Spring Semester Schedule
I’m excited about the classes I’m taking this semester, so I thought I’d share what I’m taking. As a Cello Performance Major and French minor, I couldn’t take that many academic classes until my junior year, because my freshman and sophomore years were mainly filled with music major core classes (like AXLE requirements for A&S). As a performance major, we are required to take these music core classes for four semesters: theory (grammar and syntax of music), music literature/history, keyboard (basic piano classes), and musicianship (trains your ear for pitch and rhythm). We’re required to be in a large ensemble every semester (orchestra or wind symphony) and participate in chamber music (small ensembles that consist roughly 2-8 people). And of course, we have weekly private lessons and studio class. In addition, we’re expected to practice around 3 (or more) hours everyday…
It’s a huge relief to be done with the Blair core so I can focus on my other interests, but I still have private lessons, studio class, orchestra, and chamber music rehearsals. This semester, I am taking three academic classes: Judicial Process, a European Studies class focusing on the Refugee Experience in France & Italy, and a French class for my minor requirements that focuses on French history from the Revolution to present day. I love the flexibility of Vanderbilt because it allows me to take many classes in subject areas that interest me; hence, the wide variety of classes that I’m taking. The Refugee class interested me especially because the professor is the same professor who taught the amazing Swiss/Italian Maymester I went on last May with fellow Inside ‘Dore blogger Alex Rains. (If y’all want to know more about this Maymester/or Maymesters abroad in general, email me at meghan.leong@vanderbilt.edu. It was an incredible experience and I would love to chat with you about this!)
Though it’s been a struggle to balance rehearsals and practicing with the boatloads of reading, I found that I need music to keep me sane. I find my academic classes really interesting, but at the end of the day, it’s music that relaxes me. It’s important to have an outlet to recharge because schoolwork and stress can pile up super quickly. Whether it’s catching up with friends over meals or exercising, find an activity that gives you balance because it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed with all the work we have to do.
Outside of school, I am dancing in my third Lunar New Year Festival performance (LNYF) and performing an hour long junior recital later this March, as part of my performance major requirements.
Thanks for reading! If you have any questions regarding the application process or life at Vanderbilt, feel free to email me at meghan.leong@vanderbilt.edu.