Experiencing Music: In the Classroom and in the City

As I conquer the fall semester of my senior year, I’m really lucky to have two music classes that count towards my minor and also for my own personal enrichment--Music Before 1600 and Music Theory I. Music Before 1600 is a really special class for me. My professor, Dr. Eric Bianchi, also taught my Intro to Music History course, and his dynamic and energetic teaching style definitely inspired my decision to become a music minor. In that class, I’m challenged to look at and discuss the significance of ancient pieces of music that I don’t get to hear quite often. I also get to enhance my musicianship skills by transcribing Gregorian chants into modern musical notation--all of which have contributed to my greater appreciation for Gregorian chant music and early polyphonic songs. As someone who already appreciates listening to and performing music, Music Theory has been a great way for me to learn the technical side of music and how to study the process of notating music correctly. My professor, Dr. DeCusatis, utilizes the piano and actively plays out intervals, triads, and scales, and gets us to sing along with him. By the time we’re done playing out these notes on the piano, these concepts are permanently engraved in our minds for our homework and for future musical reference.

An excerpt of a Gregorian chant that I had to transcribe for homework.

Instead of a textbook, Dr. DeCusatis has "Brain Organizers" to teach us Music Theory lessons instead.

But music not only comes in the form of academic study. As a student in NYC, these music theory concepts can definitely be applied to live performances or concerts that we can attend. Last week, I was able to attend Idina Menzel’s album release party at the Brooklyn Bowl where she previewed some songs off of her new album right before it dropped. It was an intimate venue and, I have to admit, I was singing and dancing along to her songs while trying to apply some music theory concepts to what I was hearing, as nerdy as that can be. Is she singing in a major or minor key? What meter is this song in? Can I identify any triads that I might be familiar with? It was definitely a once in a lifetime experience to be at an album release party, but what made it even better was knowing that I had gained some musical knowledge to dig even deeper to Idina Menzel’s new songs.

Idina Menzel singing at the Brooklyn Bowl!

Your Guide to a NYC Summer Bucket List

Long Branch Beach, New Jersey

As a local New Yorker, my family is always planning vacations to escape the concrete jungle we call home during the summer months. However, this summer was going to be different. My extended family was visiting from Canada and I had gotten a student worker position at the Undergraduate Admission Office. I knew it was going to be impossible to take an extended vacation so my friend, who was also staying in at Fordham College at Lincoln Center, decided to come up with a summer bucket list to complete. We complied our list based on two things: the events had to be free or cheap and within two hours of driving distance for any day trips. So over the month of June, we participated in free yoga and Latin dance classes that were taking place in Bryant Park. Also, many parks around New York City were screening free outdoor movie nights. We caught the all time classic Back to the Future at Bryant Park and Frozen at Randall’s Island. You can drive into Randall’s Island if taking the RFK Bridge from Queens, Manhattan and the Bronx. If coming in from Manhattan, a cheaper option is to take the walking passageway or one of the MTA local buses that frequently make trips to the island.

For my water lovers, I was able to able to take multiple free kayaking trips in the Hudson River. The two most popular locations are Pier 96 uptown and Pier 26 downtown. What I really love about the NYC free kayaking program is how accessible and easy it is. I went to Pier 26 a total of three times and every time I went before 10 am, I barely had to wait in line. There is a waiver that you have to sign but the good news is that you do it once, and it’s good for the rest of the season. There are single and double kayaks available as well as free lockers, lock, life jacket, and a changing room. For the perfect afternoon activity with your partner in crime or significant other, Central Park offers daily boat rides that you can enjoy right at the heart of the city. While not free, boating was a lot of fun because of the beautiful location and atmosphere. For people seeking a little more thrill, we did drive out to the Six Flags Great Adventure Hurricane Harbor water park in New Jersey. If you don’t have a car, not to fear! There are group buses that take folks into six flags from Manhattan. For the perfect day beach trip, we headed out to the shores of Jersey to Long Branch Beach. It’s a cute little resort town about two hour drive from NYC but also accessible via the NJ transit as well. Long Branch does a really good job at making us forget we’re still in the tri-state area with its gorgeous sand dunes and palm trees.

