The director of the Applied Music program within the Department of Performing Arts found herself burdened with an impossible task leading up to the fall 2025 semester.
DPA Department Chair Dan Abraham notified Applied Music Program Director Nancy Snider that because of complications resulting from a budget realignment, there would have to be changes to the eligibility requirements for Applied Music lessons. Some students would have to be told they could no longer take lessons, months after registering.
The Applied Music program allows eligible students to receive private, one-on-one lessons with a music department faculty member for one or two credits, as described on the University’s website. According to a set of updated program guidelines obtained by The Eagle, there are new restrictions on eligible populations for aspects of the program.
Only DPA students are now guaranteed eligibility for lessons. Two-credit, hour-long lessons are available only to Music and Musical Theatre majors. All other students, including those who perform in an ensemble but are not students in the DPA, are now eligible only for one-credit, half-hour lessons.
Previously, both forms of lessons were open to all students majoring or minoring in Audio Technology, Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre or the music performance specialization of Business and Entertainment. All students performing in one of seven DPA ensembles were also eligible, regardless of major.
According to Snider, the eligibility change stemmed from cuts to the working hours of the University’s piano accompanists, known within the music program as collaborative pianists.
“You need to offer collaborative piano to vocal students,” Snider said. “It’s part of best practices in vocal study. We want to continue to offer best practices, and the only way we can do that is by limiting the number of students.”
Abraham said that every year the department must look at where money can be more effectively spent. This year, Applied Music was one of many areas throughout all DPA programs that required reworking.
He said that while the department would like to serve the needs of all students, it needs to be realistic in what it can accomplish.
“At a certain point, there has to be some limitations in order to maintain the budgets that we have that were assigned,” Abraham said.
But some students believe having to take shorter lessons negatively affects the learning experience.
Zoe Kazanzides, a junior in the School of Communication, was a vocal student in the program as a freshman and sophomore. She was not planning to take Applied Music lessons this year regardless of the cuts, but believes the reduction in lesson length is harmful for vocalists since it provides less time for students to perform warm-up exercises.
“I learned so many valuable warm-ups and honestly, warming up in my lesson would take about 20 minutes,” Kazanzides said. “If you have a 30-minute lesson, you don't have time to practice any warm-ups with your voice teacher, which is important before getting into singing your repertoire.”
Kazanzides said she was planning to rejoin the program next year, but is worried that the new restrictions on non-majors will make doing so difficult.
“I would love to take voice lessons again my senior year, and that would be unfortunate if I'm not able to,” Kazanzides said.
Will Werling, a senior in the School of International Service, has performed as a clarinetist in AU’s Pep Band and Symphonic Band ensembles since his freshman year. He has also taken piano lessons in the Applied Music program. Despite being abroad this semester, he is planning to rejoin the program when he returns.
“I’m [now] signing up for 30-minute lessons rather than an hour-long lesson, which does make a difference in the depth of your lessons or how much content you can get to,” Werling said. “But that I can still take lessons, even though it's with another instrument, I think is a great benefit.”
The number of instructional weeks has also been reduced.
According to Snider, many Applied Music students partake in juries at the end of the semester, performing in front of a panel of music faculty to demonstrate their progress. While these juries previously took place following 14 weeks of instruction, they will now be incorporated into the 14th week.
Abraham said this change allowed more leeway for Applied Music teachers who do not work for the University full-time.
“We have many freelance musicians who are teaching in our studios,” Abraham said. “[It] allows a little bit more flexibility when they have to miss or when [a student is] ill and they have to reschedule.”
Many DPA students reacted with disapproval of the changes. In September, an Instagram account was formed to promote a petition written by students that was sent by email to Abraham.
The initial post garnered 80 likes, and included excerpts from the letter with sentiments like “we need more communication about the budget realignment” and “major budget cuts but we are paying the price.” As a result, an open meeting was held on Oct. 3 between Abraham and DPA students.
But not all students are dissatisfied. Alex Jurado is a sophomore majoring in music within the College of Arts and Sciences and is a vocal student in the program. He said he does not think the reduced lessons will have a significant impact on his development.
“I think losing one week of lessons isn’t really that big of a deal, especially if you’re practicing at a high level outside of your lesson, which you really should be doing anyways as a musician,” Jurado said.
Abraham said that despite these changes, he is ultimately confident in the future of the Applied Music program and of the DPA as a whole.
“I think the University understands that the arts are an important part of what a holistic institution must be,” Abraham said. “And with some little tweaks, I think we can be even stronger.”
This article was edited by Payton Anderson, Abigail Hatting and Walker Whalen. Copy editing done by Sabine Kanter-Huchting, Emma Brown, Avery Grossman, Audrey Smith and Ava Stuzin.
