Dear ___,
I am a current student enrolled in NECC’s music program. This program has had a positive effect on me, along with my fellow classmates. I enrolled in 2014 after i was accepted to Berklee’s Professional Music Bachelors program but was not able to afford tuition. I chose to attend Necc because it was the only community college that offered the music courses I need to transfer to Berklee. Necc’s music program has allowed me to expand my knowledge of harmony and address fundamental issues within my musicality; all at a fraction of a conservatories price.
Necc’s instructors have also been great mentors to me; helping me succeed in many musical endeavors. One of which is becoming an instructor for Music&Youths Methuen Music Clubhouse. The courses have also helped with gaining critical information that I have applied professionally. Playing in the jazz ensemble for events in Haverhill prepared me for working in and running a general's business band. I have played weddings and corporate events across New England with former graduates of Necc’s music program; most are former jazz ensemble students.
This music program has allotted me the opportunity to grow exponentially as a musician. The ease of being able to live at home has helped me with saving money to pay for my education. The credits and guidance I have received will make transferring less of a financial burden. Also, In my time at NECC I have seen the level of musicianship grow and have seen a community of music students develop. For these reasons I am proud of my choice to take classes at NECC.
Best,
Sean
To whom it may concern,
I was personally very disappointed to hear that the arts programs at NECC were going to be cut. Especially the music program, as I am someone who completed that program and truly got so much out of it. Having never had a formal music education prior, the program and educators instilled in me the knowledge and mindset to create a career for myself in a demanding and challenging world.
I received my associates degree from NECC in General Music, and from there transferred to Umass Lowell where I completed my degree in Music Performance, graduating Magna Cum Laude. I believe that it was my time at NECC that helped build the drive in me to further my education and to succeed. Especially as a person who was attending college in my mid 20's at the time and working full time to put myself through school. Since then, I have built myself a career in music. I now teach and perform full time. This Spring I will be going on tour with a band in Scandinavia for a month, as well as throughout the States this summer. I firmly believe that at the foundation of my successes and opportunities is the knowledge, skills and insight I gained from my time at NECC. There are no community colleges in the area that provide programs in music, where students like myself can afford a quality education in the thing we love from educators who genuinely care and are willing to go the extra mile.
The professors in the Music Program have always gone above and beyond to helped students grow in a small, limited, but special program. Prof. Lecuyer always took the extra time with myself and so many others, outside of class time, to help us grow, including coming in on his days off to help the students. Prof. Bucchieri has hired me for pit orchestra jobs, continuing to provide the help that she can for her students. The passion and direction of him, Prof. Bucchieri, Prof. Deitrich, and Dr. Langer have helped me on my path, and always offered all that they could, especially when I would come to them with the more profound, existential career and life advice in the music industry.
These days I believe the world needs music and art more than ever, and that the answer isn't to cut these programs, but instead, provide the educators with the resources needed to create for so many others, what I have received. I hope to hear that the programs in the arts are able to continue and to grow so that others can find and discover what I have been able to. As somebody who is looking back from the other side, there was something truly special to me about my time there, and I would love for others to share in my experience.
Thank you,
Josh
It has come to my attention that Northern Essex Community College is considering cutting off the Music Program. This came as a huge shock to me, and I still can’t believe that this is being considered. During my first semester at this school, I was a Music student and the semester after I transferred to the Business program. Let it be known, that I 100% do not regret putting a single second of my time into those courses. Music has always been a huge part of my life and even now when I’m taking Business courses, music continues to play a huge role in my life. I am currently in 3 bands/projects and playing paid gigs, and none of that would have happened were it for not those classes.
I attended NECC straight out of high school, and after realizing that I wasn’t cut out for other music institutes, and having complications with other universities, I wasn’t necessarily too happy with coming to the school. The music program at NECC changed my mentality right after the first day. The music program is full of kind professors who won’t hesitate to help their students, and courses that can help a serious musician become better at their craft. While I attended the music program, I was introduced to a whole new world of music that I hadn’t known even existed up until that point. I learned about music theory (which completely changed the way I approach my guitar playing), I learned about the music industry through the wise words of professors and guest speakers alike, and I even learned of the many ways I can incorporate music into a career. From movie & video game scoring, being a studio musician, and even being a music therapist, the knowledge provided to me by the music program has been limitless. The one class that really impacted me the most from the music program was my Applied Guitar class. Ever since I finished taking the class I have done nothing but praise the class and constantly tell my other musician friends to take the class as well. On my first class of Applied Guitar I quickly realized that there was a lot I still had to learn when it came to guitar. So, every week after that class I would go home and practice everything that I was assigned for two hours each day. By the end of the semester I had left that class not only a better musician but also a better student. I took the dedication and passion that I put into my guitar playing and put it into other aspects of my school work as well. Last semester, I passed all of my classes with A’s and I believe that were it not for the work ethic that I developed during my music semester, I would not have done that well. I believe that for anybody who wants to pursue music as a career would benefit greatly from the music program at NECC and that is why I believe it should not be cut.
John
When I had first graduated from Haverhill High School I was very unsure about what it was I wanted to do. I had always known that music was something I deeply cared about but I had never really put serious thought into making it a profession in any way. Right out of high school, I got my first dead end job, shortly after left and went on to apply for a plumbing apprenticeship in hopes to start a career with a decent pay. At the time I didn’t look at it as settling. My parents would ask me if I planned on going to college, I mostly replied with a simple no.