Smorgasburg eats at East River State Park, Williamsburg

   Last but not the very least, no vacation is complete without exploring the local food scene! Summer is a great time to dine out in NYC because of the many different food festivals and events that take place. Taking advantage of Restaurant Week, I tried out Korean, Mexican, and Mediterranean fine dining. Another really cool way to explore new kinds of food was going to the Smorgasburg food fair that takes place in various locations around the city every week. They promote 100 local vendors of various world cuisines and it’s basically a one-stop shop for any form of food craving you could possibly want. I tried vegan burgers, Ethiopian food, Hawaiian food, Vietnamese food, as well as a variety of ice cream shops in my visits. As you can see, there are plenty of ways to enjoy NYC that doesn’t have to include going to all the tourist attractions. I completed my first summer bucket list here in my “hometown” and I can’t wait to see which city to explore next year! 

Finding Cleveland in NYC

One of the main reasons I decided to attend Fordham was because of its prime location.  Living in NYC for the past three years has been an incredible experience, and I would not trade it for anything, but that doesn't mean I don't get homesick from time to time.  Because I'm from Cleveland, Ohio, I only get the chance to go home during longer school breaks, so I've found some in things in New York that remind me of back home.  

Luckily, Fordham has a way of bringing a bit of Cleveland to me here.  Last month I attended the Cultural Affairs Raffle.  These raffles happen each month, and students have the chance to purchase discounted tickets to events around the city, usually Broadway shows or sporting events.  When I went, I had the option of getting tickets to Finding Neverland, an opera, or a Brooklyn Nets game.  I chose the basketball game because the opponent for the night of the game was the Cleveland Cavaliers! I was so excited that I would get to cheer on my team even though I was 500 miles away from the Cavaliers' home court.  

Barclays Center where the Nets play 

Great seats for only $20

I was able to bring my friend to the game, and even though the Cavs couldn't manage a win that night, we still had a great time.  Getting to the Barclays Center was a simple as walking up Fordham Road and taking the 4 Train, and on the way back we took the D train and road back to campus from the subway station in the Fordham security shuttle that waits at the station for students every night. 

Trying to enjoy being a college student in NYC while maintaining a budget may seem like a daunting task, but Fordham works to give all students the opportunities to experience the best of what the city has to offer.  Each of the tickets I got for the game had a face value of $115 (yikes!) but I only had to pay $20 for each (score!).  As a Fordham student, I am able to take full advantage of living in NYC, and even though I miss Ohio at times, I can always find ways to bring a little bit of home here. 

The Cavs warming up

Time for tip-off

LeBron James shooting free throws  

Weekend Update

Caroline Lebranti

Keating Hall on a bright and sunny day

This weekend at Fordham was pretty exciting since it was the first couple of days where it was super sunny and nice enough to be outside without bundling up! On Saturday CAB hosted a County Fair around Eddies where students could play carnival games and get free popcorn, cotton candy, and ice cream. After hanging out there for a while some friends and I hopped on the D train and made our way to Brooklyn where we basked in the glorious weather, played bocce in Park Slope, and got ice cream at Ample Hills Creamery (highly recommended... try their Mexican hot chocolate flavor!). Sunday was also great because not only was everyone out on Eddies playing Frisbee and sunbathing, but it was also the President’s Spring Preview! Campus was buzzing with current and prospective students and families which made for quite a lively afternoon.

Our delicious brunch

Caroline McCue

This past weekend, I had a great time celebrating my friend Rachael’s birthday with a delicious Sunday Brunch.  We went to the Gansevoort Hotel which has a delicious menu. Although it is a little pricey, I would highly recommend going for a special treat! Afterwards, we walked around the Meatpacking District for a little and enjoyed the crisp spring day.  I got the eggs Benedict which was to die for!  Although I have a lot of papers and assignments to finish up before the end of the year, I am glad I got to spend an afternoon relaxing and celebrating with my friends in such an amazing city!

Lake Michigan

Megan McLaughlin

This weekend, besides chatting with some prospective students about Fordham and the best places to eat on Arthur Ave, I visited Chicago. The weather was great, but this view of Lake Michigan doesn't quite beat the view of Central Park stretched out below you at Top of the Rock (30 Rockefeller Center's rooftop).

Great night for baseball

Madeline McDermott

On Friday night, I went to the Yankee vs. Red Sock game. I got $10 tickets through the CAB raffle and the game wound up being the longest game in the history of Yankee Stadium.

