Pensacola Christian College

Date: Dec 31 1969
Major: Music - Performance (This Major's Salary over time)
Sounds like the real problem at PCC is the admissions standard. If the tuition is low and the admission process is loose enough, many will come who are not at all in line with the school's Christian mission or standards. Therefore, numerous rules are seen as necessary to keep the students superficially in check while the morale is terrible and students want to "catch the spirit" somewhere else or express their view that "PCC sucks." Couple that with a largely behavioristic discipline system and antiquated educational philosophy and there will be lots of unhappy people. The school needs to spend some time on paradigm shift, internal morale, and instructional improvement—not just external marketing.

I was a graduate student in the music program at PCC and found that the campus was beautiful but fairly stifling. The rules for our summer school student body were not even close to the what the undergrads experienced, but they were still quite inflexible and bordered on ridiculous. But, I did not buck the system; I was fairly content in my music studies.

In terms of the music training—what really matters—I have a mixed opinion. The conducting classes I took were excellent, and I developed tremendously as a musician from conducting all these Handel and Brahms pieces, which had to be memorized and took hours to perfect. Good feedback from the eminently qualified teacher (an Eastman grad.) and my kind colleagues helped me a lot. When I went back to my school, I was a different teacher and choir director. Everyone raved about my new skills with a baton. Vocal training was also very strong, and I was able to improve the technique of my choirs, though my singing is not my strength . . . so the practical training was excellent. The facilities were exceptionally adequate.

The other classes, however, were all lecture-oriented and slow, passive, and dry. Emphasis was on memorizing and regurgitating with little conceptual mastery and significance being taught. I wish we had some more creative, interactive, or research-oriented instruction, which I don't think is too much to ask for a graduate program. The worship program on Sundays was massive, but largely out of touch. I wished for more bread from the Word . . . not frothy men's opinions about superficial issues, such as the preservation of the King James Version.

For graduate music studies I would recommend PCC if you are in a conservative, fundamental church or school and want to develop your skills. For serious research and academic training, and a more open environment, you may want to look elsewhere. I think it was good for me in small doses (summer school) as an older student, but many of my students who have gone to PCC have not finished because they were dissatisfied with academics or the student climate.