It wasn't until a friend of mine who I had not seen for a while reached out to me because he was taking classes at Northern Essex the coming Fall semester and the campus happened to be right down the street from where I had lived. We caught up and he eventually told me he was signing up for classes the next day. I asked him what classes he was taking and among the several courses he had mentioned I heard him say "Recording I". At this point I was stoked. "Necco has a recording class?" I wanted in. So the next day my friend and I went to sign up for classes and that semester I was taking Professor Lecuyer's Recording I class and English Comp. I.
The recording class helped me explore an aspect of music that I've always admired and wanted to know more about, as well as introduce me to the fact that there was actually something that I felt like I wanted to do. The second I found myself in and out of class wanting to learn about the things I was interested in it had seemed like I had made my plan. My stay at Northern Essex was somewhat drawn out. My first couple semesters had a lot to do with feeling out the idea of going back to school. I would assert, however, that that school and the music program that I was so happy to be a part of served me very well. Aside from all of the things I've learned, which has really made me somewhat of a professional these days, the thing that I took from NECC the most were the people and the connections and relationships I have built.
I myself play guitar and sing. Around my start at NECC I had been playing a few acoustic gigs here and there. I eventually put together a three piece band which had played a couple function parties together. The drummer was someone I had met in one of my music classes. The three piece didn’t last, however, but later on the next year I had met my buddy Sean. We had gotten to know each other through Jazz/Rock ensemble. Sean and I were talking for a long time about starting a gigging band and eventually we recruited our friends Abimael and Dominic. They had been in Sean's Jazz ensemble the semester after I had finished the course. We had our first practice with a friend of mine that I had known since childhood and ever since, which I think is almost a year and a half now, we've been playing gigs as a cover/original band. There is serious money being made on our behalves also. At least a lot more serious than what I was used to.
The thing about the music industry is that unlike other jobs it's hard to measure ones success in an annual salary. I would definitely say that being awarded my associates for my time at Northern Essex was a great success in the sense that I wouldn’t be talking to the right kind of people right now if it weren't for it. I wouldn’t have such an understanding of what being a professional in my field actually takes. I wouldn’t be theoretically savvy enough to be flexible and be confident in my abilities. It may
seem like something expendable but I hope others can see the music program at NECC for what it actually was to me, which was a way to figure out what I actually wanted to do.
To the staff, faculty, and any other person of import at Northern Essex Community College…
Where I cannot, nor will I ever pretend to understand the stresses of running a college of any level, I can say that I understand the stress of being a 5 years blind student trying to find his way through the world. This letter is in response to the threat of cuts to the music department, and indeed all of the arts at NECC. Simply put; if the extent of the cut is true, then I feel just in saying that a large mistake is about to be made.
Where NECC is a leader in the arts, the music programs having been heard of in places as far away as California, any kind of cut to these programs would deteriorate the esteemed reputation that our fine school has rightfully accrued over the decades. With the music programs at NECC, I personally would not be as far along within my own life as I wish. The opportunities given to me as a blind man, not to mention the opportunities given to the ladies and gentlemen that find themselves in more average circumstances, are not to be taken lightly, and to take these away from us is a travesty. I beseech, beg, and implore you to reconsider cutting into the arts. The auditory and visual arts teach us critical thinking and creative problem solving, which is an absolute must and completes the well-rounded education that every individual needs to, not just live, but thrive in our community. The Maths and Sciences, Language Arts, and history are all necessary things to study, but they only teach us memorization and repetition. This isn't a bad thing. In fact, it's entirely important, but this is why the arts are also important. What good is learning when we can't think critically about what we're learning? What good is being able to creative solutions to problems if we can't learn something from the experience?
Please, consider my words with compassion in your hearts.
With all due respect and sincerity,
Cody
Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Katie. I am a current NECC student. I am currently in the music program to finish my AA. Also, I have already completed the music technology certification that NECC offers. I am writing to you to tell you more about how much I have enjoyed the music program at NECC.
Northern Essex offers a great music program. It not only helped me with my career but it also has given me the opportunity to be in a music community. That is exactly what the music program is, a community of musicians furthering their education. Students are able to advance their music skills as well as build a network of support. I have felt that the professors are there to support our academic knowledge as well as support students as a young musician. I have gained skills from my mentors during my time in the music program. I have also continued to keep in contact with my peers outside of the classroom to continue to further my musical knowledge and to occasionally perform together. We all learn together and grow together. That is why the arts are so important. We are a team of students that share a common interest in music and are also advancing our skills with the help of out professors at NECC.
I have enjoyed the music department very much. I have been at NECC for about 5 years. In this time I have grown academically and also as a person. I loved the music technology program that NECC offers. I had the honor of completing an honors project in my music composition class which was mentored by Michael Lecuyer. This honors course is a gem on my transcript. Without the music program, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to complete a project with a subject that I love.
Along with the music composition class, I have participated in concerts and performances. This has helped me as an artist. Christina Dietrich does an excellent job at guiding her students in their endeavors. She has helped me artistically. She has also opened doors for me including studying with an in demand vocal teacher in Boston. Without her, I would not have had this opportunity. This is why we need this program. I remember when I received my first standing ovation after a performance. This wat at an NECC concert. Without the music program, this memory would not have been possible.
The NECC music program has been a great foundation for me as an artist. The classes that I have had at NECC have made me a better artist and it has opened doors for me and built lasting connections as well as friends. I hope this program continues to grow and flourish. If I could offer any feedback, I believe that it would be very helpful for the music program was more advertised. A lot of people don’t know that NECC has a music program. It is a great program and needs to be advertised.
Thank you for your time.
Warmly,
Katie