Another lovely shot of Keating

Claire McGonigle

This past Sunday was Admitted Students Day here at Fordham! It was great to talk

to prospective students and give them a chance to talk to current Fordham students

along with administrators to give them a better sense of what life at Fordham is like.

Why I Chose Fordham...

I chose to attend Fordham University for many reasons. One of the main reasons I fell in love with Fordham was because of its LOCATION. 

On all of my college visits I did not visit any other school at which I could... 

Take a spontaneous trip into the city with friends to explore the MET. 

Visit the 9/11 Memorial on a Saturday afternoon. 

Eat delicious Italian pastries at a bakery in Little Italy for a homework assignment. 

Walk through the Botanical Gardens on a snow day. 

Walk across the Brooklyn Bridge with my dorm. 

Go to see Mama Mia...

...and Newsies on Broadway with friends from my dorm.

Or catch a Yankees game after class one day. 

I would not be able to take a break from homework to go see the Global Citizens Festival  in Central Park. 

Or see America's Got Talent being filmed. 

And I definitely would not be able to take multiple trips in to the city to see the decorations at Christmas time. 

And stand in the freezing cold to see the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree being lit. 

At no other University could I do all of this...and still come back to a BEAUTIFUL CAMPUS that feels like HOME! 

   

How I Saw a Brooklyn Nets Game for $20

There are so many cool things to do in Manhattan, but it's so important to remember that there's more to New York City. As I've gotten older and spent more years at Fordham, I have vowed to explore more of the other boroughs. Most of the time, I do this by eating at a cool restaurant or attending a show, but this past weekend I was able to do it through sports! My Saturday was packed full with sporty activities. It was already a busy day for Fordham football (10-0!) and by that night, I was on the 4 train on my way to Brooklyn. Fordham's own Campus Activities Board holds ticket raffles from time to time that make tons of great opportunities possible for students. These tickets could be to Broadway shows, musical events, or in my case, sporting events. And the best part is that they are offered to students at an extremely discounted rate of $20. Not bad, not bad at all.

I was so impressed with the Barclays Center. It's an
awesome place to see a game!

So, my 4 friends and I went to see the Brooklyn Nets game vs. the Indiana Pacers this past Saturday. I was so excited to see the Barclays Center because I had only seen the outside previously - it was too cool. I was also in my childhood glory because Jason Kidd, former New Jersey Net, is the coach of the now Brooklyn Nets. Not to mention, this past summer contained a major NBA trade that brought former Boston Celtics greats such as Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jason Terry to Brooklyn. It's going to be an exciting season to watch! Thanks to CAB and Fordham, my friends and I were able to feel part of it.

Beyonce and Jay-Z were not in attendance, but that
couldn't stop us from enjoying ourselves!

A Photographer's View of New York City

I love photography and taking pictures of the interesting sights around me. However, when my friends and I are rushing to get where we need to go in the city, sometimes I forget to slow down and photograph the beautiful city around me. This past weekend, my friend Maddie and I decided to take a long walk with no destination or plan and our cameras by our sides. We had no particular location in mind, just hopped on the D train and picked our stop at random.

The view from SoHo looking uptown...where we started our adventure! 

In transit, we decided to get off the subway at Canal Street, to explore the lower part of Manhattan, as we have become very familiar with the area around Fordham's Lincoln Center campus. We walked through the SoHo, just following any interesting streets we came across. Eventually, we wound up in Washington Square Park, and sat down to relax for a bit and enjoy the sunny day.

Washington Square Park on a beautiful fall day, complete with a rainbow. 

Then, we continued meandering through the streets, until we came across the Williamsburg Bridge. We thought, "Why not?" and journeyed across to the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn. The bridge itself was a destination to see, as it has incredibly cool graffiti and gorgeous views of the Midtown skyline. Once we were in Williamsburg, we decided to find somewhere on the shore of the Hudson to take some classic and timeless pictures of the skyline, without anything in the way of the view.

En route to Brooklyn on the Williamsburg Bridge 

We stumbled across this tiny park, with some of the most incredible views of Manhattan I have ever seen. Our adventure came to a close soon after that, as it was time to head back to the Bronx. I loved street photography before our adventure, but after ending our 5-hour walk with 300 great shots, it's safe to say I'm an even bigger fan now. My goal for the next trip is to have the courage to take some Humans of New York-esque shots of the awesome people you encounter while exploring the city. On the train ride back to our home in the Bronx, I was reminded of an Ed Koch quote about New York that completely explains how I feel after living at Fordham for a year now: "You don't have to be born in New York City to be a New Yorker. You have to live here six months. And if at the end of those six months you walk faster, talk faster, and think faster, then you are a New Yorker." I am proud to say that by this definition, I have truly become a New Yorker. 

