FROM THE DESK OF THE DEAN | | |
March Quarterly Newsletter |
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They say that “March comes in like a lion, and out like a lamb.” Those of us in Bloomington are feeling that this year even more than usual. From the last week of February, we’ve had stunning, sunny days in the high 60s and 70s and days where the wind, hail, snow, and tornadoes are intermittently happening. I’m thrilled to share several strategic updates below as we finish the third quarter of this fiscal year. | | |
The MAC Gets an Upgrade |
We are aware of several pieces of federal and state legislation that have been noted in the press recently as potential challenges to the school. While the status and effects of this legislation continue to be fluid, the university has reiterated its commitment to remain a national leader in the arts and humanities. As expressed by Chancellor Reingold at the recent IU Faculty Council meeting, “The stature and centrality of the Jacobs School to our academic excellence here at Indiana University, Bloomington is without question . . . ,” noting that ongoing pride and confidence in the school’s future contributed to the university’s recent decision to move forward with a first-phase
$15.7 million investment in the Musical Arts Center. Jacobs has long set the national standard for comprehensive music education—and that leadership continues.
Opened in 1972, the MAC has served generations of IU students and hosted world-class performances for more than five decades. While portions of the facility have been updated over the years, this project represents the most comprehensive upgrade since the building first opened, ensuring it continues to support the school’s international reputation for excellence.
The improvements will enhance the experience for students, faculty, performers, and audiences alike by strengthening the building’s technical infrastructure and operational systems. Work will be coordinated with a planned roof restoration in summer 2026 to minimize disruption to performances and academic programs, and the project will move forward pending final state approvals.
Have no fear: The iconic carpet is not changing! What’s included in Phase I:
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Modernization of stage lighting systems
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Improvements to stage machinery and production equipment
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Improved theatrical communication equipment
We are grateful to the university for its unwavering support and know that with our united resilience today, we will continue to prepare musicians, educators, and leaders for excellence and impact across a rapidly evolving global arts landscape.
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Theatre, Drama, and Dance Come to Jacobs |
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The Jacobs School of Music is proud to announce that the plan to merge with the Department of Theatre, Drama, and Contemporary Dance, which has previously been in the College of Arts and Sciences, has been approved by the university. We could not be happier about this strengthening of performing arts at IU and cannot wait to welcome the department’s faculty, staff, and students into the Jacobs community. This new school will enhance synergies across departments (and performances), streamline resources, and create the largest, most prestigious school of music, theatre, and dance in the country. The process kicks off on July 1, 2026, and will continue to become more integrated and aligned over the next year. Cheers to an even greater Jacobs! | |
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Recital Hall Renovation |
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Owing to a generous $5 million gift from an anonymous benefactor, coupled with campus support for foundational facilities work, the Jacobs School is planning a renovation of Recital Hall to begin in summer 2027. At the heart of the project is the commissioning of a new organ for the space, the repair and extension of the stage footprint in order to support a wider range of chamber and ensemble performances, upgrades to A/V connection points throughout the space, improved lighting, new flooring, seating, paint and surfaces, sealing doors to reduce sound bleed in and out of the space, and addressing stage storage and green-room needs. The first step in the process will be the onboarding of an acoustic consultant to ensure that the whole project is designed in a manner that can
support the space’s range of uses. Special effort is being made to bring the hall up to contemporary standards while maintaining the architectural aesthetic of the venue. | | |
Spotlight: The Jacobs School of Music’s Music Education Department |
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The Music Education Department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music is a hub of innovation, leadership, and service that is shaping the future of music education across Indiana and beyond. From launching a forward‑thinking Music Pedagogy credential for high school students aligned with the state’s new diploma framework to engaging in high‑profile collaborations with partners such as the Metropolitan Opera in New York City, the department celebrates music education as creative, rigorous, and deeply relevant to students’ lives. Faculty‑driven initiatives champion world-class pedagogical techniques, research‑informed practice, and community connection—supporting Indiana educators, empowering young musicians, and expanding access to meaningful musical
experiences. Together, these efforts highlight IU Jacobs’ enduring commitment to artistic excellence and educational leadership in Indiana and the United States. | | |
New Resource for Indiana Music Teachers |
The Jacobs Music Education Department has developed a new Music Pedagogy credential for high school students, designed to support Indiana music teachers and their students as they navigate the requirements of the newly announced Indiana high school diploma framework. This initiative positions music education as a rigorous, career-relevant pathway while strengthening alignment between secondary and postsecondary learning.
