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 professors 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.
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!
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 opportunities afforded by such sessions will give you time to develop practice routines, scale skills, and bow strokes and to otherwise refine your musicianship.
Required Writing Assignments in Performance program
Performance Notes including:
- 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.
- List of recordings of each assigned work which have been listened to and studied by the student.
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. You must have maintained a B average. For your jury: 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. Student Recitals scheduled at the end of each semester. Each student will be requested to attend the string recitals which occur during the semester, particularly if any member of the String faculty is performing.
Concert Attendance
You are required to attend any string recitals which occur during the semester, particularly those given by your peers, teacher, or guest performers and /or clinicians.
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 |