Department of Music

Department Policies

Accompanists

Instrumental Area Accompanist

Students assigned to the staff accompanist:

Are entitled to a total of 2 hours rehearsal with the staff accompanist per semester, normally two ½-hours for Directed Listening and two ½-hours for jury preparation
May sign up for a maximum of 2 consecutive ½-hour blocks
Must provide a legible copy of their music at least one week prior to the first rehearsal (or three weeks prior for difficult accompaniments).
May perform only if they have had at least one rehearsal prior to performance.

Vocal Area Accompanist

Students enrolled in MUS 1640, 2640, 3640, 4640 (such as BM music ed, BA general music, minors, etc.) must arrange for a regular accompanist for a half lesson every week. An accompanist fee is attached to these course numbers each semester.
Students enrolled in both MUS 1640/1641, 2640/2641, 3640/3641, 4640/4641 (BM performance in voice) must arrange for a regular accompanist for 30 minutes during each weekly lesson. An accompanist fee is attached to these course numbers each semester.
Accompanists used for lessons must be contracted with, and approved by, the Music Department. A list of contracted accompanists will be made available through the Department office and will be posted on the Voice Area bulletin board.
The accompanist fee covers voice lessons as outlined above.

Additional Accompanist Policies:

Each semester, the accompanist fee will cover one master class performance, one directed listening performance, and a jury performance per student.
The accompanist fee will not cover any other rehearsal or performance time, such as preparation for master class, juries, directed listening, auditions, or makeup lessons needed because of cancelled lessons. Accompaniment for a missed lesson (for which arrangements have been made at least 24 hours in advance with the instructor) would be covered.
Additional rehearsal and performance time must be paid by the student directly to the accompanist.
It will be the sole responsibility of the individual student to consult with the voice faculty to secure an approved accompanist for his/her voice lessons (normally by the first week of classes), master class, jury, and directed listening.
The Department will not determine fees paid for additional rehearsal time.
No lessons will be scheduled until the student has finalized arrangements for an accompanist.

Copy Machine

Students may not use the Music Department copy machine for any of their copy needs.
A faculty member may make a copy for a student (as for a lesson, etc.) but should not authorize the student or department secretary to make copies for a student.
Student employees and student ensemble librarians may be authorized by the appropriate faculty member to use the Department copy machine for designated ensemble or department-related tasks.
The music fraternities shall not use the copy machine unless a copy job is directly related to a service project for the department. If so, the faculty advisor should make those copies, or set up the machine to have a designated fraternity member, not the department secretary, make copies.
Copying should not be done by or for outside organizations except for department-sponsored events.

Curriculum

Students not prepared for MUS 1220 Theory I as determined by placement exam will enroll in MUS 1190 Music Fundamentals.

Any grade below “C-minus” received in a course in the music major will not be considered a passing grade, and the course must be repeated to fulfill degree requirements.

Postbaccalaureate students who wish to waive a techniques course required in the credential program may take a challenge by examination administered by the instructor of record. A grade of “C” or better is required to pass the exam and receive the waiver.
Students who fail the choral audition for a major performing ensemble requirement may substitute Basic Class Voice for up to two semesters to fulfill this requirement.

Music majors are required to pass a minimum of 8 semesters of Directed Listening. Music minors are required to pass a minimum of four semesters of Directed Listening. All music students are required to enroll in Directed Listening every semester in which they enroll in applied studies. Transfer students will be evaluated upon entry for Directed Listening requirements.

Instrument Checkout

All instrument checkouts must receive instructor approval. Under no circumstances shall the instrument be loaned to anyone else; it must be signed in, then checked out to the next person. Any liability remains the responsibility of the person who has currently signed out the instrument.

Juries

As required by the repertoire, a student must arrange for a department-approved accompanist to be present at his/her jury. If such an arrangement has not been made, the jury panel may lower the student’s jury grade one full grade.

It is the student’s responsibility to consult with the applied instructor no later than a month in advance of the jury to review and prepare all materials required for each level of juries.
If a student fails two juries at the same jury level (from levels I-VIII), the student will not be allowed to continue enrollment in the music major. The student may reapply for admission to the program after one semester of non-enrollment in the music program.

Piano Proficiency

All music majors must pass the appropriate piano proficiency before registering for upper division music courses; transfer students will be evaluated separately. This policy is in effect as of F08.

Practice Rooms

Applied teaching faculty needs will take priority in practice room use. A schedule will be posted on each practice room door, and students may sign up for up to two hours per day in an available practice room. Tardiness or an absence of 10 minutes or more will invalidate the room reservation. Personal belongings should not be left unattended in a practice room. In the case of M-17, M-18 and M-19, these rooms are reserved for piano major signup; non-pianists may use these rooms only when not reserved and no other rooms are available; a pianist may ask a non-pianist to move from one of these rooms only when another room is available.

Student Recitals

Student Degree Recital Requirements:

Recital Prerequisites:

Students must pass the piano proficiency exam before registering for the Senior Recital or Project.
Students may present a junior recital only after completing all the lower division music requirements, or during the semester in which they are concurrently enrolled in the remaining lower division music requirements.
Students must complete the academic coursework for the major during the academic year in which the senior recital is presented or the senior project is completed and submitted. This coursework includes all core courses for the major as well as all upper division requirements for the emphasis.
Students must pass Level VI of applied study and be enrolled in level VII or VIII during the semester in which the senior recital is presented.

Recital Guidelines:

Student recitals that fulfill degree requirements may be presented only during Fall or Spring terms. Summer recitals are not permitted.
Paperwork/fees: students who wish to present a degree recital must retrieve and fill out the appropriate departmental paperwork and pay fees according to the existing deadlines and fee schedule.
Recital accompanist: students are responsible for hiring a department-approved accompanist for any degree recital. The accompanist’s name should be filed with the Department at least one month before the recital hearing.
Recital Hearing:
- Students must arrange their recital hearing no later than one month prior to the scheduled recital date. They are responsible for confirming the hearing date with each committee member and must reserve a room for the hearing.
- Any assisting musicians must be cleared with the studio instructor and must perform at the student’s performance level or higher. All musicians performing on the recital must play the recital hearing. Any special instruments, such as harpsichord, must be available for the hearing.
- At the time of the hearing the committee must be provided with at least one copy of the solo part for all recital literature, exact durations of each work, and a typed copy of the exact program in program order, with all movement titles, composer dates, and names of assisting musicians. Program repertoire must not exceed 50 minutes for performance major senior recitals and 25 minutes for all other recitals.
Recital requirements:
- Program notes and translations must be prepared, duplicated, and inserted into the program by the student.
- Department recital fees must be paid prior to the performance or the recital will be canceled.
- Receptions in the music facility are not permitted.

Non-degree recitals

Non-degree recitals require one full-time faculty member’s approval. The student presenting the recital shall provide his own program and do his own advertising. Department fees must be paid prior to the performance or the recital will be canceled. No admission may be charged, and no reception is permitted in the music facility.

Senior Project Requirements

Senior Project Guidelines, including project requirements and style format, will be used by all Senior Project candidates.

Recording

Students who wish to prepare a performance/audition recording must submit a request through the Music Department and schedule the recording session with the Department technician. Fees will be charged and must be paid in advance.

Student Chamber Ensembles

Any student chamber ensemble that performs on Department-sponsored programs must be coached by a faculty member. Each student ensemble member must be enrolled in the appropriate course. Exceptions will be handled by the instructor and Department Chair.

Scholarships

Departmental scholarships will be renewable for a total of no more than four years.