A graduate music student pursuing a Performance Degree must master the requisite technical skills for artistic expression in at least one performance area through study in principal applied lessons. As a culmination of the MUS 552 process, all graduate students will perform a recital (50-60 minutes of music.) See recital scheduling information further below in this document.
Jury ExamsAll graduate music majors must successfully complete a jury examination at the conclusion of each semester of principal applied (MUS 552) and minor applied (MUS 551) study. Students performing a recital may have the recital graded by the appropriate faculty in lieu of the jury for the semester in which the recital is performed at the discretion of the applied instructor. Students may perform on a minor applied instrument on a student recital and have that performance graded by the appropriate faculty in lieu of the minor applied jury for the semester in which the recital is performed at the discretion of the applied instructor.
The material and repertoire performed for the jury exam comes from material assigned in applied study during the semester. For instrumental majors, the assigned material may include, but is not limited to, scales, exercises, etudes, solos, chamber literature, and orchestral excerpts. The assigned vocal repertoire comprises memorized art songs in multiple languages, folk song arrangements, recitatives, and arias. Keyboard majors perform literature from the major style periods (e.g., Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Contemporary, etc.) In general, each member of the applied faculty establishes and states the grading policy in the course syllabus; thus, the value or weight of the jury exam on the final grade may differ between studios.
Graduate music majors must perform at least once each semester on a solo recital, student recital, studio recital, master class, convocation, or closed recital. Then, depending upon the student’s course of study and studio requirements, he or she performs a full recital (50-60 minutes of music). Students may choose to perform a non-degree recital, with approval from the Program Advisor.
All graduate students pursuing a performance degree will be required to write program notes as part of their degree recital. It is the student’s responsibility to prepare and copy the program notes.
The School of Music mandates the following procedure to document a student's performance of a recital on his or her transcript:
Performing in ensembles is not part of the degree plan for graduate students. However, some Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTA’s) and Graduate Assistants (GA’s) might have ensemble participation as part of their assistantship duties. The School of Music and individual advisors will assign all GTA’s and GA’s their specific responsibilities prior to the semester.
Only courses in which a student earns a grade of C or better may be included in the Program of Study for a graduate degree. Students are required to present an overall average of B (3.0 GPA) or better at the end of their program of study, as well as averages of B or better in the major and minor areas of study. Therefore, every semester hour of C must be balanced by one of A to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
All Independent Study course topics may be assigned at the discretion of the instructor and GraduateCoordinator.
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