The music of Michigan State University

I will digress from my usual piano focus, to music pure and simple.   With serious sport/college administration scandals, it has been tough to be a Michigan State Spartan.  But it is in the music of my beloved campus, that I can take heart, because the music of Michigan State is the heart of this incredible university.

Well folks, it’s football season in Columbus, Ohio, but alas, I am a Michigan State Spartan.  Big Ten football aside, I think back to my college days with a great many fond memories.  Beyond the sports, and intellectually stimulating classes, I find myself thinking back to the music that is Michigan State University.

I have always been a musical person.  I play the piano, I sing in my church choir, and I serve on the board of Chamber Music Columbus.  Music is in my heart and my soul.  When football season rolls around, it is the music of Michigan State that draws me back to East Lansing, Michigan.

I still believe Michigan State has the most beautiful campus in the Big Ten, and well, in the world.  The changing seasons, the greenery, the Red Cedar River, I could go on, but as many Spartans like to say when remembering MSU, “the Michigan State campus captured my heart.”

First and foremost, I lived in the West Circle area of campus.  Back in the 1970’s, it was simply referred to as the Virgin Isles, because the dorms were housing solely for girls.  During my Landon Hall days, I had the good fortune of living across the street from the practice field for the Spartan Marching band.  As Buckeyes know all too well, there is nothing like the stirring music of a college band practicing during football season.  I often heard a first run of the band’s half time show.  Even in my worst days of intro to accounting or statistics 315, the Spartan Marching Band, and its amazing drum line could change my outlook, like nothing else in this world.  And on those dreary November days, when you knew a Michigan winter was coming, the Spartan Marching Band could simply take you away from the impending Michigan winter chill, and the hard studying awaiting you back in your dorm.

My junior year dorm, Mary Mayo Hall, was also in West Circle, and very close to the School of Music.  On many of my walks back from Economic Business History, on the far southern part of campus, I could hear incredible music coming from those hallowed halls.  I listened to voice majors working on an operatic aria, or even individual instrumental students, practicing a scale or a difficult passage in the music school court yard.  It made me almost a bit envious, because these amazing students had the courage to pursue their musical passion.  I had dreamed about a career as a professional musician in terms of my piano studies, but simply didn’t have the guts to give it a try.

 

My college roommate’s sister was a voice major, and she managed to convince me and my roommates, on several occasions to attend her recitals and those of her friends.  It was our good fortune to be at her senior recital, and she gave an incredible recital of operatic arias in Italian and German. 

In all the dorms of West Circle, there was always music.  So many music majors lived in these dorms, that you could hear kids playing in the lobby every day.  I am an amateur pianist, and it was often challenging to get to the piano on Friday afternoons, because someone without Friday afternoon classes beat me to it.

The West Circle area of campus, was also home to the beautiful Beaumont Bell Tower.  The Tower was built in 1928.  The incredible carillon tower, filled the north end of campus, with beautiful hymns and other familiar choral works.  When it was snowing on campus, and you simply didn't feel like you could walk another step, the familiar music of the carillon tower, reminded you it was only a few more weeks or months until spring time was coming to Michigan State.  

Legend has it that Michigan State students aren’t officially Spartans until they share a midnight kiss beneath the 104-foot-tall structure.  I found out about that legend long after I graduated in 1977, unfortunately.  Yet, I still believe that the Beaumont Tower is a musical inspiration for generations of Spartans too come.

The music of Michigan State also carried me through on most Sundays to the Michigan State University St. John Student Parish.  Most Sundays, I could be found at 10:00 a.m. Mass, for an incredible Eucharistic celebration accompanied by beautiful church music, both traditional and contemporary.  Sometimes in the church pew, I would say to myself, this….is the last place I want to be.  But the music often reaffirmed my faith, and changed my point of view for another week of classes and work. 

Yes, music was the connecting thread during my Michigan State days.  Whenever I look back at my college years, I can still hear our fight song, and strong beat of the Michigan State Marching band drum line.  I can still hear music students, practicing, with the hope of changing the lives of all who want music to be a part of their life.  And I can still feel the music, as I walked across campus in a beautiful snow storm, knowing that the music would carry me on my educational journey to the next chapter in my life.  Yes the campus and its music captured my heart!  Go green!