Musicians living on campus at Mount Royal University face a unique challenge when it comes to practicing their instruments — there are no accessible places for them to play.
Jaxon Riste, a MRU student living in residence, brought all his guitars with him when he moved on campus, but he quickly realized that it’s impossible to play his instruments without disturbing others on campus.
Some MRU students believe there should be spaces accessible to musicians, given how much they pay to attend university.
Video: Calgary Journal reporter Cayley Carmichael reports on Mount Royal University students trying to find affordable places to practice their music
The Conservatory offers programs that provide students with access to practice spaces. Registration in those programs can cost up to $4,000 per year.
This problem extends far beyond MRU, with many Calgary musicians also struggling to find affordable and accessible spaces to practice.
While there are some affordable options, Calgary still has a long way to go in providing spaces for musicians to create and grow.