A flurry of notes cascades from small practice rooms along the walls. Students walk through halls, carrying black instrument cases and folders full of sheet music.

The students all seem to know each other, and their talk is dominated by recitals, ensembles, practices and musical jargon. It is easy to wonder whether the students in those stuffy practice rooms have aspirations of becoming a future Bach, Beethoven, even a Dizzy Gillespie, or if they are just having fun. Chances are, they're doing a little of both.

For most students the School of Music is a whole different world, and few who hear the music that emanates from the Music Building knows what really goes on behind its walls.

Though the number of students enrolled in music majors is growing, the music performance major is less popular than music education, which attracts almost two-thirds of the music majors, department head Lyle Merriman said.

The performance major covers virtually every instrument except guitar, and can eventually prepare a student for advanced professional study, Merriman said. But this professional status is often tough to achieve.

"To be a performance major is kind of a gutsy move," saxophonist Doug Bernstein (junior-music performance) said. "There are no jobs given to you after you leave with your degree. It's literally just a piece of paper."

Trombonist Bruce Tychinski (senior-music performance) agreed. "It's a decision that takes time. Opportunities are limited," he said.

Flutist Jessica Welles (junior-music performance) expressed the feelings of many performance majors.

"I would ultimately love to have a professional solo performing career," she said. "But that's really difficult to come by for anybody."

Of about 185 students enrolled in the school, only 15 are pursuing bachelor of music degrees in performance, which also includes a composition option. The other degrees offered include a bachelor music education and a bachelor of arts.

So what do music performance majors hope to do after graduation?

Music department adviser June Miller said many go on to graduate school. Once they have attained a master's degree, a number of options exist. She said that for many, this means a combination of performing and teaching.

Welles said she hopes to attend a music conservatory after graduation. She also said she would enjoy performing with a symphony and teaching privately or on the university level.

"You have to take what you can get and work your way up from there," she said.

Bernstein, who also plays the piano, trumpet and flute, said he plans to return to his Connecticut home and possibly join a rock 'n' roll band as a bass guitarist.

But before any of these goals can be achieved, a music performance major must work intensely for at least four years. "What goes on here day to day, it's a lot of work," Tychinski said.

"What would be considered everyone else's free time is what we spend in the practice room," Welles said. She estimated she spends two to three hours a day practicing, though she would like to practice five to six hours each day.

"Music is basically my life," Berstein said. "I don't do much else besides listen, play, write and perform. It keeps me very interested."

For most performance majors, music is not found only in the confines of the classroom. "There's more involved in being a music major than just playing," said Tychinski, who is involved in several outside musical activities.

Juggling curricular and non-curricular activities is often difficult for music performance majors. Welles said she had often felt like giving up.

"Your highs are very high, but the lows are equally as low," she said.

Yet her love of music prevails. "Music is a wonderful thing. I can't imagine living without it," she said.

Each performance major must give two recitals during their four years at the University. These are performed for the faculty of the music department and measure a student's progress. The public is also always encouraged to attend

"Music majors in general would like to see more students just come to hear recitals for no reason," Tychinski said. "Student support is really great for us. If we don't have people come out and hear us now, the art form may decline."

Welles, who was preparing for a flute recital at the time of the interview, said, "There's really nothing I like more than getting up on the stage in front of people and playing. Put me on stage, and I'm in my element."

Despite the hard work and career uncertainty that performance majors face, the happiness music brings makes it all worthwhile.

"I realized I wouldn't be happy unless I honestly gave music a try,"said Welles, who once had plans to become a marine biologist.