“Look at the most exciting things happening in the music world today, those ideas can usually be traced back to a time when the originators were in school and had the courage to pursue an idea from its beginning.” 

—Provost & Dean Kate Sheeran

SFCM’s inaugural Winter Term created the space for students to explore ideas that motivated them and gave them the freedom to delve into their inspirations. Launched in January 2016, Winter Term allowed students to explore a creative or practical pursuit that is generally not possible within the semester model.

For Sheeran, Winter Term was envisioned as, “a time when students explore the different sides of their passions as artists.” Featuring non-traditional subjects like tap dancing, yoga and music, and photography, Winter Term’s student-driven subjects seemed to be comprised of classes that one wouldn’t expect to find in a traditional conservatory setting. But for student Justin Bays, “We do need to hone our craft inside of the practice room, but there are other facets to our craft outside of that.”

Cultivating students as artists is a part of SFCM’s mission, and a commitment to artistry is a requirement of a professional musician. Winter Term allowed students to explore subjects outside of their degree curriculums without the pressure of a grade. For Tamara Richards, “This was a time to just try.”

“Winter Term has been this special little space carved out of the school year,” says master’s student Corinne Rydman. Students used the time for professional development, “I was able to build a website, a business card and a Facebook page,” says voice student Alexandra Gilliam. “Winter Term was a time that has allowed me to bridge what I learned at SFCM and my future career as a musician.” For Andrew Ross, “Winter Term has allowed me to explore things that I would have to pay outside of SFCM to experience.”

“Our classrooms and concert halls were teeming with excitement, innovation, and creativity during our first Winter Term. I was delighted to see the project ideas of our students and faculty come to life, and I'm already excited to see what happens next year!” says Sheeran. For Shandra Stiemert, “I enjoyed it because it allowed me to focus 100 percent of my attention.”