Jacobs School of Music facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Indiana University Jacobs School of Music
Address
1201 East Third Street Bloomington , Indiana
Information
Type	Public
Established	1921; 104 years ago (1921)
Dean	Abra K. Bush
Enrollment	More than 1,500
Campus	Bloomington, Indiana, U.S.
Information	812 855 1583
Website	music.indiana.edu

The Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is a famous music school in Bloomington, Indiana. It started in 1921. Before 2005, it was called the Indiana University School of Music.

More than 1,500 students attend this school. About half of them are studying for their first college degree. It is one of the largest music schools in the United States.

History of the School

The idea for a music school began in 1907. A man named Charles Campbell helped raise money for music education. He also gave talks about music history. This led to a music department at the university.

In 1919, Barzille Winfred Merrill became the head of the music department. He worked hard to make it a separate School of Music. A new music building was opened in 1937. It was later named Merrill Hall. In 1921, the music department officially became the School of Music.

In 1938, Robert L. Sanders became the youngest dean of the school. He helped the school join a national group for music schools. He also helped build the Hall of Music, now called the Indiana University Auditorium. In 1941, this auditorium opened. It hosted many events, including ballet and opera shows.

The school put on its first full opera in 1942. It was called Cavalleria rusticana. The famous Metropolitan Opera Company also visited the school for many years.

In 1982, the famous composer Leonard Bernstein spent six weeks at the school. He worked on his opera A Quiet Place there. The school also started a weekly radio show in 1980. It featured student and teacher musicians.

In 2005, the school received a very large gift of $40.6 million. This gift came from Barbara and David H. Jacobs. Because of this gift, the school was renamed the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music. In 2009, Leonard Bernstein's family gave the school many items from his music studio.

What Students Learn and Do

How to Get In

To get into the Jacobs School of Music, students must audition. This means they perform music for the teachers. They can audition in person or send a recording. About 25% of undergraduate students are accepted. For graduate students, it's about 30%. The number of accepted students changes for different programs. Each year, about 200 new students join the school.

Music Groups (Ensembles)

Most students at the school must join a music group. These groups are called ensembles. Students often have to audition to join them.

The school is very large, so it has many ensembles. There are thirteen choirs, three bands, and seven orchestras. These groups play many different styles of music. Some examples are the Opera Chorus, Symphonic Band, and Philharmonic Orchestra. There are also various jazz groups.

Students who study performance also play chamber music. These are small groups of musicians. Teachers often coach these groups. Students can also create their own orchestras. These are run completely by students.

Modern Music Groups

The school has two top groups for modern music:

• The New Music Ensemble: This group was started in 1975. It includes the best musicians from the school. They play new and challenging pieces.
• NOTUS: This is a 24-voice choir. They sing modern choral music. They often perform new songs by living composers.

Opera Performances

The Jacobs School of Music is well-known for its opera history. The school puts on five operas and one musical each year. These shows have different styles and sizes. They often perform classic operas by famous composers. They also perform older Baroque operas and new modern works. Students are the singers and chorus members. Many students also work backstage.

Study Programs

The school offers many different music degrees. These include Bachelor of Music (B.M.) for college students. They also offer Master of Music (M.M.) and Doctor of Music (D.M.) for advanced studies. Students can also earn a "Performer's Certificate" or "Artist's Diploma." These are for students who are amazing performers. The school also has degrees in Historical Performance. This means studying music from the past.

Awards and Honors

The Jacobs School of Music has received many honors. It has been ranked as one of the best music schools in the nation. Classical Singer magazine listed it as the top voice school in America.

Students from the school often win big awards. Many have won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. This is a very important competition in New York City. The school has had 33 grand winners in total. In 1981, the school's opera program made history. It was the first non-professional group to perform an opera at the Metropolitan Opera.

Teachers (Faculty)

The school has more than 175 full-time teachers. These teachers are famous performers, scholars, and educators. Many other top musicians also visit the school. They give special classes and lectures. They also serve as guest directors and conductors.

You can find a list of current teachers on the school's website.

School Buildings and Facilities

The school has five main buildings. They are located in the center of the IU Bloomington campus. These buildings have recital halls and over 170 practice rooms. There are also rehearsal rooms for choirs and instruments. Plus, there are over 100 offices and studios.

Musical Arts Center (MAC)

The Musical Arts Center, or MAC, is the school's biggest performance hall. It was finished in 1972. It has a round opera theater with seats for 1,460 people. There is also space for a 100-piece orchestra. The MAC also has studios, classrooms, and rehearsal areas. The stage is very large, like the one at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York. The MAC hosts six operas and three ballets each year. It also holds orchestra concerts.

A large sculpture called Peau Rouge Indiana sits outside the MAC. It was created by Alexander Calder.

Simon Music Center

The Simon Music Center opened in 1995 after a big update. It holds the William and Gayle Cook Music Library. It also has Auer Hall, Ford-Crawford Hall, and Sweeney Lecture Hall. The Latin American Music Center is there too. Plus, it has classrooms and offices for teachers.

Auer Hall

Auer Hall is on the second floor of the Simon Music Center. It is a beautiful auditorium with 400 seats. It has a high, decorated ceiling. The hall is home to a large organ called the Maidee H. and Jackson A. Seward Organ. This organ has almost 4,000 pipes!

Famous Alumni

See also

In Spanish: Escuela de Música Jacobs para niños