An Essential Part of the Human Experience

Music is an essential part of the human experience. It predates written literature. In every culture, music is used to express the greatest sentiments of love, joy, and triumph. Music has always been important in my life, and that of my family. My mother, MarAbel, graduated as a music major from the University of Oregon in 1932 and continued playing piano until the age of ninety-three, just a year before she died. My sister Mira and brother Phil also studied at the School of Music and now enjoy performance and teaching careers. So my whole family has been cemented not only by music, but music directly tied to the contributions of the University of Oregon School of Music.

Music was a centerpiece of our family. For my mother, playing piano was a way of expressing herself and bringing our family together. For my brother and sister, music was a life calling. For a university, music is fundamental—for majors and nonmajors alike.

Both a discipline and a means of expression, music has great power. To me, music is an integral part of a liberal arts education. Music takes discipline. It involves deep integration of brain functioning, from math and physics to lyrical writing and freeform expression.

Much has changed in the field of music: the study of jazz, the advent of electronic instruments, and the expansion of multicultural research, to name a few. However, very little about our music building has changed since my mother attended the school in the 1930s. Today, more than 500 majors and thousands of other students use facilities designed for 300.

In spite of this, we have one of the most highly respected music schools on the West Coast. Having done so much with so little, it is time we realized our full potential. That’s why we’re making renovations to the School of Music a key part of Campaign Oregon: Transforming Lives and why Lynn and I have made a commitment to the School of Music building campaign in honor of my mother, MarAbel.

Dave Frohnmayer
President, University of Oregon