Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Individual Applied Music Instruction (Face-to-Face)

MUSC 4410-32

Course: MUSC 4410-32
Credits: 2
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: MUSC
CRN: 32704

Course Description

Private lessons in vocal or instrumental music. Twelve 50-minute lessons. Fee required. May be repeated for credit. Must have a grade of “B” or higher in four (4) credits of MUSC 3410. (Fall, Spring, Summer) [Graded (Standard Letter)] Prerequisite(s): MUSC 3410 and instructor permission - Prerequisite Min. Grade: B Repeatable for Add’l Credit? Yes - Total Credits: 24 Registration Restriction(s): None

Required Texts

While there is not a traditional textbook for lessons, there are still required materials. Students are required to purchase all music that they are studying, including etude books. Students are also required to own a tuner and metronome. Additionally, students need to have basic reed making tools. These include, but are not limited to, a reed knife, a plaque, pliers, 22-gauge brass wire, cotton or nylon thread, duco cement, a mandrel, a reamer, and a cutting block. If this is too much to purchase all at once, we can figure out a solution.

Learning Outcomes

  • "Continued practice in creating, interpreting, presenting, analyzing, and evaluating music." NASM Handbook p. 88
  •  Increase the diversity of studied musical repertoire 
  •  Foster independent learning, especially in the practice room
  •  Prepare for performance experiences in all ensembles
  •  Improve reed making abilities
  •  Create musical and artistic interpretations of music

Course Requirements

GRADING:
There are three main areas of assessment: lessons, assignments, and major performances (juries, recitals, studio class, etc.). Lessons will be graded based on preparation and progress from the previous week. Assignments include research assignments, lesson reflections, technique exams, and other tasks that may be assigned. The overall grading will be as follows:
Lessons: 40%
Assignments: 40%
Performances: 20%

LESSONS:
Lessons will be graded on progress from the previous lesson, your practice log, a weekly scale exam, the quality of your reed, and your attendance. If you are ill you must contact me 24 hours in advance and we will schedule a make-up lesson, or you will be docked attendance points for your lesson grade. Emergencies will be dealt with on a case by case basis. 
You must keep a practice log using the Toggl app, which is available for free on mobile devices or as a web application. Each week you must submit a report of your practicing or you will not receive a lesson that week. Even if you only practiced five minutes, I need to see what those five minutes were spent on!
The weekly scale exam is a pass/fail exam that we will do during your lesson. You must be able to perform the assigned scale with only two mistakes or less. You only have two attempts to pass in each lesson.
Your reed must be of good enough quality to not get in the way during our lessons. I will let you know a week in advance if a reed is not good enough anymore. Ideally you will be working on making reeds throughout the semester and will have lots of options available to you.
You must be ready to play at the beginning of your assigned lesson time, not coming in the door at your assigned time. Deductions will be made if you are up to five minutes late, and further deductions up to ten minutes late.
Each lesson is 100 points and the combined lesson grade is 40% of your final grade.

ASSIGNMENTS:
Each semester you must choose a pathway to guide your lesson focus. Every pathway has at least two research assignments based on the repertoire you are studying, and some pathways have more. See the studio website for details about each pathway and the different research assignments.
There are also technique exams during the semester. Every pathway has at least the final technique exam, but there may be a midterm technique exam as well.
Additionally, every three weeks you must complete a lesson reflection about your progress. You should be listening to your lesson recordings each week to help inform your practicing and your lesson reflections.
These assignments will be worth 40% of your final grade.

PERFORMANCES:
Each semester you will be required to perform in one of the Friday afternoon recitals. This performance is 10% of your final grade. Additionally, you will be required to perform a jury towards the end of the semester that will also be 10% of your final grade.

STUDIO CLASS:
In addition to weekly lessons, studio class is held at 1:00 PM on Fridays. The purpose of studio class is to address general topics with all students, give performance opportunities, and for students to learn from their colleagues.

Course Outline

Course outline will be developed independently for each student.

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

No late work is accepted.

Attendance Policy

Attendance is required.

Course Fees

Course fees information will be provided by the instructor.

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.