I conducted a survey here at Pepperdine, and talked to students who had played an instrument before coming to Pepperdine. My first question was, “Have you practiced that instrument since you’ve come to college?”. A little bit more than half had. Then I asked them if they found it difficult to practice their instrument at college, almost 70% replied with “yes”. I can relate to this personally. Next semester, I too will be restricted from playing piano in the music rooms, an instrument I have played my entire life. This is, unless I become a music major or be chosen for private vocal lessons, both highly competitive goals here at Pepperdine. I have several friends who have not been able to play their instruments for the same reason as me.  

I understand why the access to music here is limited. A few years ago, Pepperdine’s music rooms were open to anyone who paid a small fee for an access key. Unfortunately, too many people wanted to use these rooms and music majors were having trouble finding an open one when necessary.

Although this problem is understandable, the solution is not to permanently lock anyone out of their chance to practice an instrument or start a new one, music major or not. Many students depend on playing music for stress relief and for inspiration, and not all of them are music majors.

I have two solutions for this problem. One is to allow two or three of the rooms for non-music majors to rent out, maybe even just on weekends since you rarely see music majors in the rooms on weekends. The other solution is to make separate piano rooms for non-music majors to use. For example, maybe this could be done by including them in the new recreational center that Pepperdine is fundraising for right now.

Some issues that I have heard with these is that the piano’s need to be tuned and taken care of, which will cost money. My response would be simply to make interested students pay a maintenance fee.

Through this petition, I am looking to make music available to anyone who needs it here at Pepperdine, not just those who are talented enough to get it.