Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Individual Applied Music Instruction (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 1400-06

Course: MUSC 1400-06
Credits: 1
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MUSC
CRN: 31275

Course Description

Music 1410- 4410 (2 credits) and Music1400- 4400 (1credit) are designed as face-to-face classes that provide individual instruction for string majors and minors thorough the study of string instrumental technique and of string literature from all periods and styles. This study provides individualized opportunities for students whose experience and training have given them advanced abilities and a mature professional attitude towards string instruments study.

Required Texts

  • Repertoire, Scale, and Etude Books as assigned. You must purchase your music.
  • Metronome
  • Supplies as needed (strings, rosin, etc.)

Learning Outcomes

This course will foster a mature professional attitude towards rehearsing and performing. Through consistent daily rehearsals and sectionals in preparation for the SUU Orchestra concerts, students will

  1. Acquire the string-instrument literacy (applicable to Violin, Viola, Cello and String Bass) necessary to understand the Western music traditional and academic repertoire; demonstrate conceptual understanding of and skill in handling key musical ideas such tonal structure, rhythm, harmonic and music-forms found in string music; develop deeper understanding of music as the emotional expressions of fellow human beings.
  2. Demonstrate proficiency in sight reading and in performing basic elements of the art of violin playing -e.g., accuracy in counting music, sensitive intonation, timber/tone, and color.
  3. Demonstrate the ability to perform as a soloist in an aesthetically satisfying way.
  4. Demonstrate in rehearsal and practice an understanding of the musical expression of abstract beauty from different periods and styles of music.
  5. Demonstrate a commitment to the interdisciplinary nature of classical music and an understanding of how such music serves of the foundation for the development of further studies in the musical arts.

Course Requirements

Weekly lesson

Lessons are for one hour each week for a minimum of 12 weeks per semester. Once the lesson time is agreed upon by student and instructor. You are expected to attend all lessons. Absences will be excused for health reasons only when verified by written documentation from a health professional, or for family emergencies. Make up lessons will be offered at the discretion with the instructor and at a mutually agreeable time. Unexcused absences will lower your grade and you will not be able to make up the lesson.

Assignment

The instructor will work with you to determine the specific pieces to be covered during each semester based on your needs, previous experience, level advancement, and performance goals.

Practice

Students are expected to practice every day. The instructor strongly suggests a minimum of one hour a day.

Studio Performance

This is an important part of your education and thus is required of all string majors and recommended for all string minors. Students are required to attend, and attendance will count toward your final grade. The additional performance opportunity afforded by such sessions will give you time to develop practice routines, scale skills, and bow strokes and to otherwise refine your musicianship.

Required reading assignments in performance music
  • Background information on each composer of assigned works.
  • Definitions of musical terms used as performance indicators for each assigned work.
  • The student's personal view of the meaning and significance of each work, with comments on both music and words.
Music for Accompanists

Each student is personally responsible for providing music for the accompanist well ahead of time so that the accompanist can practice. No student in my studio is to perform in public without my having worked with both the student and the accompanist on the piece to be performed.

Jury

At the end of the term, all string students will perform a jury in front of the instructor and at least one other faculty member. You will be expected to perform two pieces as determined by the instructor-- one may be an etude. Scales may be required at my discretion. Please dress as for a performance. Please note that in order to pass your proficiency for a level change, you must have 4 hours in a level and you must have maintained a “B” average. For your jury: Turn in the forms on time: You must submit your forms--such as requests for an accompanist, recital or concert form and programs--on time! Please follow the guidelines in the Music Student Handbook regarding Friday afternoon departmental recitals and Juries.

Public Performance

String majors will be expected to perform a student recital at least once during each term. Each student will be requested to attend any String recitals which occur during the semester, particularly if any member of the String faculty is performing.

Grading

Your grade will be determined as follows:

  • 55% Lesson preparation, Notebooks, Studio class and Student Recital performance
  • 20% Jury
  • 20% Studio Class and Student Recital
  • 5 % Attendance at all Learning Activities
  • A 94-100%
  • A- 90-93 %
  • B+ 87-89 %
  • B 83-86%
  • B- 80-82%
  • C+ 77-79%
  • C 73-76%
  • C- 70-72 %
  • D+ 67-69%
  • D 63-66%
  • D- 60-62 %
  • F Below 60

Course Outline

1.      Weekly lesson: Lessons are for one hour each week for a minimum of 12 weeks per semester.  Students will discuss the lesson schedule with their instructor in the first week of each semester. Once the lesson time is agreed upon by student and instructor, it will be posted on the professor’s teaching schedule on the office door. When scheduling your lesson, please arrange for sufficient warm-up time beforehand.  This will allow us to work on technique and repertoire more efficiently.  Please be prompt and bring all current repertoire, scale, and etude books.  You are expected to attend all lessons.  Absences will be excused for health reasons only when verified by written documentation from a health professional, or for family emergencies.  Make-up lessons will be offered at the discretion with the instructor and at a mutually agreeable time.  Unexcused absences will lower your grade, and you will not be able to make up the lesson. 
 
2.      Practice:  You are expected to practice every day.  The instructor strongly suggests a minimum of one hour a day.  A regular schedule works best: Stick to a routine!  Practice rooms are available in the Music Building (lower level).  Schedule your time with department secretary. There is a $5.00 deposit for a practice room key, refundable at the end of the semester.  The secretary will also be able to assist you should you need a locker for your instrument.  Practice rooms and lockers are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so check soon! 
 
3.      Studio Performance: This is an important part of your education and thus is required of all string majors and recommended for all string minors. Studio performances are scheduled on a weekly basis on Friday at 3:00 p.m. in Thorley Hall throughout the semester.  Students are required to attend, and attendance will count toward your final grade.  The additional opportunities afforded by such sessions will give you time to develop practice routines, scale skills, and bow strokes and to otherwise refine your musicianship. 
 

 

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Make up lessons will be offered at the discretion with the instructor and at a mutually agreeable time.

For your jury: Turn in the forms on time: You must submit your forms--such as requests for an accompanist, recital or concert form and programs--on time!

Attendance Policy

You are expected to attend all lessons.

Absences will be excused for health reasons only when verified by written documentation from a health professional, or for family emergencies.

Unexcused absences will lower your grade and you will not be able to make up the lesson.

Students are required to attend, and attendance will count toward your final grade.

Each student will be requested to attend any String recitals which occur during the semester, particularly if any member of the String faculty is performing.

Course Fees

Course fees information will be provided by the instructor.

Department Handbook

Please read the entire “Handbook of Policies and Regulations for Music Majors. The policies addressed by this document are your responsibility and will be adhered to by the Department.

The book is designed to help you meet graduation requirements!

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.