Current Performing Arts Students
Music Placement Examinations
Placement examinations in music theory and piano and applied music auditions on the principal instrument or voice are given during registration week of the fall and spring semesters to all entering students intending to declare a major in Music. The Music Theory Placement Examination is administered to determine the student’s level of entry in the music theory sequence (MUS 101 Basic Theory or MUS 112 Theory I). The Piano Placement Examination is administered to determine the student’s level of entry in piano studies (Class Piano I or II; or Minor Applied Piano). Applied music auditions are heard by the Music faculty to determine the student’s level of entry into the major applied or minor applied studies sequence.
Applied Music Jury Examinations
All major applied students are required to perform a jury examination each semester of study. However, a student must successfully complete at least 70-percent of repertoire assigned by the applied instructor during the semester to be eligible to perform the jury. If the student does not perform a jury, or is ineligible to perform a jury, then the applied music course is failed. In order for an absence from a scheduled applied music jury to be excused, a student must submit an official excuse from the Office of Student Affairs at least one day prior to the jury, or if there are serious mitigating circumstances, no later than the end of the Final Examination Week. If the absence is officially excused, then the student may receive an incomplete grade (“I”) in accordance with University academic policy. If the absence is unexcused, then the jury is failed, resulting in failure of the course.
Sophomore Applied Music Proficiency Examination
The Sophomore Applied Music Proficiency Examination is the MUA 262 or MUA 282 jury heard by a quorum of applied Music faculty to determine the student’s mastery of performance skills that are prerequisite to matriculation through 300- and 400-level applied music courses. Based on the outcome of the jury examination (pass/fail) the Music faculty will advise the student to continue in their Music degree program or elect another degree program in the University.
Removal from Major
Students may be removed from the Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music degree programs if they have not successfully completed (passed) the Sophomore Applied Music Proficiency Examination on their major instrument or voice within two successive semesters. A student who fails the Examination on the first attempt will be allowed a second attempt in the following semester. A student who fails the Examination on the second attempt will be removed from the major and will be returned to undeclared status.
Piano Proficiency Examination
All Music majors must demonstrate keyboard competency by successfully completing the Piano Proficiency Examination prior to graduation. This is a prerequisite for completion of a Bachelor of Arts in Music or Bachelor of Music degree.
Major Areas of Performance
Each Music major is required to designate a principal performance area of major applied study and must enroll in the corresponding course sequence until performance requirements (Bachelor of Arts in Music) or recital requirements (Bachelor of Music) are completed. Changes in the principal performance area must be approved by a quorum of the Music faculty. If the change in the principal performance area is approved by the Music faculty, the student is required to begin major applied in the new principal performance area at a level to be determined by Music faculty.
Required Recital Performances
All Music majors enrolled in the Bachelor of Music degree program must perform a junior and/or senior recital on their major instrument or voice to demonstrate knowledge of applicable solo performance literature and competency in its preparation. Music Education majors must perform a Senior Recital of 30 minutes of music during the semester of enrollment in MUA 461. Music Performance majors must perform a Junior Recital of 30 minutes of music during the semester of enrollment in MUA 382, and a Senior Recital of 45 minutes of music during the semester of enrollment in MUA 482. All recitals must be heard and approved by a quorum of the Music faculty no later than three weeks prior to the scheduled performance. No recitals may be presented after the last official day of classes or during the Final Examination Week of the applicable semester.