Just About Music Program House sets the stage for student growth
By Kelly Kuehn, Student & Campus Life
Music has the power to bring people together and cultivate a sense of belonging. Two people who have little in common can form a bond over a beat and make memories over melodies, transforming acquaintances into lifelong friends along the way.
There are several music organizations at Cornell where students can form these bonds, including the Big Red Marching Band, Glee Club and the Cornell Piano Society. For students looking to bring music into their everyday life on campus, they can turn to Just About Music (JAM) Program House.
“It’s really interesting to meet the variety of people here”, says JAM resident Jeph Owusu ‘25. “There are so many different ways in which people are engaging with the Cornell community. You get to learn a lot.”
While a knack for tickling the ivories or strumming the guitar is a bonus for this Program House, JAM residents don’t have to be music majors or even know how to play an instrument to live in the space; they can simply appreciate music or want to infuse music into their student experience.
As a resident advisor (RA) in JAM and an Industrial and Labor Relations (ILR) major, Owusu knew he wanted to be involved in the campus’ music scene. Owusu grew up singing in choir and looked for ways to expand his love and knowledge of music on campus. After spending his first year in the Ujamaa Program House, he applied to be an RA and was placed in JAM during his second year. It was the perfect spot to explore his musical side while meeting new people.
JAM also has several in-house resources available for residents interested in fine-tuning their musical chops, including a concert stage, recording studio, 24-hour practice room and instruments for use. The Performance Space, or P-Space, also provides a special space for programming.
“My favorite thing about being an RHD for JAM is the P-Space Management team and everything with the P-Space,” Troy Feldman, the residence hall director for JAM, says. “It provides so many opportunities to have these really unique events.”
The Program House also hosts an Open Mic event each month where musicians, writers and others perform for the community. Other community-building activities include craft nights and listening parties, where residents can discover music across genres.
JAM: Built on music and camaraderie
While the music resources are wonderful within JAM, the residential community and collaboration are what truly defines the space. Chase Kuhleman ‘24, a senior in the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management, transferred to Cornell his junior year and was excited to branch out after finishing two years of school online. A musician himself, JAM piqued his interest as he looked for residency opportunities where he could play classical piano and collaborate with other musicians. Kuhleman has lived in JAM since the fall ‘22 semester and is thankful for the friends he’s made along the way.
“They’re not all the same major as me, but honestly, I kind of like that because it gives me a chance to get to know people who aren’t all in Dyson and always talking about Dyson,” Kuhleman says. “When we come in, we’re not just talking about our classwork or our homework, we get to come home at the end of the day and just be a group of friends.”
JAM also helped Kuhleman find himself on campus and navigate life on his own.
“It gave me a chance to explore being an independent person with people I can trust and friends I can keep close,” he says. “I never really felt too far out of my comfort zone with my friends.”
Program Houses like JAM also expose students to new and rewarding experiences.
“It gives me an opportunity to branch out there and look into new genres, get some perspective on different people’s taste in music,” Kuhleman explains. “I really love that part of it.”
Owusu also loves the JAM community and how it’s connected him with different people across campus.
“I feel like I get a better perspective of how Cornell treats everybody,” he explains. “It’s not like there’s one Cornell experience, and that’s the only way people experience Cornell.”
Being in JAM has helped Owusu grow in several ways and form friendships with strong foundations. It’s helped him break out of his shell and understand the power of conversation—a lesson he’ll take with him after graduation.
“I think it’s made my conversations, not just with my residents but with my friends, with everybody, more intentional because I’m really trying to understand the perspective of the person, not just trying to make other people understand where I’m coming from,” he explains. “It’s an actual back-and-forth conversation.”
Those conversations truly engage students and lay the foundation for strong communal bonds. Whether a Cornellian lives in JAM, or another Program House, Owusu encourages them to take action and get involved in the residential community.
“You can have a wonderful community in the home, in the neighborhood around you, and all that takes is a small sort of action to build it,” he says.
If you have questions about the Program Houses at Cornell, contact the Housing Office at housing@cornell.edu or call 607-255-5368.
Cover photo provided courtesy of Jeph Owusu.