Transition is commonplace at the start of any new school year. However, for the Fort Steilacoom music department, transition seems to be an understatement. What used to be a campus of well-known music ensembles is now featuring a singular choir ensemble this quarter.

In previous years, this campus housed a chamber choir, a concert choir, and the Far West Jazz choir. Now, the only ensemble featured is the Concert Choir, a non-audition choir available to students and community members.

“This whole department is in the middle of a transition,” said Vicki Tobin, the director of the Concert Choir, referring to the fluctuation of music instructors here. Ken Owen, the chair of the music department at Pierce, will be the only full-time faculty in the music department for both campuses. Evin Lambert, the only full- timer for this campus, and Jere Knudsten, the full-time band director for Puyallup, left Pierce this last year. At the beginning of this Fall quarter, Tobin was hired as part time faculty.

“We need some stability, “ said Tobin.  “I’m brand new and that needs to kind-of sit for a while to make sure that I’m not going anywhere…. [We also] need a full time person in this department. We’re [the current faculty in the department] all part time and we need a full time  person in this department.”

“We are just hoping that the new director can kind of build momentum there and that we can eventually argue for a full time position on [the Fort Steilacoom Campus],” said Owen.

There is only a certain number of full-time hires that the college can afford budget-wise in any given year. Owen explains that as each department is vying for the spot, it comes down to how many part time faculty are being utilized for the courses that are being registered for. The necessity of the faculty depends on the number of students that are registering for classes.

“The administration has to think about the bottom line. They have to see enough students to see that there’s enough [to start up more ensembles],” said Owen. “We can’t do the ‘If we build it they will come’ thing, they have to come first and then we can build it”

One of Tobin’s goals for this year is “recruitment, recruitment, recruitment.” The current size of the concert choir is about 20 students, however, the normal range for a concert choir is  50 to 60 members. She hopes to double the size of the choir by the end of the quarter and triple it by the end of the year.

“It’s about numbers, and it’s about Pierce students stepping up and really making an effort to  really show people that they are interested in this program,” Tobin said. “That they want it to continue and flourish, and I am here to make that happen. I  am ready, I’m waiting  for that populous to come get us, because I can do anything  with a  50 to 60 voice choir and that’s where we need to be before anything else happens.”

Tobin is often told by students that a main reason that they have not registered for the course is that the noon-class hour conflicts with most other classes. However, many students are unaware that there even is a choir at this campus.

“It looks to me like there was some good music being done,” Tobin said. “As I looked around I thought ‘This is  good music, this it lots of great music.’ I saw posters for wonderful programs going on, so I would have to ask the students [why there is a lack of interest here].”

Ryan Medeiros, a current member of the concert choir, stated his view on the lack of student interest in the music department here

“I think that nowadays not very many people are willing to push themselves to express themselves in music,” he said, “because nobody can say that they don’t like music and everyone at some point or other, I’m sure, has sung in their showers. So it’s a matter of trying to get the motivation and getting yourself up there knowing that… you’re going to sound like shit, or not learn how to play anything for the first 6 months, but it’s worth it in the end. Not very many people realize that so they kinda just don’t even try.”

Students participating in choir can expect to sing a variety of music from serious art music to lighter fare. The course strengthens each member’s musical voice and trains the vocalist to sing with an adult voice. Students can also expect much camaraderie amongst their fellow singers, according to Tobin.

“It’s your typical music group kids, most of them are pretty nerdy, I kinda like it. It’s a small group and everyone’s really friendly,” said Medeiros.

Music

Prior experience is suggested but not necessary to join the choir. Students can enroll in the concert choir for credit or register for the course through the Community & Continuing Education department for $29 per quarter for non-credit.