The credential was developed by department chair Peter Miksza in collaboration with current and former doctoral students Xizi Zang, Eric deWeber, Chase Remsburg, Brandi Perkins, Zack Clark, and Eli Yaroch as well as Brian Weidner from Butler University. The curriculum introduces students to foundational principles of music teaching and learning, including student engagement, pacing and classroom management, instructional sequencing, assessment of learning, active versus passive listening, effective practice strategies, creative musicianship, collaborative learning approaches, and Universal Design for Learning.
Designed for broad accessibility and practical classroom use, the credential equips high school students with transferable skills relevant to music education and teaching-adjacent careers. The Music Pedagogy credential is expected to be available to all Indiana high school students by the end of the spring 2026 semester, reinforcing IU Jacobs’ leadership in supporting statewide arts education initiatives and innovative credentialing pathways. | | |
Metropolitan Opera Collaboration |
The Music Education Department is proud to collaborate with the Metropolitan Opera of New York City on a multifaceted partnership that advances high-impact music learning, rigorous evaluation, and national leadership in arts education. This collaboration brings together Jacobs faculty expertise in child-centered pedagogy, special needs education, and educational research with the Met’s nationally recognized education initiatives.
One strand of collaboration centers on curriculum design and pedagogical innovation. Professors Amanda Draper and Brent Gault are working closely with the Metropolitan Opera’s education team to help design and evaluate curricular materials intended for use by school educators with children. As content specialists in music and child development and music education for students with disabilities, their work ensures that these materials are both musically rich and developmentally responsive. Their contributions attend carefully to the artistic possibilities within the operatic repertoire while remaining grounded in the practical realities, constraints, and diverse needs of today’s classrooms.
A second strand focuses on research, assessment, and data-informed growth. Miksza, along with doctoral students Zang, deWeber, Li Kang, Rei Otake, You-Ling Wang, and Eli Yaroch, is partnering with the Met’s education coordinators to design robust quantitative and qualitative evaluation tools. This team is developing data-collection protocols to assess the educational impact of the Met’s curricular resources and to analyze national patterns in how these materials are adopted and used by educators. Their work will support the Metropolitan Opera in identifying geographic regions, school contexts, or student populations to target to guide equitable and strategic expansion of the programs.
Together, these efforts showcase the Jacobs Music Education Department’s leadership in bridging artistic excellence, educational practice, and research. The collaboration affirms IU Jacobs’ role as a national partner in shaping the future of music education—preparing educators, generating knowledge, and expanding access to meaningful musical experiences for children and schools across the country. | | |
The MusiColAbility Project at IU |
The MusiColAbility Project is a community music program directed by Draper that fosters collaborative music-making between Indiana University students and people with disabilities across the Bloomington community. Grounded in collaboration, creativity, and care, the project centers disabled musicians as creative partners and leaders in shared musical experiences.
Founded in 2023, the MusiColAbility Project (MCA) includes three program offerings designed to create multiple entry points for participation. ComeAllYa is a participatory class for young musicians with and without disabilities and their families, supporting joyful connection through singing, movement, and playful music-making. The MCA Drum Circle welcomes individuals of all ages and abilities into a shared rhythmic space emphasizing listening, improvisation, and collective music-making. These participatory classes are facilitated by Draper and Emma Lamberti, a master’s student in music education. The MCA Collaborative offers individualized music instruction codesigned by IU students and musicians with disabilities, with lessons shaped around each musician’s interests,
strengths, and access needs, including traditional instruments, adapted instruments, and digital tools.
With support from the Office of Entrepreneurship and Career Development and in collaboration with the IU Department of Special Education, MCA will host a Community Day of Music on April 19 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. on IU’s campus. This free, inclusive event will feature participatory music activities, a community sing, and a sensory-friendly concert performed by members of the JSoM Music and Games Society.
This year also marks the launch of the MCA Lab, an interdisciplinary research incubator bringing together students, faculty, educators, and disabled community members. Guided by disability studies frameworks and participatory design approaches, the lab conducts research with disabled collaborators, centering lived experience, shared decision-making, and ethical engagement in service to the disabled community. | | |
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Abra K. Bush |
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David Henry Jacobs Bicentennial Dean |
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