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MSC to Require Playing Test Certification in Order to Play Flag Room Piano

By Longboard of Regents , in Local News , at September 9, 2019 Tags: , , , ,

This article was featured in our Fall 2019 Print Edition. Copies are available throughout campus. Visit our Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter for location details. 


The Division of Student Affairs has voted to implement a certification exam to play the MSC Flag Room piano beginning this fall. This controversial decision was made after hours of debate between representatives from the Division of Student Affairs.

Those in favor of the new certification reasoned that due to the amount of publicity the flag room receives, only Aggieland’s finest should be permitted to provide top quality entertainment to guests and students alike. They also went on record to claim that students study more efficiently when not subjected to multiple failed renderings of “Für Elise.”

Those opposed to the playing test certification argued that all Aggies are entitled to demonstrate their abilities publicly regardless of their current skill level. They sought to make clear that discrimination based on talent is inherently wrong. 

The new rule hopes to filter through pianists so that students and visitors will not be disturbed by a mediocre performance of Adele’s “Someone Like You.” “We strive to provide the most exceptional campus experience to all of our visitors and fellow Aggies, so we evaluated where many of those groups spend their time,” said Colin Lopez, the Director of the Memorial Student Center. “Our evaluation found that the MSC is a hub for visitors, prospective donors, and current or future students alike. We simply cannot allow mediocre pianists to play and give off the impression that they represent the entire Aggie Family.”

Playing tests will be conducted inside the MSC practice rooms by Dr. Oscar Tiller, Director of Bands and Head of Music Activities. In order to register for a time slot, students will need to log in to their Howdy Portal, navigate to the ‘My Record’ tab, scroll down to ‘Student Rules,’ and select ‘Playing Test Certification’ from the drop down menu. Following this, they will be prompted to select a time slot based on their availability. 

The playing test will consist of demonstrating basic musical competence through major, minor, and chromatic scale tests. It will also incorporate a song portion in which those auditioning must prepare one excerpt from a piece of music to perform for Dr. Tiller. Any audition that includes excerpts from “Rondo alla Turca,” “The Entertainer,” or any pop song from the 2000’s to the present day will be immediately denied certification. 

Upon passing the playing test certification, students will see their Flag Room status updated within their Howdy Portal. The certification may only be attempted twice per semester. Once the updated status has been processed, students will be able to swipe their Student I.D. at the piano to open the keylid and begin playing. 

 

—Longboard of Regents