Dr. Michael Hanawalt leads choral students during an outdoor rehearsal in the newly covered Owen Sellers Amphitheatre.
FSU Music Charts its Course On a Friday the 13th in March, College of Music students, faculty, and staff paused their vigorous pace of classes, concerts, and research for a well-deserved spring break.
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wo days earlier Florida State University had announced that due to the expanding coronavirus, classes would all move online beginning March 23rd with the hope that face-to-instruction would resume on April 6th. Unfortunately, in response to Governor Ron DeSantis’ “Safer at Home” order the University was forced to close on April 3rd. The entire campus shifted to remote teaching, and all performances were cancelled or postponed. The incredibly busy spring semester of on-campus music evaporated abruptly.
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Florida State University
It is in such challenging moments that the amazing creativity in the College shines. So it was that faculty members worked tirelessly to convert in-person classes to online meetings and sought expertise to utilize the best available technology for sharing music remotely. More importantly, they redoubled their efforts to connect with students, helping them adapt to the challenges they faced. Even as the buildings remained silent, homes now were filled with music and lively discussion as the faculty-student dynamic – the heart of what the College is – continued. When the end of the spring semester
