More than a Music Club: Humanities in Action at Lake Superior State University

At Lake Superior State University's STEP UP program, music is becoming a way into something larger.

An existing music club, currently serving nine students, has become the foundation for a new humanities-based initiative supported through a MiCHEP Humanities Grant.

The club began in January under the guidance of Kelsey, a K–12 music educator. Since then, students have come together to learn and make music. At STEP UP's inaugural commencement, members performed the national anthem and the LSSU alma mater, bringing the work they had developed together in the club into an important moment for the program.

The club already gives students opportunities to perform while developing introductory skills in music theory, music history and piano. The new project will build on that foundation by adding ukulele instruction and creating more opportunities for students to explore music beyond the act of playing it.

Students will engage with music through books, guest and faculty lectures, and workshops. They will explore its cultural, historical and social contexts while considering music as a form of expression, storytelling and critical reflection.

The project connects artistic practice with broader questions about culture, history and human experience. It also creates opportunities for students to learn alongside one another and engage with new ideas through a shared area of interest.

Additional resources made possible through the grant will include instruments, books and other educational materials, as well as opportunities to learn from guest speakers.

The project represents both a continuation and an expansion of what is already happening at STEP UP. Rather than creating a new program from scratch, the grant gives students and faculty resources to build on an existing community and develop it into a broader humanities experience.

At LSSU, that growth is already underway. What began as a music club has given students a place to learn, create and perform together. With support from the Humanities Grant, that foundation is creating new opportunities to explore not only how music is made, but also the culture, history and human experiences that surround it.