Applied Music Instruction - Juries and Accompanists

Lessons

Each student enrolled in applied lessons is entitled to 14 lessons (including semester jury). Students enrolled in MUSA 112, MUSA 312, or MUSA 313 are entitled to 50 minutes of instruction per week on their major instrument during each semester. MUSA 101 and MUSA 111 lessons are 25 minutes per week. Teachers are free to combine or distribute a student’s lesson time provided that the student receives the required minimum amount of instruction. An applied music teacher is required to make up a lesson absence in only two cases: (1) if the teacher requests the lesson cancellation, or (2) if a student notifies the teacher of the intention to be absent due to illness or family emergency at least 24 hours in advance.

As promptly as possible at the beginning of each term, the student works collaboratively with the applied instructor to schedule weekly lessons for the semester.

General Recitals

General student recitals are scheduled weekly on Thursdays at 2:30 pm during the academic year. Except for their first semester at Stetson, each music major must appear at least once each semester in a general student recital (or in another solo public performance on campus approved by the student's applied instructor). In order to participate, students must complete the online Recital Request Form.

Juries

During each semester, examinations in applied music are given before a jury consisting of at least three School of Music faculty members, one of whom must be the student’s applied teacher. All students enrolled in applied lessons will appear before a jury (though exceptions may be made at the discretion of the applied instructor for students taking MUSA 101, MUSA 111, MUSX 362, or MUSX 462). Jury schedules are posted well in advance on designated bulletin boards in Presser Hall. Jury examination appointments are normally for a 10- or 20-minute period. The applied teacher records on the jury card all the materials studied over the course of the semester. When a student appears before the jury, the jury members may call for the performance of repertory prepared, technical exercises, and/or sight-reading. During the examination, each juror writes comments about the student performance and assigns a grade without discussion. The applied teacher records each juror’s grade and the average of these grades on the jury card, and subsequently submits all jury cards to the Music Office, where jury evaluations are kept on file.

Jury grade is one component of the applied lessons’ course grade, as specified in the MUSA course syllabus.

Accompanists

It is the responsibility of the student to arrange for the services of an accompanist, also known as a collaborating pianist. The faculty coordinator of accompanying can sometimes assist in locating an accompanist. There are both student and non-student accompanists. Student pianists may charge a fee as agreed upon between the pianist and the coordinator of accompanying. Student accompanists are paid for one hour of service for non-degree recital performances (including but not limited to student recitals, juries, master classes, and hearings), and studio classes are charged at a half-hour rate. Students should contact non-student accompanists regarding their fees.

Instrumentalists may expect to use the services of an accompanist for approximately 6-10 hours per semester and vocalists may expect to use the services of an accompanist for approximately 20-25 hours per semester (depending on their applied instructor’s requirements); students should budget accordingly. Non-payment will result in the School of Music placing a hold on the student account, which restricts registration and various other privileges, including graduation.

If student instrumentalists are needed to collaborate on their peer’s performances, arrangements are made through the student’s applied instructor in collaboration with the instrumentalists’ teachers.

Fees

Music majors and minors are not charged additional fees for applied lessons required for their degrees.