Blake Moore, music senior, is perfecting his creative and logical talents.
In addition to studying music, Moore also has a minor in psychology.
Originally from Oklahoma City, Moore said he came to OCU because of his experiences on campus before college.
“I came to OCU because for a few years in high school I did a lot of community orchestra stuff,” Moore said. “When the college search started, I had already been at OCU a bunch, so I was just more or less like ‘I’ll go here.’”
Moore said he specializes in percussion, but he has experience in other areas of music as well.
“I started piano at a really young age. I think at the time my family wanted to give me something to do, but I got tired of piano pretty quickly,” he said. “I started doing percussion in middle school, and I decided to keep doing music because it was a constant in life. In that big high school to college transition, everything kind of changes. I decided that I was going to do what I did best, and that was playing the snare drum and the marimba.”
Moore originally came to OCU to study music education.
“My interest in music ed started out of having a really good relationship with all of my teachers, specifically music teachers,” he said. “They were one of the more consistent adult influences in my life. I liked the music, but I also liked the whole concept of education as well.”
In the middle of his sophomore year, however, Moore said he had a slight change of plan.
“I’ve always had an interest in psychology and the concept of the human mind. Initially, I was a music ed major, but I switched because that was exhausting,” he said. “I decided to start taking some psych classes, and I really enjoyed it. I was thinking about getting a double major but with the time I had left at OCU, it was best to do a minor.”
Moore said he enjoys the study of social psychology, specifically. Before the COVID-19 outbreak, Moore said he was working on an important project for the Southwestern Psychological Association.
“For a while, before the age of ‘rona,’ I was working on a lot of independent research for my psych minor,” Moore said. “I was going to go present at this regional conference in Texas.”
Moore said he would enjoy a job that involves working with music and people.
“I’ve never been the person who was like ‘oh, I want to do this specific career,’ because I have a lot of interests and I’m a very agreeable person,” he said. “It sounds like I’m reaching for low-hanging fruit when I say I just want a job that pays well and allows me to have a life outside of my work. There are jobs that ask for truly anything, and if you’re into it, then go for it.”
Lindsey Cole, assistant professor of psychology, said Moore is a wonderful student.
“Blake worked with me as a research assistant since spring 2019 and developed an independent study research project on the inherent emotions of adult children of alcoholics,” Cole said. “I know he will make an exceptional graduate student in whichever program he chooses to enroll and I wish him the best of luck as he graduates from OCU.”
Moore said there isn’t much of a difference between music students and psychology students.
“We’re all just people, and we’re all trying to do our own thing. I think there’s a mutual respect in that,” he said. “I feel like that extends to people outside of school lines, too. I’m still chasing the same thing, even though the end goal might look different.”
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