Music Facilities

Smith Hall & Rice Auditorium

Smith Hall comprises most of the classrooms, practice facilities, computer-music labs, faculty offices, and performance and rehearsal venues required by the department of music. The Music Department office is located in SH 102 and is open weekdays from 7:30am to noon and 1:00pm-4:30pm throughout the year. Exceptions are posted as they arise. Visitors may go to the office for information and students are welcome whenever they have questions. The department’s performance venues are located in Smith Recital Hall and Rice Auditorium.

Music Office

Please note that administrative assistant facilities, including computers, photocopiers, laser printers, and office supplies, are not available for student use. Students are not allowed beyond the administrative assistant’s desk without express permission from the administrative assistant.

Keyless Entry System: How to Obtain a Fob

For security reasons, and to accommodate students’ rehearsal needs during the off hours, some doors require the use of a fob entry system and numerical punch code. Students must obtain a security clearance form from the Music Department administrative assistant and receive permission from a faculty member before clearance is obtained. Return the clearance form, with appropriate signatures, to the music administrative assistant.

Students are expected to treat facilities and equipment with respect, and to not leave personal belongings or litter behind. Students who fail to observe these guidelines risk losing access privileges.

Practice Rooms

Practice Rooms are available for use 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students taking performance studies for credit may sign up for a reserved time in the practice rooms. Reservation sheets will be posted on practice room doors at the beginning of each term. Students are entitled to seven clock hours of practice room use per week for each two hours of music performance credit. Students must enter practice rooms within the first 10 minutes of the reserved time or forfeit the room for that session. Otherwise, vacant rooms are available on a first come/first serve basis.

Students should report any problems encountered with equipment in the practice rooms, including piano tuning needs, to the music administrative assistant.

Instrument Storage Room

The instrument storage room, located in SH 109, is kept locked at all times. The instrument storage room requires an access code to enter. Please refer to the statement above concerning keyless entry systems. Additional lockers are located in the building foyer and a few in SH 108. Please ask your performance studies instructor or the music administrative assistant about storage facilities that are available.

All instruments must be stored in a locker in SH 109 or the foyer. Any instruments stored elsewhere (in Smith Hall) may be subject to impoundment and assessment of a $10 recovery fee!

Rehearsal Rooms

Smith Hall classrooms 108 & 123 are open for classes and group rehearsals. To reserve these rooms during the nonscheduled times, see the music administrative assistant. After using a room in Smith Music Hall, please leave it the way you found it. This includes erasing chalkboards, replacing books, music stands, and chairs. In general, stereo systems and smart-room teacher stations are not available for student use. The Hamersly Library houses media equipment specifically for student use.

MIDI Keyboard Lab

Western Oregon University’s MIDI/Keyboard lab (APS 102) is a 12-station computer lab that features Macintosh computers, Korg MIDI keyboard controllers, and software applications for notation, MIDI sequencing, composition, education, timbre design, audio editing, and computer-assisted instruction in music theory. The lab also contains 12 digital pianos for piano proficiency courses.

The MIDI/Keyboard lab (APS 102) is an open-access computer facility for the Western Oregon University community. After-hours access may be granted to music majors. Please contact the music department administrative assistant for access information. When classes are not scheduled in the lab, students may use the lab, provided they follow the following Music Department policies and guidelines and University Computing’s Acceptable Use Policy.

• Only current WOU students may gain access to the MIDI lab, which has a key-code access door for after-hours access. Approval codes must be obtained from any Music Department faculty member. Forms for code assignment is obtained from the Music Department administrative assistant.
• Absolutely no food or beverages are allowed in the MIDI lab.
• No items, for any reason, are to be removed from the premises of this lab unless approved by Dr. Walczyk.
• Reconfiguring of the workstation is not allowed.
• During heavy use times priority will be given to students enrolled in music courses that require specific use of the MIDI lab to fulfill course requirements.
• Four workstations are equipped with audio interfaces and priority will be given to students who require the use of these specially equipped workstations for required class projects.
• The MIDI/Keyboard lab is a study area and must remain quiet at all times. All students are required to use headphones when working with audio equipment.
• The MIDI lab is not to be mistaken for a rehearsal space, storage locker, dining or sleeping facility.
• The downloading of non-appropriate materials will not be tolerated and will lead to sanctions, including campus lab restrictions and possible dismissal from the university.
• Students must make themselves aware of the “Acceptable Use” policy (outlined below) and adhere to those university guidelines at all times. Please keep in mind that failure to abide by these department and university policies can lead to sanctions, including campus lab restrictions and possible dismissal from the university.

Recording Production Facilities

The Western Oregon University Music Department houses a state-of-the-art recording facility in APS 230 and a recording production lab in APS 226. The recording lab (APS 226) is open to students pursuing studies in audio production and to audio technicians. The recording studio (APS 230) is not an open-access facility. Please make all inquiries about these facilities to Dr. Freymuth.

Recital Hall

The newly renovated Recital Hall (SH 121) is reserved as the primary chamber-performance venue in Smith Hall and is not accessible for unauthorized student use. Likewise, the smart-room technology housed in the Recital Hall is not available for student use. Food and beverages are prohibited in the Recital Hall.

Locker Facilities

Lockers, ranging in various sizes, are available for students to rent for a nominal fee. The lockers are housed in the Smith Hall foyer near the northwest entrance (across from the music office) and in SH 109. Students interested in renting a locker must contact the music administrative assistant in SH 102. All lockers must be cleaned out, in good order, and relinquished by commencement (last day of Spring term).

Hamersly Library

The Hamersly library houses a computer lab, conference rooms, the music collection (including CDs, DVDs, and published scores), and video and audio playback equipment. Check with your instructors concerning scores, recordings, and other media that may be placed on reserve in the Hamersly library.

Instrument Rental

A few instruments, owned by WOU, are available for music majors to rent on a term-by-term basis. The Instrument Rental Agreement must be filed with the department administrative assistant before any instrument is checked out. To obtain an instrument, please contact the faculty member responsible for each family of instruments. If a rented instrument is ‘impounded’ due to a student’s inability to appropriately secure the instrument then, in order for the student to reacquire the instrument, the rental fee will be assessed again.