DIVISION OF STRINGS
DIVISION OF STRINGS
Policies & Requirements
Policies & Requirements
It is each student’s responsibility to be familiar with the policies, requirements, and procedures of the division. If you have any questions, contact your advisor immediately to avoid delay in fulfilling requirements. In addition to knowing the policies and requirements of the division, students should read and become familiar with the academic policies described in the beginning of this handbook.
All undergraduate music majors must complete the MUSC 099 requirement as outlined in this handbook.
Dates and policies for noon recitals will be distributed to all string students at the beginning of each semester.
All string students must be enrolled in orchestra (MUSP 229A or MUSC 229R as assigned by the string faculty) each semester in which they are registered for studio instruction.
All BM string students (other than those majoring in double bass or harp) are required to take six semesters of MUSC 129A: Chamber Music. String students studying double bass or harp take two semesters of MUSC 129A: Chamber Music and four semesters of MUSC 469: Orchestral Excerpts (MUSC 469F: Excerpts for Bassists or MUSC 469V: Excerpts for Harpists). The Orchestral Excerpts classes for double bass and harp must be taken in four consecutive semesters to avoid duplication of material. As opportunities for placement in chamber ensembles are difficult to guarantee in any given semester, a student wishing to take advantage of an ideal opportunity for chamber placement while in the midst of the Orchestral Excerpts sequence is strongly advised to take both courses concurrently.
When registering for applied lessons (MUSP), use the appropriate suffix for your instrument (e.g., MUSP 119C for violin):
Violin (C)
Viola (D)
Cello (E)
String Bass (F)
Harp (V)
All undergraduate string students are required to play a performance examination (jury) at the end of each semester in which applied music is taken. Students enrolled in the recital courses MUSP 420, MUSP 410, or 305 may use the recital in lieu of a jury at the discretion of the studio teacher.
Repertoire presented in any jury may not have been presented in any previous jury. At least three members of the string faculty will hear all juries; appropriate part-time faculty will be present. Faculty members hearing juries will provide written comments for each student as well as a letter grade. The average of these grades constitutes 40% of the student’s grade for the semester; the student’s teacher determines the other 60% of the final grade.
Two weeks prior to the recital date, all students performing recitals must present a recital hearing to a committee consisting of the studio teacher and one other member of the string faculty. This committee must approve the hearing before the recital may be presented. All degree recitals must be attended by the studio teacher. In addition, one other string faculty member must also hear the recital, providing written comments and a letter grade. This letter grade constitutes 40% of the student’s grade for the semester. The studio teacher determines the other 60% and submits the final grade. All degree recitals must be recorded.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music in Performance degree will enroll in the Major Series of applied lessons:
Freshman Courses MUSP 119 120
Sophomore Courses MUSP 217 218
Junior Courses MUSP 315 316
Senior Courses MUSP 419 420
At least twenty-four hours of weekly preparation time is expected for students registered in the Major Series. This expectation does not include time spent in ensemble rehearsals.
Juries for MUSP 119, 217, 315, and 419 are 5–10 minutes in length, with the repertoire selected at the teacher’s discretion. Requirements for the MUSP 120, 218, 316, and 420 juries appear below:
MUSP 120: 10 minutes of music, repertoire selected at the teacher’s discretion
MUSP 218: 15 minutes of music to include a first or last movement of a major concerto
The jury for 218 qualifies a student to continue in the degree program. Promotion to junior standing is the faculty’s endorsement of the student’s ability to successfully complete this degree. A student may be required either to repeat the MUSP 218 semester or to change majors.
MUSP 316: 25 minutes of music; presentation of a complete concerto or comparable works
MUSP 420: Senior Recital in lieu of the jury
Students completing the BM in Performance degree are required to present a full recital while enrolled in MUSP 420. This recital consists of 55–65 minutes of music. Repertoire should include music from the Baroque/Classical periods, Romantic period and the twentieth century or later. Ensemble music involving three or more players may be programmed provided all players can be present for the recital hearing. At least half of the program must be presented from memory. A student may also perform a Junior Recital during the MUSP 316 semester in lieu of a Junior Jury. Repertoire for a Junior Recital must be comparable in scope to the requirement for the Junior Jury and is at the discretion of the instructor.
Students seeking the Bachelor of Music Education (BME) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degrees will enroll in the Principal Series for applied lessons:
Freshman Courses MUSP 109 110
Sophomore Courses MUSP 207 208
Junior Courses MUSP 305 306
Senior Courses MUSP 409 410
For students seeking the BME degree, MUSP 410 is the terminal semester of applied study, and it is usually taken during the seventh semester (instead of 409). For students seeking the BA degree, MUSP 305 is the terminal semester of applied study. Students seeking lessons beyond the terminal semester must secure approval through the process described in this handbook.
At least fifteen hours of weekly preparation time is expected for students registered in the Principal Series. This expectation does not include time spent in ensemble rehearsals.
Juries for all semesters of the Principle Series will consist of a presentation of at least ten minutes of music with the repertoire selected at the teacher’s discretion.
BME students are required to perform a recital in the 410 semester. This may be either a half recital of 25–35 minutes of music or a full recital of 50–65 minutes of music. BA students continuing lessons beyond MUSP 305 are encouraged (but not required) to present either a full recital of 50–65 minutes or half recital of 25–35 minutes in their final year of study, upon the advice and consent of their private instructor. These students should petition the string faculty for permission to perform a recital in the MUSP 410 semester. Repertoire for Principal Series recitals should include music from at least two stylistic periods and at least half of the program should be presented from memory.