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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 4, 1998)
The Battalion :h4 ^dnesday • March 4, 1998 There's music in the air dusic studies program offers students tonal varieties By Stephen Wells Staff writer strides ituatie )r" sta; the hie' ves (f trust fc nder: jaraiite 11 too often, students at Texas A&M are not lialsvxJm aware of the opportunities around them pre- ughiL JLsented by programs and student groups. For 'tioaome time now, the Texas A&M Music Studies Pro- ?mo: ram Office has given students the opportunity to ex- itsbiherienee great works and express themselves without re Ms dmission fees. Trar. One of the music department’s greatest assets is tu^ helmusic resource room on the fourth floor of the ^academic Building. Here students can sample from a ‘xa arge selection of musical works, from arias to an- 'hai:herns and from Chopin to Charlie Parker. The service or s ffce to students, but only a small percentage of stu- g° itf lenis know it exists. ndr- Ryan Hubbard, a freshman general studies major, aid the music resource room is a good idea but needs jromotion. ‘jlf you’re a fan of that kind of music, it is a nice ^ing to have,” Hubbard said. ‘Tn a way, it’s ^ ust like the listening station at Hastings or ah 9c Blockbuster. You don’t need to pay for a Irst listen. I’ve bought a lot of records on [the basis of one song and found s. DUt they weren’t so good.” ^■n addition to the musical li- ararx. the Texas A&M music de- lltepartment maintains practice rooms for students who vvaht to sharpen their chops without playing ^Maront of a crowd in ctthe MSC. Pianos and or- engans are available for practice cb'sessions. Both the music resource cecroom and the practice rooms are located in at room 406 of the Academic Building. II" ■‘It’s a nice idea to have a place to practice where 5 l4 you don’t make your roommates or neighbors upset at yon,” Hubbard said. “But I think most students would rather just practice at home or out on the balcony.” ^Besides helping students learn music, Texas A&M maintains good contacts with professional Brazos County musical groups. One will not find advertise ments for performances at the Third Floor Cantina. The music department posts numerous advertise ments for orchestral and jazz performances through out the College Station area. For students who are interested, the music office contains reams of informational sheets about musi cal study abroad programs and performance oppor tunities. Options range from auditions for local per formance groups to semesters abroad studying music in historical cities in Europe. Some students are not interested at all in the mu sic programs. Rich Lowell, a freshman chemistry major, said he does not think much about the mu sic department. “Why should I walk up four flights of stairs to prac tice or listen to a CD I won’t buy?” Lowell said. “I guess if I really liked classical music I would go, but I can’t take the time out of the middle of my day to expand my horizons.” Those who have experi- ’ enced the programs —^ the music Casey Landrey, a sophomore biomedical science major, said she enjoyed the variety of options the mu sic program offers. “I’ve been able to attend concerts I would other wise have never had the chance to see,” Landrey said. “I got to see some very talented groups and enjoyed their shows, but 1 would never have heard them if I hadn't just taken the time to look at the bulletin board they (the music program) keep up there.” Sadly, one of the most innovative programs set up by the music department has been canceled. The Brown Bag Concert series, which offers students a chance to see performances of classical music in an intimate setting, will be replaced by another program next semester. “It’s too bad that they canceled it,” Landrey said. “I went to see a show last year and it was a nice ex perience. It’s a shame more students didn't know about it.” In spite of this minor setback, the Texas A&M mu sic department continues to give students the chance to experience the finer things in mu- slc without going through the trouble of renting a tuxedo. X / , it) N) depart ment has to offer, though, unanimously agree they are worth a try for any student. cclaimed actor robbed F funds in phony art deal NEW YORK (AP) — An art dealer who indled Jack Nicholson and other clients t of more than $2 million was sentenced t-esday to two years in prison. ,j..U.S. District Judge ’ chael Mukasey reject- an appeal for leniency, Xing Todd Michael Volpe fs “living high, wide and ndsome” while he de- , uded 16 people be- sen 1991 and 1995. Volpe, 48, was also or- red to pay $1.9 million restitution. Nicholson He pleaded guilty to ud for selling paintings, sculptures and ler art on behalf of his clients and pock- ng the profit. Nicholson gave Volpe money to buy and sell art. Volpe admitted he sold several items with out the actor’s knowledge and kept $224,000. Rock ’ll Roll star angered concerning court order LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tommy Lee, ac cused of abusing his wife and baby, is upset over a court order to stay away from his kids. “I love and miss them very much and want them to know how much this time away from them is killing me,” the Motley Crue drummer said Mon day in a statement. Lee, 35, pleaded inno cent Friday to abusing his wife, former “Baywatch” star Pamela Anderson Lee, and their infant son, sly The Lees Dylan. She filed for divorce Thursday, the second time in their three-year marriage. Lee won’t contest the divorce, publicist Hayley Sumner said. He was ordered to stay at least 100 yards from his family and Mrs. Lee’s parents. “I am completely devoted to Dylan and Brandon and it