At the end of the 4^th semester of study at Texas A&M University-Commerce (TAMUC), all music majors must perform and pass an extended jury known as the Junior Level Proficiency Exam (JLPE). All music majors must pass the JLPE to be admitted into upper division Principal Applied lessons (MUS 352) and most other upper division courses in the department. For the JLPE, the student must demonstrate technical and musical excellence, music literacy (sight reading), and the ability to perform a cross-section of standard repertoire for the specific studio area. A student who does not pass all portions of the JLPE must retake only the failed portions at the end of the following long semester. Piano majors are required to retake the entire JLPE if they fail any portion. Students are not eligible to enroll in upper division Principal Applied Lessons (MUS 352) until all portions of the JLPE are passed. A student who does not pass the second attempt at the junior level proficiency exam will no longer be allowed to continue as a music major. Transfer students are encouraged to take the JLPE at the end of their 2^nd semester of applied lessons at TAMUC, but no later than the end of their 4^th semester.

Instrumental JLPE Policies

Instrumental students must demonstrate competency in four areas of performance:

1. Jury piece assigned by the instructor for that particular semester.
2. Etudes/excerpts/misc. materials
3. All major, minor, and chromatic scales (performed from memory)
   • Played in a 4/4 time signature, with the rhythm of quarter notes and eighth notes for every measure
   • Any of the 12 major, three forms of minor scales, and chromatic scale (played in steady eighth- notes) could be asked for at the JLPE. Scales will be drawn at random and performed within the same key area. For example, if the key of C is drawn, the student will perform the C Major, c  natural minor, c harmonic minor and c melodic minor scale. A minimum of four key areas will be assessed.
   • The minimum tempo to perform all scales is as follows:
     • Woodwinds:   ± = 120
     • Brass:           ± = 96
     • Percussion:    ± = 160
     • Number of octaves is determined by the applied instructor.
4. Sight-reading: While the jury and etudes portion is graded similar to a typical jury exam with a final number value, grading for the scales and sight-reading portion of the JLPE is based on a pass/fail system. As stated in the JLPE requirements, all students must satisfactorily perform and pass a sight- reading etude. To obtain a consistent approach and difficulty level among all studios, etudes will be selected according to a variety of factors.

Selection Requirements include:

• 16-24 measures long
• Simple or compound meter
• Key signature: up to 4 sharps or 4 flats (Major or minor key signatures; no modes)
• Occasional accidentals
• Rhythmic Values: Half-notes, Quarter-notes, Eighth-notes, Sixteenth-notes, Triplets, Syncopations
• Marked dynamics
• Marked articulations
• Marked tempo
  • Simple meter:    ± = 80-140
  • Compound meters:   ± = 60-132

The JLPE Rubric will be used for the sight-reading etude. Students will need a 2.5 average score or higher to pass the sight-reading portion of the JLPE. The rubric is published on the music department website; a synopsis is below.

• Students performing the etude technically correct with added musicality, not written in the music, including phrasing, nuance, and clear direction will constitute a “4” on the rubric scoring sheet.
• Students performing the etude technically correct and/or making a quick recovery will constitute a  “3” on the rubric scoring sheet.
• Students performing the etude with minor technical and musical mistakes will constitute a “2” on the rubric scoring sheet.
• Students performing the etude with major technical and musical mistakes will constitute a “1” on the rubric scoring sheet.

Before performing the JLPE, students are required to submit the following at the time of their performance exam:

1. The student should have their personal copy of an original score. Two copies of the solo/jury piece will be used by the jury panel.
2. Two copies of the other works prepared (etudes/excerpts/misc. materials)
3. Two typed copies of the semester repertoire sheet (available on the music department website)

Piano JLPE Policies

Keyboard students must successfully perform the literature and technical requirements assigned during their last semester of lower division applied study. Questions should be directed to Dr. Luis Sanchez, Head of the Piano Division.

Vocal JLPE Policies

For the vocal JLPE, students must successfully perform a varied and challenging repertoire that includes one piece from each of the following categories: an Italian art song, a German Lied, a French melodie, and an English art song. All four pieces will be performed to demonstrate mastery of all four languages and the ability to expressively perform various styles of music. All literature must be performed by memory. In addition to the repertoire performance requirement, students must: 1) demonstrate competency sight-singing using solfege, the text, or a neutral syllable; 2) speak a sentence written from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to the chosen language (Italian, French, or German) and transliterate words from English into IPA; and, 3) learn on their own and expressively perform an assigned selection of literature. Students will be responsible for picking up their prepared piece two weeks before their JLPE from the applied voice instructor.

Students must complete and submit five typed copies of the Jury Form and Jury Repertoire Form (under the Current Student resources section of the music department website) to the evaluators at the time of the jury.