Photo by Marri Shaeffer '29
Pratt Music Hall
By Quinlan Cooke ’29
Staff Writer
As a first year student who has been on campus for less than two months, I can’t help but wonder if the lack of live music is something I should expect for the remainder of my four years. So far, there has been one live music performance on campus this semester: MHC Alt hosted three bands on Oct. 4. This performance was in Chapin Auditorium, and hosted by a student organization, not the College itself. As such, I believe that the College itself should host more live music events for the community and students.
Live music does wonders for communities. It brings people together as they flock to the sound. Music has also been widely known to engage the brain and be very stimulating. This means that music fits right in when it comes to a college setting. Mount Holyoke College is based in community, so much so that on the first page of the school’s website, there is a tab labeled “Build a Lasting Community.” This tab showcases how tight-knit the people here are, and is a focal point for prospective students. More live music on campus would only further help to strengthen this sense of community.
The College used to host mainstream artists for the annual spring concert, and tickets were available for students. A retroactively poor example of this would be when Kanye West performed in 2004. The only live music I have been privy to so far has been student musicians at Orientation-related events.
Music should be readily available for students to hear. There is always so much positivity and conversation drummed up when WMHC has a booth and DJson Skinner Green, so it is clear there is space for music here. There have been many thrift and jewelry pop-ups on Green, so why not more music? How mood-lifting would it be to walk by live music on your way to class? Or hear someone playing instruments and singing as you eat lunch on the Green? How nice does it feel to hear the song you queued on Rockbot while eating lunch with your friends? Or hearing a song none of you knew you all liked and having something new to bond over?
I always see fellow students walking around with earbuds in or headphones over their ears; if there was live music playing, students would not have to resort to their headphones. People do not talk to each other when they have headphones in, but if they were all listening to the same music right in front of them, there would be an invitation for conversation and community.
When you look up “music” on the Mount Holyoke College events calendar, the next event coming up is a tea with the music department, not a performance. When you search the same prompt on the CampusGroups app, there is only one event in December. Both of these events are indoors, and you would have to actively seek them out in order to be included. Music should also be something to stumble upon; You don’t find new favorite songs by searching for them, you find them by chance.
Music should be encouraged by the College, even if they have to bring in outside resources for it to be present for students. The live music we do have on campus should be more highly promoted by the school, and there should be a spotlight put on it. I feel that Skinner Green has a lot of potential as a casual music venue, even just in passing. Students deserve to reap the vast benefits of live music, especially on a campus where community is encouraged and so foundational.
Cat McKenna ’28 contributed fact-checking