a neglected interest in arts, these are some of the best classes you can choose.
Art with a side of business
For those who don’t want to dance or play piano themselves and are more interested in the business side of the art world, ARTSADMIN 475: Music Industry Workshop could be the way to go. LSA and Ross senior Sabriya Imami is taking this class as part of the performing arts management and entrepreneurship minor offered by SMTD, open to any students. Imami says that the class focuses on “the music industry itself, how it’s changed, [and] problems within it.” Over the course of the semester, students choose a specific music industry issue and plan a project to help solve it. As part of this project, according to the course description, students will work in teams to “assess opportunities, research customers, and formulate a business and marketing plan.”
For those who secretly see themselves on the silver screen
Maybe you got to college planning to be an engineer, but part of you thinks acting is your destiny. And why not try it? Nothing is stopping you when SMTD offers acting classes open to non-majors. University student Brendan Dewley wanted to learn more about acting as a member of an improv group on campus, and he recommends THTREMUS 101: Introduction to Acting 1 for anyone with acting ambitions. Dewley said that in the class, “We did a lot of really fun acting exercises and games” that were not only enjoyable but valuable as a new actor.
For the (non-soloist) musician in you
If you’d prefer something in music but are intimidated by the prospect of piano solos (or any solos) and would rather be part of a team, marching band (ENS 348) could be the perfect opportunity. Jonathan Kim, a member of the band, could not speak more highly of this class-turned-community that, he said, “provides a tremendous opportunity to get involved with a core branch of culture embedded within our university…and break away from the academic stress of college life.”
But if you are interested in that piano solo…
Taking a class involving playing piano as a non-major in a school full of students studying the instrument seems intimidating, but if that is where your passion lies, there is good news: According to SMTD student Benjamin Isyk, PIANO 110, which is open to non-majors, “approach[es] music from the idea that the [student] has little to no fluency in music.” Rather than pitting beginners against accomplished music students, this class allows you to learn in a more understanding environment.
For musical geniuses somehow not in the music school
On the other hand, just because you are not majoring in music, theater, or dance doesn’t mean you aren’t a talented artist. Current SMTD student Braden Thompson began in LSA. Even then, he was drawn to music classes and played in the Campus Symphony Orchestra, which he recommends especially to students who wish to play at a higher level. Despite being non-majors, Thompson said, “We played some serious repertoire—Wagner Die Meistersinger, Dvorak Symphony 9, music from Copland’s Rodeo.” Thompson also recommends the Residential College Chamber Music program (RCMUSIC 320), through which students can join music ensembles in the School of Music, even if they are originally from another school.
“The level of coaching and experience one can get through this course is at a very high level,” said Thompson, “but the intensity of this course is definitely what you (and the other members of your ensemble) put into it.”
For those wanting one-on-one instruction
To truly set your own bar for the level and intensity of your musical instruction, Thompson mentioned that non-majors can take lessons with graduate and doctoral students on various instruments. Being one-on-one, these lessons are tailored to the student and therefore provide a less intimidating environment where the student can learn at their own pace in a way that works for them and their instructor. Thompson said, “When I took these lessons, I felt very nurtured and uplifted by the instruction I received.” It was his one-on-one lessons with a graduate student that ended up getting him accepted into the School of Music.
For the more philosophical students out there
Then again, studying music can involve more than just playing an instrument. Both written and aural music theory (THEORY 149 and 139, respectively) win high praise from Isyk. “Those teaching typically take time and are very patient to make sure the students are grasping and understanding the material,” Isyk said. These classes could be a way of exploring one’s interest in music without committing to an instrument, or investigating what SMTD has to offer even if you don’t want to take a more hands-on class.
You don’t need to major in SMTD; classes in music, theater, and dance are a way for any student to expand their artistic horizons and try something different. The seven courses above are intended to provide you with fundamental skills and knowledge of arts and to enable you to pursue art seriously or as a hobby without it being your main focus of study. We hope these courses can enrich your busy life and help you release your pressure from exams and papers. Discovering your artistic talent or passion could be one class away.
Feature photo, guitar, by Jefferson Santos on Unsplash.