Applied Music Instruction - Juries and Accompanists

Scheduling

At the beginning of each term, students schedule weekly lessons and make sure they are correctly registered for lessons. The student submits a class schedule to the applied teacher. When the teacher has gathered the schedules of all those students assigned to the studio, the teacher assigns a lesson time to each student based on the available hours indicated by the student’s class schedule.  This should be done as promptly as possible in order to meet the requisite number of lessons for the term (minimum of 14, including semester jury).

Each music major is entitled to 50 minutes of instruction per week on their major instrument during each semester. All other lessons (secondary, non-major 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.

Practice Requirements

Practice rooms are located on the third floor of Presser Hall. Any Stetson music student can use any open practice room any time it is available. Practice rooms with a grand piano (Presser Hall rooms 306, 321, 323, 336 and 338) are reserved Monday through Friday for piano majors only. Generally, students are entitled to two practice hours per day. Students may not “hold” a room with books, music, or backpacks except for water or restroom breaks. If the practice room is left unattended for 15 minutes, the practice room is considered available and may be used by another student on a “first come, first served” basis. Aside from water, no food or drink is allowed in practice rooms. Personal items cannot be stored in practice rooms. The School of Music is not responsible for any lost or stolen items. Students should contact the Front Office with any questions.”

Student Recital Performances

Student Recitals are normally held on Thursdays at 2:30 pm in Lee Chapel in Elizabeth Hall, and/or Tinsley Hall (Room 132) in Presser Hall, and/or Feasel Hall in McMahan Hall. Student Recitals are scheduled weekly during each academic term. Except for the first semester of the freshman year, each music major must appear at least once each semester in a Student Recital or an on-campus appearance approved by the individual’s instructor, as a soloist in the major applied music area. Failure to meet this recital requirement without the approval of the applied faculty will result in a failing grade for the semester. In order to participate, students must complete the online Recital Request Form, found in the Faculty/Student Resources page of the School of Music.  The music being performed should be listed properly on this form, including all information necessary to properly represent that composition on the program. Timing for the performance must be exact to the second. Once you fill out the information and click ‘submit’, you will be emailed a copy of the request. Print out the email and bring it to your studio teacher to sign. The form should then be returned to the Music Office no later than 4:00 p.m. on the Monday prior to the Thursday recital. Rehearsal time for these recitals is scheduled in Lee Chapel and Tinsley Hall generally from 12:00 pm - 3:00 pm on Wednesdays, and the sign-up sheets are located in the front lobby of Presser Hall.

Juries

During each semester, examinations in applied music are given before a jury consisting of 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 at least once during each term. During the first semester of study, however, students enrolled in .25 unit elective or secondary courses may appear at the discretion of the teacher. At the discretion of the applied teacher, a jury may not be called in the semester in which a senior recital is given. Jury dates are posted well in advance on designated bulletin boards in Presser Hall. Appointment schedules are posted at least 24 hours before juries begin. The student should present a jury card to the jury when appearing for examination. This card, which may be obtained from the applied teacher, should list the current repertoire studied by the student, and it is the responsibility of the student to keep the information current and accurate. Jury cards are kept on file in the Music Office.

When a student appears for the jury, he/she submits the jury card to the chairperson. Jury appointments are normally for a 10 to 20 minute period. The procedure for hearing applied music juries is as follows: the applied teacher is designated as the jury chairperson. When a student appears for the jury, he/she submits the jury card to the chairperson. The jury members inspect the card and call for the performance of repertory studied, technical exercises, the self-prepared piece and/or sight-reading. Each jury member writes comments about the performance and presents them to the chairperson. The jury chairperson records on the jury card the material heard, excuses the student from the room, and requests a written grade from each jury member without discussion. The chairperson then averages the grades and records a jury grade on the card. The teacher is responsible for returning jury cards to the Music Office for filing. A final grade in the applied course is determined by the teacher, and it cannot be more than one letter grade higher or lower than the jury grade. If the teacher feels that exceptional circumstances justify a grade more than one letter grade higher or lower, he/she must clear it with the Dean. Each instrumental area may have additional requirements pertaining to the sophomore decision jury. These expectations will be communicated by the applied teacher.

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.

Music fees

Music majors and minors are not charged additional fees for applied lessons required for their degrees. Students enrolled in instrumental techniques classes are charged a $15.00 instrument rental fee.