Loyola University Maryland has many outstanding liberal arts programs and among these programs, is the fine arts department, home to theater, art, photography, and music. Though it is a very small part of Loyola’s culture, the music program of the fine arts department is a thriving part of the college, important to both students and faculty. According to Loyola’s website, the music department is “fully integrated, emphasizing a three-pronged approach to the study of music… Students develop their knowledge of and capabilities in music, enhancing the power to perform, create, study, understand, and enjoy music. Faculty emphasize the development of interpretative performance, analytical skills, and creative, critical thinking.” Ronald Pearl, associate professor of music at Loyola, reflected on this mission of the music department, “One of the joys I have of teaching here is that in addition to being able to teach in my discipline, the world of classical guitar, I also get to teach music history courses, courses in music theory, world music, and it’s a really wide range of things. Every semester is different… it’s one of the things that I really enjoy about teaching at Loyola.” Some examples of classes taught in the department are Music Fundamentals, Music Theory, World Music, Music of the 20th Century, Music of the Romantic Era, American Jazz, and etc. Many performance ensembles are also offered, such as jazz band, chamber ensemble, classical guitar ensemble, steel pan ensemble, chorale, madrigal singers, and scenes for singers. Along with the variety of courses taught in the department, one thing that students seem to prize highly about the program is the quality of the faculty. Chris Taylor, a junior music major, who transferred into the program from a music conservatory, ranked the professors at Loyola higher than those at a school specializing in music. “Coming from a conservatory where everything was about music, I actually feel more welcome and at home with teachers like Dr. Villa who you can really tell loves music and loves teaching music, is extremely helpful and definitely makes the music department a wonderful place.” Fellow junior music student Tim Sullivan, also praised the faculty. ““I’m really appreciative of the fact that I can really get to know the faculty. They are very knowledgeable and very helpful…They are very patient and understand how to teach concepts to people… and that’s really great just having people who can communicate this stuff.” Some people, including senior MaryJean Campbell, decided to become a part of the music program because of the faculty. Campbell reflected, “I didn’t really expect to continue music education in college but I decided I would keep going with it once I met some of the teachers.” Though praise of the music course offerings and faculty involvement is certainly high, there are qualms among both professors and students about outside involvement for the department. As Campbell stated, “I wish the music department got a little more attention from students and from the administration. I feel like we’re kind of shafted sometimes… I’d like to see more students in the department because I feel like it really has a lot to offer.” Stephanie Lukin, junior flautist, is under the same opinion. “Even though I said that I liked that it’s small, it would be nice if it were maybe a little bit bigger, if there were just more people interested.” Even the faculty would like to see more attention given to the department. In talking about what the music department needs, Professor Pearl acknowledged that for the size of Loyola’s undergraduate population, a very miniscule percent is involved in music. He would like to see more students interested in participating in ensembles and lessons and attending the music department sponsored concerts, and not just for extra credit in their classes. The music department certainly has a lot to offer to all Loyola students from the range of classes they offer to the dedicated faculty members. If more students could get involved and interested in the program, the timbre of Loyola’s well-rounded culture would be stronger and more unique.