New York becomes my campus more and more every day. Can't get enough of this view!! 

The ever-present New York taxis.

Old apartment buildings are always so pretty!

Law Firm Internship

This summer, one day a week, I intern at a law firm in Brooklyn that specializes in landlord-tenet and real estate law. I had thoughts of becoming a lawyer, and I figured the best way to really test out this ambition was to see what a “day in the life” at a law firm was really like. That and I had an interest in real estate, possibly as a future business venture down the road. The experience would come to prove valuable in more ways than I imagined.

My typical day begins by checking in the attorneys from the firm at the Brooklyn Civil Court. Then, I shadow one of the lawyers in court during the morning. This consists of talking to clients, negotiating with opposing counsel, talking to the court attorneys and the judges. It’s face-paced and stimulating work. That lasts until 1:00, when court lets out for lunch. After lunch, we usually go back to the office and do clerical work. This includes duties such as answering phones, preparing evidence, copying documents, and managing some of the billing. While this might not be as exciting as the morning sessions, the work is good office experience for someone who hasn’t done much else but schoolwork for the past 14 years. My typical day ends at 5:00, when I hop on a train back home to the Bronx.

Ian Powell

FCRH 2013

Getting Involved with New York Cares

I'm very involved on campus. Like... ridiculously involved. There are just so many groups on campus that I want to be involved in and I'm really not very good at saying no. Even on the two days during the week that I don't have class, I generally give tours and attend meetings. Extracurricular involvement is a fantastic way to meet people that share your interests and network with other student leaders.

As much as I love all of my groups and clubs and committees, there came a point at the end of last semester when I couldn't take it anymore. Every day, I felt like I saw the same faces, worked through the same problems, and beat myself over the head as a result of the same frustrations. I very desperately needed a change of scenery.

I do love my groups, so naturally I began thinking about groups to join outside of school. Would I join a gym? I didn't really want to pay for something I probably wouldn't use. Would I join a sports team? It was the middle of December in New York and the only sport I'm really good at is soccer. I needed something that would keep me engaged and connect me with other people. I also needed something that I could fit into my packed schedule. I was walking in McMahon Hall one day when I passed by a bulletin board titled something like "Top Ten Ways to Get Involved in the City". It was then that I discovered New York Cares.

New York Cares is an incredible volunteer organization that connects New Yorkers to all kinds of service opportunities in each of the five boroughs. Once you've completed a brief orientation session, you are able to sign up for around 1,000 projects each month. Every project is done as part of a group and project partners go through a screening process, so I felt completely comfortable going wherever my projects took me. The best part about it for me is that you can pick and choose when you volunteer. You don't have to commit beyond a single project if you don't want to. If I have some free time and decide I want to do a project, I can sign up online, complete it, and not worry about it again.

In the past few months, I've completed several different types of projects, from tutoring teens working towards their GEDs in the Bronx to helping with an after school culinary workshop in Harlem to assisting with goalball practices in Brooklyn. That last has become one of the highlights of my week. On Saturdays, I take the 2 all the way down to Newkirk and I help set up the court. If a ball goes out of bounds, I'll pass it back in. Sometimes I keep time. And it's absolutely fantastic. The guys on the team are so much fun to be around and they support each other beautifully.


These are some of the guys on the New York Knights goalball team. In case you were wondering, goalball is a sport developed specifically for blind and low-vision athletes. The court is made up of tactile zones defined by wires taped to the floor. The ball, which is shot back and forth between teams of three, has bells inside. Everyone wears opaque goggles to account for any variations in the players' eyesight. Watching a game can get really intense, which is sometimes difficult, because spectators have to be silent.

After the excitement of the first few weeks of college begins to fade, a lot of people tend to settle into a comfortable niche with a core group of friends and a steady routine. It's really important to remember to keep pushing yourself and trying new things and meeting new people. Working with New York Cares has given me so many opportunities to do just that. I've only just started, but I feel as if this is something I'll continue to do for years.