UCO to open music school in Bricktown

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BY GENE TRIPLETT
Published: October 9, 2008


The University of Central Oklahoma clocktower, in Edmond. Oklahoman Photo

Oklahoma is getting its own school of rock. The University of Central Oklahoma will open the first authorized U.S. version of Britain’s prestigious Academy of Contemporary Music on the fourth floor of Bricktown’s Oklahoma Hardware Building in the fall of 2009.

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Scott Booker, manager of the internationally known Oklahoma City-based alternative rock band the Flaming Lips, will serve as the school’s executive director.

"This is perhaps as creative and exciting a venture as I’ve ever been involved with in my experience in higher ed,” said UCO President W. Roger Webb.

The partnership with Britain’s award-winning academy will enable UCO to offer a range of hands-on learning experiences in the performance, production and business sides of the music industry. Initially the school will be funded through tuition, which will be higher than normal tuition fees, pending approval by the state board of regents, Webb said. Sponsorships from music industry businesses, such as musical equipment manufacturers, are expected to lend additional support in the future, the UCO president said.

Booker, who was instrumental in bringing British ACM officials and UCO administrators together, said the school would be a boon not only to aspiring music professionals, but the growing Oklahoma music scene as well.

"I’ve always been incredibly supportive of trying to do what I can for the music industry here,” said Booker, himself a UCO graduate and owner of Hellfire Enterprises, which manages the Lips and several other national and international acts. "I think it’s good for the state to be seen as internationally minded,” he said.

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British ACM National Business Manager Steve Lavington said other universities were considered for a U.S. partnership, but none were "as forward-thinking as UCO. We need forward-thinking people to adopt this model because it is a little bit out of the norm.”

"We work very closely with record companies, publishers, artist managers, etc., to place people into industry and have a very high success rate of doing that,” Lavington said.

Webb expects the first class to accommodate 150 students who will be required to audition for acceptance. Scholarships will be available to qualifying applicants. Tryouts are expected to begin in January or February. The initial teaching staff will be made up of about 15 people with professional experience in the music business, he said.

Upon the regents’ approval, the school would offer a two-year associate of applied science degree, the first such degree offered by UCO.

The Bricktown space will be occupied on a lease basis.

Contributing: Staff Writers Susan Simpson and

Steve Lackmeyer.


 

Related Topics: Entertainment, Music, Pop and Rock Music

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we hope everything works out for the best. we dont want to discourage any kind of learning or progress. considering some of the hours of operation of college courses, we may rarely run into problems as a lot of the coursework takes place after core work hours (at least it did when i was in college).
Jason, Moore - Oct 9, 2008 at 12:59 pm
@Jason: Though my degree isn't in music, I spent a fair amount of time in the UCO music building back in my college days. There's surprisingly little "blaring" going on, and actually, quite a bit of the music education experience is classroom based rather than clinical work with instruments and/or voice. Soundproofing is relatively cheap and I'm sure the landlord wouldn't want to lose the other tenants, so I'm pretty sure things will be taken care of in that regard.
Kevin, Oklahoma City - Oct 9, 2008 at 10:16 am
How great for UCO and the state of Oklahoma! Side note to Jason, I'm sure those involved have already thought of the necessary building/remodel issues involved. I'm sure you and others in the building will be able to carry on somehow.
Robin, Oklahoma City - Oct 9, 2008 at 9:43 am
Hello from a former UCO student and VOICE TEACHER/VOCAL COACH here in Peoria,Az! This is Melissa Black - owner of MUSIC BY MELISSA (home studio of Jordin Sparks) and i just want to say this is THE BEST NEWS i have ever read on this news-site! I specialize in teaching rock,pop and country music to aspiring singers and it is about time universities got caught up in this type of music!! I am proud to say that although i am an OCU graduate - i am also a UCO graduate - masters degree in vocal music ed - and i wish you all the best. GO UCO!!!!!
melissa, peoria - Oct 9, 2008 at 9:37 am
it's a good thing, as long as they are committed to soundproofing the floor that they are using. several businesses use the Oklahoma Hardware building, and if we cannot conduct business as usual, then they need to spend the money and soundproof it or move buildings. you cannot be expected to run a business with drums and guitars blaring through the ceiling. you would figure that a dedicated building would have been a smarter choice.
Jason, Moore - Oct 9, 2008 at 9:15 am
While it is patterned after a British model it can also take on aspects of the Julliard model where the class is also a performing venue. It will also be nice to have aspects of the Jazz Lab where high quality recording can take place.
I look for Jack Black to attend the opening.
Sparky (Mark), Oklahoma City - Oct 9, 2008 at 7:23 am
How cool! I think this is great for UCO and the state.
ryan, Edmond - Oct 9, 2008 at 1:02 am
Report as inappropriate or
Ignore ryan

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