Music Facilities

Margaret Comstock Concert Hall

A 558-seat performance hall located in the main lobby of the north side of the building. This is the School of Music's main performance hall.

Malcolm Bird Recital Hall

A 140-seat theater located in the south side of the building, is used for teaching, practice and performances.

Dwight Anderson Music Library

The Dwight Anderson Music Library is located off of the main lobby in the north side of the Music building.

The music building features a large number of practice rooms:

32 Open Practice Rooms
14 Piano Major Practice Rooms
6 Percussion Practice Rooms
4 Drum Set Practice Rooms
2 Organ/Harpsichord Practice Rooms
1 Harp Practice Room
1 Listening Room (Key checkout from Music Library)
1 Virtual Room
2 Large Rehearsal Rooms
1 Medium-sized Rehearsal Room

Computer Teaching & Lab Facilities

A ProTools lab, located on the lower level, is equipped with state-of-the-art recording and mixing equipment.

The University of Louisville Computer Music Studios support research, production and creative work in the fields of electro-acoustic music, multimedia and sound art. Maintained by the School of Music, state-of-the-art computer music facilities accommodate introductory and advanced computer music classes that attract a broad spectrum of undergraduate and graduate students from various university departments and disciplines. Creative research conducted in the studios may involve audio synthesis, sound analysis, digital signal processing, algorithmic and fixed media multichannel composition, computer generated/assisted music, computer music improvisation, sound and multimedia art, installations, robotics, visual art, artificial intelligence, audio recording and postproduction, among others. Two multichannel studios are equipped with powerful Macintosh computers, various digital audio interfaces, auxiliary digital and analog hardware and specialized software. The additional multiuser lab is equipped with computers supporting audio and digital production.

The Computer Music Studios strongly support and facilitate interdisciplinary collaborations as well as sponsor multiple events throughout the year, including guest lectures and presentations, master classes, concerts and events featuring guest performers and sound artists and student computer music concerts. In the Computer Music Studios we create an open-minded teaching, learning and research environment. We seek to discover knowledge and to expand our creative potential through innovation, imagination and expression in order to better understand ourselves in the universe.

A combination Mac and Windows PC computer teaching lab is located on the lower level of the north wing. Each workstation has a midi keyboard and CD burning capabilities. The lab is also open for student access throughout the semester through the use of their Cardinal Card.

The Virtual Room

The Virtual Room, located on the second floor of the north wing, contains a digital signal processing system which is able to simulate many different acoustical environments. The room has no windows, and uses a special door which makes it more acoustically isolated than other rooms of the music building. Students, faculty, and guest ensembles are enabled to rehearse in an acoustical environment which is a simulation of a performance venue.

The system is easy to operate, and in addition to a number of pre-set acoustical environments (i.e., practice room, various sizes of recital halls and auditoriums, various sizes of churches, even a"sports arena"), there are custom settings which simulate Comstock Hall. The Virtual Room is primarily used for rehearsals, chamber music coaching sessions, auditions, and as a warm-up room before concerts.

Virtual Room Features

A sound-isolating practice room equipped with digital signal processing that allows musicians to hear themselves in a variety of acoustical environments.
System comes with 10 pre-set acoustical environments: Practice Room, Baroque Room, Medium Recital Hall, Large Recital Hall, Small Auditorium, Medium Auditorium, Large Auditorium, Cathedral, Sports Arena and system OFF.
Accelerates development of articulation, intonation and control in a variety of environments from very "dry" to very "live." * Effective teaching/coaching studio to train students in the relationship between the acoustical environment and instrumental technique.
A radical new version of the "greenroom" that allows for warm-up in a more realistic environment.
Does not require any technical expertise to operate the room. Easier than a TV remote control.
Allows practice for performance without having to schedule the performance space for rehearsal.
Stimulates creativity and encourages practice by relieving the tedium of playing in an acoustically "dry" practice room.