Album class prepares for another new rendition, hosting performances in the
spring.
ANDREW MANNION / THE QUADRANGLE
By Andrew Mannion, Sports Editor
In the spring semester, Andrew Bauer, director of performing arts and adjunct professor for music and theater, will be teaching the next rendition of album class, in which students will dissect a historic rock album both creatively and technically.
The class revolves around picking a specific rock album which has had a significant cultural impact. They then break down the musical component of a portion of the album and see how the album was constructed from its roots. In past semesters, the class has done albums such as Abbey Road and Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band by The Beatles, as well as Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd.
After weeks of rehearsal, the class ends with one final performance which is open to any and all students who wish to see it. With some students a part of the band, others can focus on sound engineering or lighting, and it leads to well-practiced covers of some of the greatest music over the years.
Bauer has taught the class eight times, and his goal has remained the same – to teach students how to truly break down complex musical pieces into their individual instrumental components. He spoke on how the class is taught and what he hopes to accomplish.
“When you listen to something and then you transcribe it to an instrument, you’re going to recreate the compositional process that the artists were doing in a way,” Bauer said. “Not from their own ideas, but you’re going to experience what they experience actually playing this music, and that gives you a total inside view of the material, and in a very dynamic and interactive way.”
Bauer emphasizes that this type of education can only be found at Manhattan University. Being the only class which has forced students to master each album to a performance-capable level, there is much value that the album class provides to not only the students who take it, but Manhattan University as a whole.
“It sets us apart from any other academic higher education institution that I know of now,” Bauer said. “You have lots of institutions, colleges and universities doing the history of rock, or maybe in a class about Elvis Presley, but they don’t actually perform the music… What sets us apart is we’re actually reconstructing the album, and I think that that gives anyone a much greater understanding of the music when you actually have to perform the music.”
Landon Scofield, a student who has taken the class in the past, talked about the impact the class had on him. Even with an extensive resume in the performing arts, he said that the album class gave him a new perspective on music which he had not seen before.
“Album class is probably the best class I’ve taken at this college, and it taught me some very important things about music and performing,” Scofield said. “Prior to this class, I only ever performed in musicals or choirs, and never really took in account the relationship between vocalists and the instrumentalists. Once I realized that I gained a newfound appreciation and respect for instrumentalists that I will never forget.”
After taking the class last year, Matt Regalado plans to take the course again this spring.
“I’m really looking forward to being a part of (album class), and looking forward to playing some guitar, maybe doing some singing,” Regalado said. “I’m really looking forward to fostering relationships with some new bandmates, and learning how to play with some new people.”