Oakland University students have opportunities to explore the world of music both on and off campus. The Orchestra Hall at the Max M. Fisher Music Center  is home to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO).

The DSO offers $25 Soundcard Student Memberships that grant access to classical, pop and jazz performances for an entire season. Soundcards can be purchased through the DSO website.

A 2016-2017 Soundcard Student Membership is valid from now until Aug. 31, 2017. The only requirement is that cardholders bring a student ID to the performances they attend.

Purchasing a student Soundcard provides one free ticket to events. Seats can be reserved within two weeks of a concert date, but cardholders must show their student IDs to pick up their tickets.

The Max has many events scheduled for October, including classical performances by Garrick Ohlsson and Emeritus Neeme Järvi.

The DSO will perform the “Classical Mystery Tour,” a tribute to The Beatles, from Oct. 14-16. “Murder Ballad,” a rock musical by Julia Jordan and Juliana Nash, will also be shown at The Max throughout September and October.

“I think if you’re a university student, you owe it to yourself to broaden your horizons. Especially in the world of art,” said Dr. Michael Mitchell, a music professor at OU.

Mitchell stressed that music can change our lives.

“Art transcends boundaries . . . I think there’s a lot [of music] out there that you could gain a passion for and be made into better human beings for having been exposed for it,” he said.

Joy Crawford, an employee at the DSO, encourages students to come view performances.

“In October, we have a month of concerts. We have classical concerts for a couple of the weekends. We have a Pops concert one weekend,” Crawford said. “On Oct. 7, we have a jazz concert. This is the Chick Corea Trio.”

The DSO’s website provides a full calendar of events. Concerts are color-coded according to whether they are classical, pops, or jazz. Soundcard events are marked with a blue “S.”

The DSO has frequent events. Every weekend in October, there is an opportunity to view a live performance. Presently, there are events scheduled every month up until July.

“The DSO really is one of the great symphony orchestras in the world. It’s a real treasure. They play in one of the greatest concert halls in the world. They [perform] all different kinds of orchestral music,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell recommends that students purchase a Soundcard and urges students to not be intimidated by the formal setting.

“I think if you go and you go on a night where they play something that can really touch you, your life can be expanded,” he said.

Soundcards can be purchased online or over the phone. For more information, visit dso.org or call the box office at (313) 576-5111.