"No matter where you are from, when people make music together, they understand, and the language barriers fall away," said Gary Mortenson, Head of the Department of Music.

Mortenson said music is a universal form of communication. There can be an issue of miscommunication when people try to interact, but music can help develop communication skills because artists must communicate and understand direction from the podium.

Musically skilled students have better-quality communication, Mortenson said. Employers also tend to put musical skills at a high value because of the benefits.

"This is why students with musical backgrounds have a higher rate of entering medical schools and other professional developmental schools," Mortenson said.

There are 250 students majoring in music at K-State. Mortenson said there are also about 2,500 students in a non-major participant group. Most students majoring in music are receiving their degree in music education.

"Students enjoy the people, how they can organize their time and just the experience in McCain Hall," Mortenson said.

Most students who participate in music at K-State have a musical background.

"We recruit students who play an instrument or sing in high school no matter what they major in," Mortenson said. "Statistics prove students who continue to participate in music have less chance to drop out."

He said staying involved with music during the transition to college is a great way to organize free time and stay out of trouble.

Erik Stalcup, May 2010 graduate in physics, has been playing classical piano and drums since middle school and continued to play for the K-State Concert Jazz Ensemble.

"Playing allowed me to do more creative things," Stalcup said. "Jazz band was pretty fun; I enjoyed rehearsing, getting ready for concerts and traveling to different places."

Mortenson also said starting an instrument from scratch in college is rare, but students can come to McCain, have a test on musical skills and start from there. A piano lab, in addition to other classes, is also offered to students for development of basic skills and the appreciation of music.