Texas Association of Music Schools
Report of Two-Year Schools Roundtable Discussion
Friday, January 30, 2015
Rosebud Room
10:30 AM
Thirteen executives from two-year schools were present: Marylynn Fletcher, Todd Quinlan, Michael
Matchael, Eric Late, Phillip Lowe, Rob Page, Lynne Brandt, Jeff Gleason, Earl Holt, Jay Whatley, Kevin
Moody, Cynthia Bridges, and Steve Weber. We were joined by Executive Secretary/Treasurer Dr. Jim
Lee.
Two-year director Marylynn Fletcher verified everyone was on the list-serve and all knew which courses
were scheduled for deletion from the ACGM December 31, 2015.
Phillip Lowe reported the Field of Study questions on the list-serve showed music literature is the course
in the music field of study having the biggest variance. Some schools offer a one semester survey while
others offer two semesters of Music Literature.
The members present discussed methods of teaching Music Appreciation when students cannot even
identify a beat in music. One college has students study the major composers and then asks students to
find additional compositions by that composer on YouTube. Another executive mentioned it is
important to overstimulate today’s students. Their representative suggested that we investigate using
Prezi instead of PowerPoint. A discussion concerning student assessment in Music Appreciation ensued.
Blinn College mentioned students must write a concert report in which they use proper vocabulary to
describe the concert. The required number of concerts students must attend during the semester
ranged from two to five.
The next question discussed was “At your campus are the number of ensembles in which a student may
enroll each semester limited?” No one has a written limit, but the ethics of having students enroll in
more than one ensemble was discussed. Because of numerous ensembles some students surpass the
150 hour rule which forces them to pay out of state tuition their senior year. One school allows students
to enroll in their large ensemble and to take small ensembles as continuing education courses. These
small ensembles are listed as both academic and CE courses in their class schedule.
The issue of erroneous advising of music majors was discussed. This is problematic because of frequent
personnel changes in the advising department. Ideas for educating advisors include an annual meeting
with all advisors and also a breakfast at which music faculty members educate advisors. It is an ongoing
process because of the turnover in personnel.
To help advisors with the theory course sequence, one executive created a form for music classes that is
printed on colored cardstock. This has decreased the number of incorrectly advised students. As an
aside he mentioned the colored cardstock seems to be an important feature to ensure it is not
discarded. He will share this form with other two year college executives.
Discussion continued about ways to increase enrollment in the music theory sequence. Ideas included:
1. Offering Theory I fall and spring semesters and theory 2 spring and summer semesters. This
allows students who fail the fall semester or were enrolled in Fundamentals of Music, the
opportunity to be on schedule again by theory 3.
2. Another model was everyone takes Theory 1 in the fall. If a student fails Theory 1, they enroll in
fundamentals spring semester and take Theory 1 again the following fall semester.
A brief discussion about the differences between the AA in Music and the AA-Field of Study in Music was
held. It was noted that students wishing to earn a four-year degree, need to take courses on the AAField of Study in Music.
Robert Henry explained that he heard the reason the Spring 2015 ACGM does not have outcomes
defined for music classes is because the committee exhausted allotted funds before getting to the music
courses. If the legislature and board fund this endeavor, it will happen in the future.
Different ways of calculating faculty loads and part-time faculty courses was discussed. It seems every
college is handling the ACART requirements differently. In some institutions, FLEX courses are “outside” the normal rules. In others, part-time faculty can teach only up to half time over a year. While in
others, part time faculty can only teach up to half time each long semester including mini-mesters.
Some institutions have encountered hiring problems due to TRS reporting problems for retired TRS
employees teaching part-time at the institution. At one school a person was documented to teach one
day when in reality it was a one hour MUAP lesson. TRS questions about retirement and disability need
to be asked before hiring someone.
Respectfully submitted,
Dr. Marylynn L. Fletcher,
Two Year College Director