What Students Really Say About Farmington


Did you come to Farmington as an Individualized: Music/Writing major?
No, I actually came in as a Secondary Education - English major. I wanted to go into Music before I came here, but in my senior year of high school I was into English and writing more. I had a Music History c lass my freshman year here and found out I could do writing and music history — combining my two interests in musicology.

Do you play an instrument?
Yes. Right now, guitar, violin, synth and laptop.

Do you play in the UMF Community Orchestra?
I did. I played in the UMF Community Orchestra for two semesters. It was a lot of fun!

Where do you plan on taking this dual major?
I'd like to get my Master’s and Ph.D. in Musicology, which is the study of music and an analysis of music history. I really want to be a music professor, either teaching history, music technology, or sound art.

Here, they not only want you to see music from a historical perspective, they want you to look at it through anthropological studies and take it different places — specially Music History. I’ve also been able to develop my writing as well as becoming a better musicologist. You get your theory, your music history, your performance — you can do anything here.

Wow, you have quite a plan! Have you already been looking at graduate schools?
Yes. I got accepted to a quite a few. I picked McGill University in Montreal to take me to the next step in my musical journey during grad school.

So, what's the Music program like at Farmington?
The Music program here is incredible. Basically, you can create the program to what you want to do and which specific music field you want to go into. The Music program here lets you focus on different areas, like Musicology, Music Composition or a Music Studies emphasis. I chose the Musicology emphasis. You can really follow your own individual path within the program.

I spent this past semester in New York City on an internship at The Kitchen [the renowned center for video, music, dance, performance, film and literature] and at Nonesuch Records. The Individualized aspect of my major — and the Music Arts program — made it all possible. And what an incredible experience it has been! Seeing concerts constantly and studying my research area (the New York Downtown Music Scene: 1970-1984) first-hand in the very place it happened! It's the perfect capstone experience to my time here at UMF.

And what are the Music professors like at UMF?
I’ve found Steve Pane [Professor of Music] and Philip Carlsen [Professor of Music] are always there for me. I can go in to talk to them and they’ll always help me — they’re two great guys to work with. They’re phenomenal and they both have great personalities, just a wealth of musical knowledge. And Lily Funahashi [Lecturer in Music] is an incredible pianist and a great piano teacher. She’s also given me a lot of support. Overall, the Music program at Farmington is a fabulous program, which is going in a cool direction — toward a contemporary music focus, while keeping the core music history within reach.

Have you performed a lot?
Yeah, I've performed quite a bit in Farmington. I performed with the Chamber Choir earlier in my studies and also with the UMF Community Orchestra. Lately, I’ve been composing experimental electronic music and performing that, as well as free improvisation around campus and at the annual Arts Night celebration.

What has been your favorite part of being a Music major?
I’d have to say my overall growth throughout the program. I came here as a contemporary music lover — rock, folk, and pop — but with a classical music background as well. The two had always been two separate music genres for me. But then I studied Musicology, and that changed my life. I combined my interests in rock and classical, and did a lot of research on it. I found my life’s calling, and my education here has helped me follow it.

Plus, I’ve been able to have close interactions with my professors and get constant feedback and be steered in directions that led me into different areas of my education. Working with my professors has opened so many doors for my future. If you have the drive and are willing to work with the professors, you’ll get an amazing education here.

What about work experience related to your Music major?
Well, I’m a Research Assistant for Dr. Steve Pane. I’ve worked with him for two- and-a-half years now. We’ve produced concerts where he would play works on piano — he’s also a concert pianist — and I would present the history behind the music pieces being performed. My Research Assistant position culminated with Steve and I co-authoring a professional paper on the band Radiohead. It really helps to have a mentor to push you along the way and Steve has been there for me every step.

Isn’t the Music program setting up a new Music Lab?
Yeah, I worked on setting up the initial three-station music lab. Now, the music lab is going to be expanded into an even bigger space, with more toys!

Is there anything about UMF you don’t like?
Actually, Farmington is the only school I applied to when I was picking colleges because I said at the first open house, “You know what? This is the only school I’m going to apply to. I like it because it has a home-like feeling.” Now I live off campus and it still has that home feeling. Farmington is this little place in the mountains of Maine that you wouldn’t expect to be here. It has the most kind and open-minded people and it’s such a fertile learning environment. It’s an interesting place to be and there are so many motivated people here with ideas. And, Farmington is the type of school that, if you have ideas, you can make them happen. I don’t want to leave, but I know I have to! [laughs]

Is there anything about Farmington you would change?
There are some classes I’d change but not too much. I can’t complain much — I’ve enjoyed my time here.

Aside from music, what do you do for fun around here?
Well I snowboard in the winter, so I go to Sugarloaf and Titcomb Mountain all the time. I’ve practically adopted Titcomb because it’s so close and it’s such a family environment. It’s just so Farmington, that Farmington thing. I don’t know what it is — it’s just an inviting community. I bike as well, and the biking around here is great — either mountain biking on the trails or on the road, you always have beautiful scenery to look at.