By April Johnson
@aprilblake_
The music department at Las Positas College has tripled in size over the past two years. The addition of two new music teachers, Daniel Marschak and Ian Brekke makes this no coincidence.
With this in mind, LPC has added two new music classes; Music 18A (Jazz Pop Piano) and Music 17A (Jazz Combo), that are to be offered this fall semester.
Music 17A, a small performing ensemble, will meet on Mondays and Wednesdays in room 4138 from 1:30 PM to 3:00 PM, and Music 18A will meet on Tuesdays in room 4228 from 3:00 PM to 5:50 PM.
Marschak, who is a jazz pianist, will be instructing both classes as they are in his “area of expertise.”
A third class that has also been added is Music 25. In Teaching Beginning Piano, students get their own students to teach, so it is mostly Las Positas faculty and their kids.
The LPC music department has been approved for future classes including Music Composition, a Music Business class, Music Technology, World Music, Music in Film and History of Rock and Roll, which are likely begin Fall 2017.
In addition to new classes, the LPC music department plans to look into building a new recording studio. Currently, they share the existing recording studio with LPC’s radio station.
The faculty hopes to fund this new addition to the campus by way of the Measure A bond that was just approved this past June.
Las Positas is expanding its program in the hopes of remaining competitive with other school’s music programs in the neighboring area, as many already offer some of these same classes and facilities.
The music classrooms, located in the 4000 building, still have some rehearsal rooms that are completely unfinished, however.
The un-paneled ceiling is in stark contrast to the lower half of the room as caged electrical lights and exposed ventilation can be seen.
But these eyesores are likely to be fixed and covered up as construction continues to progress on campus.
Updated facilities and campaigning on behalf of Music Department Coordinator Cindy Rosefield and the rest of the staff have allowed for special events to take place.
On September 9th Concert Pianist and Cal State East Bay Director of Keyboard studies Omri Shimron will be doing a Master Class, open to anyone, in room 4138 from 12:00-2:00pm. He will also be performing a free concert at 5:00 PM in the Main Stage on campus.