F r o n t   L i n e Modular Amelioration by Andy Snyder "Sweet Music. Ah, Sweet Music Everywhere!" This mantra adorns the graffitied walls of the men's bathroom in the depths of Old Cabell Hall. The quote has resided there for the past couple of years, mocking visitors who knew the quality of music one could actually produce in the practice cubicles, known as modules, in Old Cabell. They knew that one couldn't create sweet music in hot, sweaty cubicles on deteriorated, out-of-tune pianos. The environment dulled the mind and nauseated the discerning musician. Clearly the music department needed to renovate or replace the practice spaces. Soon after I read Jim Steichen's article "Edifice Wrecks" in The Declaration last spring about the dinginess of the modules, I started hearing rumors that the department might actually purchase new modules. Of course, summer came and went with no modules. The rumors started again near the end of last semester, and suddenly, through the magic of white-shirted, muscled movers, they arrived. The department completely replaced all the modules, giving the best possible (though belated) Christmas present to its majors and performers. The new modules, manufactured by Wegner (the same company that produced the old modules), are a vast improvement -- not only to the music-making environment, but to the general decor as well. The new modules are part of a wave of new technology better catering to musicians' needs. The most musically beneficial significant improvement comes in the form of new sound reinforcement capabilities. Now all of the modules have some limited reinforcement capabilities, and four of the larger units (including the module housing a grand piano) support environment selection. This means that the modules can simulate different acoustic settings: an auditorium, a large recital hall, an arena, an ordinary practice room, and other variations -- all at the discretion of the user. Walk across the floor in the "arena" and you will hear your footsteps echo for more than a second. You can imagine you're performing in the Kennedy Center or Carnegie Hall. This new feature allows students to hear more realistically the sounds they are producing. The modules are also now equipped with functional air conditioning. Imagine -- a place where you can create sweet music and feel good too. The improvement had been a long time coming, as the old modules had no circulation -- you were stuck with odors lingering from the last person who used the module. In addition to cooling you off, temperature control will also help keep the pianos in better shape, as pianos need a cool atmosphere to stay in tune. All the pianos were retuned before being hefted into the new modules, and two of the more dilapidated ones were replaced. Still, only one module contains a grand piano, but we can live with that as long as the uprights stay in decent shape. The final major improvement is better soundproofing. With the old modules, you had to suffer through some poor trumpet player's scales whether you were inside a module or standing in the hall. The new modules are better sealed to keep the sound in -- a feature beneficial not only to people in the hallway or other modules, but also to performers in the nearby auditorium. Now if we can only keep the Glee Club from making a ruckus during the Tuesday Evening Concert Series ... Some of this improvements have been due to the aid of administrators like Provost Peter Low and the Associate Dean of Arts and Sciences Richard Sundberg. I spoke briefly with Music Department Chair-woman Judith Shatin who along with others in the department valiantly succeeded in finding sufficient funds to address the problems surrounding the old modules. Shatin remarked that students have been integral to changes in the department, as their input helps her set priorities for the future. She is always interested in hearing more from students about their reaction to the changes and about any more suggestions that they may have for improvements. We also spoke about the contracts that students must now sign the first time they use the new modules. The contract restricts students from eating and drinking in the modules and from leaving the modules unattended for an extended period of time. Shatin hopes that this will help keep the modules and the instruments in better shape. Most music students have probably noticed other general improvements in department facilities. Besides new modules and new floor tiles, the basement ceiling has been replaced, and over Christmas workers patched up the ceiling in the auditorium. New doors were put up last semester at the front entrances, and over the summer the music library received major renovations to the floor and many other areas. Shatin spoke of other plans for improvement, including new furnishings for the seminar room in the Music Library and additional air conditioning in certain sections of Old Cabell Hall. Many of these enhancements have come as a result of breaking through bureaucratic red tape and opening the eyes of administrative types outside the department to see that, "Yes, Virginia, there is a music program at U.Va." But more importantly, student interest has swelled in the past few years. There is an increasing number of music majors and talented performers, and students have started to take great interest in the welfare of their department. For example, a benefit concert scheduled for April 2, led by the a capella groups, will raise funds for maintaining the pianos. One music student I spoke to thought that the current improvements will attract more students to the university's music program. Certainly, this is one consequence we all can hope for. Last spring, Jim Steichen compared the basement of Old Cabell Hall to a dungeon -- visitors and long time prisoners alike were afraid to descend into the depths. Musicians and tourists needn't fear anymore.

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