CARLY SUMMERSON
Special to The Leader
Students across the country, regardless of grade level, have been adjusting to the new normal of online learning.
For college students especially, there are many majors that can be easily accommodated to virtual lessons.
However, there are several that are dependent on in-person classes in order to learn certain material.
Various majors at Fredonia have been drastically affected by the new online transition — specifically the performing arts.
Being a college music, theatre or dance student in 2020 is something like no other.
Many might wonder how these students at Fredonia are really feeling about their class situations this semester.
Meaghan Lawrence, a sophomore music education major, has had several opinions on how she has been getting used to her new version of music classes. Out of her 15 classes in total, 10 of them have gone remote.
Regarding the difference between her workload, Lawrence said, “Music majors take a lot of classes and credits each semester, and it’s hard to mentally remember everything you’re supposed to be doing when it’s all online.”
Typically, these majors are performance-based and dependent on having rehearsals.
There is only so much they can do online while still receiving credit and the same education as past students who had everything in-person.
Remaining positive about her online classes, Lawrence said, “I think they’re effective, but nothing beats in-person learning.”
“I think it’s weird that a lot of 100-level general education classes are in-person, but not my personal lessons, conducting classes or rehearsals. It’s frustrating that they can’t have them in person, but I don’t know how they could do them otherwise while keeping all of Fredonia’s safety measures in place.”
Music, theatre and dance majors all share a similar feeling this semester and have a lot in common with their classes from having rehearsals, ensembles and more.
Leah Von Ohlen, a sophomore BFA dance major, also shared her experience with the current online situation in the dance program.
“I’m only in the studio twice a week for my one class. I’ve been taking the rest of my dance classes in my dorm room and common room, so it’s been hard. I’m also dancing on a sprained toe joint and the floor in my common room isn’t as safe as the dance studios,” Von Ohlen said.
It can be very different having to dance in a dorm room rather than a spacious dance studio, which is why many of these students may feel that they’re in an unfair situation.
Even if Fredonia could offer in-person classes in these particular programs with all the correct safety precautions, it would still risk the health of students and staff.
“When I first learned half of my dance classes were all online, I cried and was disappointed because I hadn’t been in a studio since March,” said Von Ohlen.
“I was glad ballet was in-person because that is my base class for everything else. I think for my general education classes, it isn’t helping [being online] because people are cheating on exams and are developing bad study habits. For my major, with Zoom dance classes I feel like it’s not as personal. I’m not getting the correct corrections I need.”
Obviously, being able to give every student at Fredonia satisfaction but also a feeling of safety at the same time can be nearly impossible.
These students come to college in order to receive the right education for their future careers, but that education isn’t the same as it was before.
It’s difficult to know when things anywhere will be considered normal again.
No one knows what the futures of these majors could look like if everything continues to be virtual in upcoming semesters.
With the thought of these students in mind, though, maybe there will be some sort of change.