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
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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)
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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
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