Ever walk through Studzinski Recital Hall in order to escape the cold and happen to overhear musical masterpieces coming from the practice rooms? Perhaps you have even taken a quick peak inside one of the sound-proofed rooms and discovered that your buddy from down the hall is a piano prodigy. Who knew?
With the number of highly talented—and often times, hidden—musicians at Bowdoin, it comes as no surprise that the next Aretha Franklin is practicing her vocal range in Gibson Hall or a forthcoming Eddie Van Halen is practicing chords and scales in Studzinski Recital Hall.
Some of these prodigies may be practicing for their private music lessons offered by the College. Private lessons are available to students interested in voice, piano, organ, guitar, and most major jazz and orchestral instruments.
These private lessons are available at three levels: no credit, half a credit per semester with a mandatory performance at the end of the semester, and advanced lessons. Advanced lessons require students to take a full year of private lessons as a prerequisite. At the end of the year, a solo recital is required for these students.
Today, Double Dose Café will provide a variety of musical talent to the Bowdoin Community.
The Double Dose performance features a portion of the numerous student recitals that occur at the end of every semester.
Although it is required for some students to give a short performance of five to 10 minutes, several non-mandatory performances occur.
Showcases such as these provide students with experience as performers, according to Concert, Budget and Equipment Manager of the Department of Music Delmar Small.
"Since one important goal of studying voice or an instrument is public performance, the department feels it is very important for students to gain this experience," he said. "It is not uncommon for performers to feel some degree of stage fright."
Small acknowledged the compassionate atmosphere of the audience consisting of fellow musicians and performers.
"Having been there gives students a better appreciation when they are attending performances and seeing others perform," added Small.
Student recitals like the Notebook Café and Double Dose have been occurring for many years. Although certain recitals do not occur at the end of every semester due to scheduling conflicts or a lack of interest, student recitals do occur frequently.
This sort of event provides audiences a diverse group of student performances.
"In addition to this type of concert, there are also recitals by students of one or two teachers, for example, Tracey MacLean and Frank Mauceri Jazz students performed [Monday] and George Lopez's piano students perform[ed] [Wednesday]," said Small.
Brittany Vernon '14 is excited about seeing her first ever Double Dose Performance.
"I am eager to potentially hear some modern, new music at the performance," said Vernon. "I think it's great that Bowdoin College offers private lessons to its students, and I am thrilled to see people I know in the performance."
The majority of these performances occur in Gibson Hall's Tillotson Room while others are held in Studzinski Recital Hall. Soloists are usually accompanied on the piano by applied music faculty like George Lopez and Joyce Moulton.
The repertory for the performances is chosen by both the teachers and students.
With the diverse number of instruments and pieces in the performance this Friday, this showcase promises musically diverse talent.
Frankie Mennicucci '14 is thrilled about the showcase.
"The performance sounds like it's going to be such a diverse group of students playing," he said. "I might want to get private lessons after seeing the abundant amount of talent in the show...maybe to challenge my creative style."
The second recital of the day will showcase students playing the trombone, cello, viola, guitar, piano and singing, it will be held in Gibson Hall in the Tillotson Room (Room 101).
The show will start at 4 p.m. and last until 5:30 p.m. It is free and open to the public.