is extremely painful and un settling for me to be cut off from them at this difficult time,” Lee said. Deliverance actor’s wife cancels 17-year marriage LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ned Beatty’s wife of 17 years has filed for divorce, citing ir reconcilable differences. Dorothy Beatty is seeking joint custody of their two children, ages 14 and 16. She said in court papers filed Monday that she separated from the actor Jan. 1. Beatty appeared in “Deliverance,” “Super man 11” and “Network,” which earned him an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. ‘King of Pop’ takes flack for amusement park deal WARSAW, Poland (AP) — A government commission Tuesday came out against Michael Jackson’s plans to build a $500 mil lion amusement park at an old military airport. The commission said offering the airport to Jackson violates “good management.” Mayor Marcin Swiecic- ki said he will appeal. City officials say the amuse ment park would create jobs and attract tourists. Poland’s defense and transportation ministries will review the findings of the commission. Jackson said he hopes to open the park in mid-1999. Jackson Van Halen tries new music style Van Halen W Van. Halen Warner Bros. Music Produced by Mike Post Critique: B+ By Stephen Wells Staff writer In the wake of a historic breakup with Sammy Hagar and recent fits with the historical accuracy of David Lee Roth’s autobiography, Edward and company attempt to start it all over again, again, with a record- breaking third lead singer. The result is Van Halen III, a mix of classic Van Halen rock and attempted ground breaking experimentation. The re sult is either a little bit bad or a little bit good, depending on how one ap proaches the album. Shiny new frontman Gary Cherone of Extreme fame is not the showboating party animal David Lee Roth was, neither (joes he possess the pipes Sammy Hagar was blessed with. He is, instead, kind of a middle ground between the two, a nice safe choice for the aging rockers. First, the good news. Eddie Van Halen has fingers for weeks, and he sets out to prove in every solo why he is considered the most influential rock guitarist today. The production value is as high as can be expected from a band that has sold a combined 65 mil lion records in their career. And the guys in the band are as tight as ever, pleasing for those of us who are tired of uninspired neo-ska and alternative licks, despite the group’s apparent at tempt to become more alternative. Indeed, the album is a kind of safe mix of classic Van Halen rocking and carefully calculated exploration of new ground. While tracks like “One I Want” and “Dirty Water Dog” exem plify the things that made Van Halen famous twenty years ago with memo rable riffs and searing solos, the album falls flat when Eddie Van Halen de cides to flaunt his artistic license. The opening track is an instrumental with keyboards (not too bad, that’s how the legendary 1984 kicked off), but it lacks the conviction or innovation we’ve come to expect from the group. Add to that a track including Eddie Van Halen as a lead vocalist (now we know why he plays guitar) and a sitar-driven in strumental, and the attempt at hip- ness just fades away. The final verdict? Take Eddie’s own advice and listen to the album three or four times before you de cide to give up on him. If you don’t like the experimenting, then skip the track and take solace in the fact that Van Halen still sounds like the Van Halen we love. Final Week...Don’t be th e only person to miss COMPANY music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim book by George Furth Directed by ’magination Station's Randy Wilson February 26-28 & March 4-7 ickets are available at the or at the Rudder Forum 8 PM SC Box Office, 845-1234 door ato, Study the Greatest Conflict of this Century in Normandy, France SS 11 1998 It is an honor and a privilege to participate in the James Earl Rudder Normandy Study Abroad Program which studies the most /powerful invasion in modern history when Texas ft A&M University's former President Col. James I Earl Rudder scale*/ the cliffs of Normandy and begitn the liberation of France and ultimately the end of World War II. This program is designed ■prepare students of today to be pioneers of a peaceful tomorrow. Choose 6 from the following 9 hours offered: ’OLS 306 - Contemporary Political Problems & Issues of Western Europe Prof. Robert Bohrer HIST 489 - Special Topics in the History of World War II t Prof. Jim Bradford HIST 489 - Cultural'Representations of World War II in Contemporary France iV?"*, Prof. Francoise de Backer For more Information and Applications Contact. Study Abroad Program Office 161 Bizzell Hall West, 845-0544 ~fr ancfT""— Hurry! Limited Spaces Available! International Party Tonight at the Barracuda Bar! Following the International Week Buffet... Come mingle and party with fun and interesting people from around the world. Everyone's welcome! Party is sponsored by International Programs in SGA. Proceeds will raise money for Model United Nations Team and Conference. Tickets are just $4.00 and will be sold all day at the MSC. International Music accepted. Doors open at 8 p.m. and close at 2 a.m.! For information call or visit 1 : 00 to 5:00 Monday-Friday 707 Texas Ave. ^l!RllliMgp9 Suite 210 Bldg. D Fnqlish Second language 696"*6583 as a www2.cy-net.net/-letstalk Conversational ^ n English Classes .1 For student, staff, family Beginning, inter mediate, advanced Small group lessons 707 Texas Ave Campus Need birth control? Think you have an infection? Time for your Pap smear? No time? No insurance and little money? PLAN ON US. Professional. Confidential. 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