Overcoming limits in the midst of crisis

Professor Diego Mauricio Barrero Acosta, from the Music program at the Zipaquirá Extension, believes that the greatest impact of the change from face-to-face to virtual classes has been the interaction with students, and that this modality has strengthened important areas such as audiovisual music recording, since music students were forced to improve their recording methods with their instrument, improving the quality of sound and image, based on new ideas, such as musical ensemble and song production from home.

The professor states that the theoretical-practical classes, such as those for musical instruments and musical groups, including the Tropical Orchestra and Bolero Group, have demanded a greater commitment from the students, since they must record constantly every week, which requires them to study much more, because when assembling a video, no type of error is allowed, which implies greater responsibility and consistency from each of the participating musicians.

From Professor Diego's experience, class participation has been good and highlights the students' interest, who have been attentive and receptive at all times, even amidst the difficulties that virtual classes entail, such as connectivity, sound and lack of electricity among others; but these have not had major consequences thanks to the methods provided for this type of unforeseen event, which range from recording the sessions to using other digital methods such as emails and social networks.

New initiatives have emerged following the changes experienced during the quarantine; one of them is the publication of videos produced after each performer's recording was assembled to create a musical piece, showcasing the artistic quality of the University of Cundinamarca. Some of these works have been published on the institution's Facebook page, as well as on other digital platforms. All of them demonstrate the collaboration and excellent teamwork of faculty and students.

The professor also highlights the achievements obtained amidst the global crisis and recognizes the importance that digital media have represented in achieving these objectives; he also expresses that when an artist wants to contribute, they always find a way to overcome limitations, and that thanks to the passion felt by our music students, a perfect mechanism has been created that has resulted in a quality musical product, which demonstrates the commitment and effort of the entire UCundinamarca team.

For the professor, the biggest challenge in recent weeks has been adapting, given that the change was sudden, occurring at a time when no one was prepared, and that it was widespread, affecting not only work and academic life but also family and social life. This drastic change has undoubtedly required greater effort and more work to continue fulfilling the commitments made before the lockdown, but he is certain that adaptation is possible and that this experience has given rise to new, creative, and innovative strategies that have allowed for the discovery and strengthening of the abilities of both students and teachers.

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