The Richland College Music Department is in total crisis. The pictures show the state of the practice room pianos. Of those pianos in the 11 rooms that are supposed to be practice rooms (but are in reality monopolized by adjuncts to teach lessons,) most of those pianos are in horrific condition. Many are missing key covers and most are out of tune and/or making abnormal and very bothersome mechanical noises. The two piano studio pianos are also in very poor repair and need to be rebuilt. The hundreds of students in the Richland Music Department are in a program that is for all practical purposes defunct and a total waste of tax dollars. How can the claimed 500 enrollments all practice in the 11 rooms that are only available for limited hours and on pianos in this dreadful condition?

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Richland College funds are being wasted on numerous things that are not in any way necessary to get students prepared for music careers and ready to transfer to complete their degrees. The Carnival of Steel related ensemble is just another ensemble that only a percussion major can transfer. With only 4 ensemble credits taken at the Freshman and Sophomore level that can be transferred and many other ensembles needing to be taken in the rotation for a percussion major, there are almost no students that should be enrolled in that group. Many students are being placed in that group that is just more among numerous hours that won't transfer and will put them in out of state tuition. Why are students not being properly prepared to transfer? Why are the facilities and equipment such as practice rooms and pianos and so much more not being funded adequately when thousands are wasted on Carnival of Steel and other non-essential nonsense?
A premiere DFW world music event, the 2020 Richland College Carnival of Steel Festival, is on Saturday, April 18 at Richland College in Dallas, Texas in its 17th Year!

This year, the COS Festival will feature steel bands, percussion groups, jazz bands, and vocal jazz groups from around the U.S. in a free concert performing all styles of music from Caribbean and Latin to Classical and Rock. The Festival Steel Drum Guest Artist in a performance demo clinic and evening concert will be world-renowned steel drum artist, Jeff Narell. Also appearing will be Steel Drum Artist, Festival Tuner, and Massed Band Leader, Shelly Irvine, as well as Jazz Trumpeter, Mike Steinel, and Vibraphonist, Ed Smith. Performers receive performance time, comments, recordings, and concert tickets.

Performances will be outdoors in the breezeway on the east side of campus adjacent to Fannin Performance Hall
I demand that the DCCCD Board appoint independent counsel to make a formal inquiry into the advising, spending and administration for the Richland Music Department that is clearly in crisis!