The SCASD Music Department is a huge community within the high school, and due to the move into the new building and the construction in the North Building many of the music students and teachers have been moved into temporary classrooms in the back of the north building (The 400 wing). The administration is planning to put in a full music wing which will be completed in the spring of 2019.

The music department is thankful for the temporary spaces provided by the administration but there have been several concerns dealing with space, seclusion, and general classroom conditions. Kristina Hughes, student president of the Music Honors Society, also known as Tri-M, raved about the music department’s student accomplishments and successes and though thankful for the temporary spaces. “It’s still incredibly unfortunate that the education of musicians, that I’ve seen grow and transform over my four years, is being treated as though it’s unimportant and secondary,” Hughes said. Elizabeth Bagley, secretary and treasurer of the Music Honors Society agreed the temporary spaces provided have been difficult to transition into. “We are now working with a very limited space for storage of instruments, music and uniforms,” Bagley said. William Hurtz, underclassman representative of the Music Honors society said the temporary spaces are manageable. “I understand why we have to make this small sacrifice for the eventual outcome of a nicer space,” Hurtz said.

There have been concerns about the general condition of the wing and the fluctuating temperature which has been affecting the condition of the instruments. Hughes  said, “Our main door into the 400 wing did not lock, we had no viable room for a secure in place drill and we had no way to exit the area quickly in case of an emergency…These issues were only addressed in response to the music students’ and music tears’ worry following the school shooting in Florida.” These problems have recently been brought to the attention of the administration and they are currently taking steps to fix the issues. Hughes also specifically expressed concern about the impact of construction on the student’s practice time, students have to leave early and arrive late to attend their other classes across the street which often cuts into practice time.

The music students have continued to struggle with the issues of their new practice space, “We are frustrated by how much longer our commute has become between classes, and some feel as if we have been forgotten by the administration,” Bagley said. Hughes also remarked on the frustrating situation and the feeling of neglectino when the administration had announced that with the new school the student body would finally be together in one school, “I, as a music student, felt very forgotten and overlooked. ‘One school, one building’ is not how we feel. Frankly, it made me very sad, and I know for a fact other students felt the same way,” Hughes said. Though there are issues with the temporary practice space, the music students are still thankful for the spaces and excited for the planned new music wing.