Yet again, the five members of Texas Wesleyan’s percussion ensemble must practice in a cramped storage closet between the main stage and backstage. All the while, larger ensembles echo from the stage next door.

“There is only so much they can do with the equipment we have,” said Marcos Porras, sophomore music education major. “Because we don’t have the necessary facilities or the necessary instruments, we fall behind.” 

The music ensembles often must coordinate practice times with each other on the main stage. Larger ensembles, such as the choir or wind ensemble, take priority. Smaller chambers, such as the trumpet or woodwind chamber, are able to practice together in the classrooms. With the percussion ensemble using large instruments such as marimbas, timpani drums and xylophones it is difficult to fit into classrooms. To make matters worse, they cannot reserve the stage because they’re a smaller ensemble of five members. So, they often have to find their own time, and space, to practice.  

At times, percussion musicians must play on alternate instruments that can fit in their cramped space to rehearse as best as possible under the circumstances.  

“Sometimes we don’t even get to practice on our instrument,” Porras said. “We have to use pianos in the piano lab. We know what the notes are, but we also don’t know how to play them correctly on the keyboard because we haven’t been using our mallets.” 

Mai Hessel, adjunct professor of percussion, explained that she has tried multiple times to bring this issue up to the university. At one point, she and the percussion students wrote letters to the Provost Office requesting additional funding for their department. Their request was denied. Hessel explains that the university wants to expand the program without providing additional funding

“They [the university] just say that they have been facing budget cuts and don’t have enough money, but then they try to expand the number of students,” said Hessel. “I really don’t think it’s feasible.” 

The university did not respond when asked for a statement.  

In Spring 2023, a proposal was submitted and later accepted for a $10 million expansion to the music building to accommodate the increase in the size of the music program. Dr. Ilka Araujo, chair of the music department, said the project has been sidelined by the Office of Advancement to finalize the completion of the Karen Cramer Stadium.

Until then, the percussion ensemble remains in their cramped conditions.  

“The percussion division of the university still does not have an ideal rehearsal room or storage space,” Araujo said. “That will just be accomplished with the expansion of the building on the east side.” 

The university has additionally pushed for the creation of a marching band which would include the percussion ensemble. Araujo suggested that the current problems that the percussion ensemble faces must be resolved first.  

“Since the music department has been growing student numbers and aiming for a full Drumline for the Marching Band, the physical limitations of the percussion division are obvious and becoming a serious obstacle in that development,” Araujo said.  

With percussion performing at multiple events such as football games, pep rallies, the Boys and Girls Club, concerts and more, Porras believes that investing in the department is crucial to creating a quality experience for both the department and the audience.   

“Our solo skill level might be good coming out of Texas Wesleyan, but when it comes to ensemble playing, it is not going to be on par with any other university,” Porras said. 

Hessel said that the ideal situation would be for percussion to have their own studio, so that they have enough space for instruments and be loud enough to not disturb other ensembles. For now, all she and the department can do is continue to try to raise awareness about this issue.  

“People don’t even know what we are facing,” said Hessel. “I’m trying to speak our problem with other people and try to make the people [realize] this is a problem rather than just bury it.” 

Hessel is currently working to create a fundraiser for the percussion section. For now, she said that those interested in supporting can donate here through Friends of Wesleyan Music, which will benefit the entire music department.