This month, we are featuring Dr. Leslie Warlick, a lecturer in the Department of Performing Arts. She holds performance degrees from the North Carolina School of the Arts, the Cleveland Institute of Music, and Florida State University. Dr. Warlick has had the pleasure of studying violin with Elaine Richey, David Updegraff, Donald Weilerstein, and Gary Kosloski. She has performed as a member of the New World Symphony in Miami, Florida, and the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra in Naples, Florida. In addition to her teaching duties at Clemson University, Dr. Warlick also enjoys freelancing in the area.
Why Clemson?
The adjunct faculty violin member was retiring. During my time freelancing as a violinist, I had met other faculty in the Performing Arts Department and so they asked me to apply. When I did, it was a unique time as I was pregnant! The first years would not have been possible without help from a close friend in the Physics department. Dr. Amy Pope and I would alternate childcare for our teaching days.
What are some of the key milestones in your career at Clemson that have had the largest impact on your professional development?
This past academic year I was asked to consider going full time. There was an opportunity in the department to expand the string area and I had been teaching as an adjunct for 16 years. I have enjoyed moving into more responsibilities and have had excellent support! I was also surprised to be recognized by one of the Honors College graduates a few years ago as a faculty mentor. It meant a great deal to me. She had been a wonderful student, and I was merely the guide!
How do you organize your time to balance teaching/research/service with your personal life?
One of the positives in academia is that there is a lot of respect for each other as professionals. This means that your classes are at a set time, but structuring the rest of the workday is up to you. Over the years, I have been able to be student focused, but still have time to be with my family. As a musician, the ‘job’ is not a typical 9-5 kind of structure!
What advice would you give to your first–year lecturer self?
It was given to me by my colleague Dr. Paul Buyer. He was helping me get started as a teacher for the Music Appreciation class and he simply said, “Leslie, be yourself. Your experiences as a musician will help the students learn about music.” This advice has helped me every year to remember that teaching students about music includes sharing my love of and experience with music. I have a lifetime relationship with this subject, and I need to teach out of that. It is one of the reasons why I switched to an OER textbook and chose many of the works we study.
What resources, tools, and programs at Clemson facilitate your success?
Our Department Librarian Camille Cooper and OER librarian Yang Wu have helped me with finding music or resources to help me as a teacher and music coach. They have also helped the students with research. The Brooks Center is a huge resource for me! Their music programs and willingness to help include the music appreciation students in artist Q&A’s is one of the most beloved parts of the course.
What would you recommend that we implement to further the success of other lecturers?
There is so much offered! I wonder if it would help to have things structured. For instance, what resources do first year lecturers need versus third year, etc? I just recently saw classes about dealing with conflict. I have not had any yet, but that could be a useful bit of information for young faculty as they begin. I guess finding a balance of information to experience is what I am suggesting. We are ‘thrown’ a great deal to consider….
How do you see your department, college, or university evolving in the next 5 years?
The Performing Arts Department is poised to grow! The students that are applying are excellent and highly skilled! I also know that the sheer number of students we see joining our ensembles and taking lessons is steadily increasing. The entire faculty for each area is student focused and wants to provide a great experience for both the major and non-major students. We need more space to ensure every student has practice space and opportunity to participate. I am hopeful that the department will have the opportunity to have more space given to them.
I also hear from students in the ensembles and music appreciation classes that being exposed to the arts has been a source of encouragement for them as they pursue their degree. The College of Arts and Humanities will most likely be in a more secure place in 5 years as Clemson University continues to desire their students to be whole and not compartmentalized learners. STEM majors need to be able to see the connections that occur between intellect and emotion or facts and thoughts. Everything transfers! This was what one of my doctoral professors would say again and again in class. Things we learn in one subject are relatable to other subjects. These connections are what make us better at what we do.
Want to learn more?
Check out Dr. Warlick’s LinkedIn, Faculty Profile, and make sure to visit the Performing Arts Department’s website!
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