Courses
In addition to the core curriculum, students enroll in classes, lessons, and ensembles particular to their individual program. Course registration occurs for incoming students during summer orientation sessions with the School of Fine Arts Director of Advising, then with faculty advisors in subsequent semesters. Students first consult the appropriate sample curricular outline to determine complete and incomplete requirements, then meet with their advisor(s) to discuss course selections. (Some courses require permission obtained from the professors teaching those courses and/or our Permission Number Request Form.) The advisor then releases the hold in the online registration system which then permits a student to enter the system and complete enrollment. It is essential that students report any change in curricular plans to both their advisor and to the Program Assistant in the Music Office.
During the first ten days of a semester, a student may add and/or drop courses without penalty. Later changes may be possible with requisite approvals on an Enrollment Change Form, found here. Students should receive or be able to access studio policies or syllabi for all classes, lessons, and ensembles. These documents detail instructional goals, student expectations, attendance policies, important calendar dates, and other information pertinent to the setting. Professors also establish office hours, during which they are available to meet individually with students.
Classes, lessons, and rehearsals cancelled because of university closure need not be rescheduled. Professors are expected to make up or make substitute arrangements for classes missed for personal or professional reasons.
At or near the end of each semester, students are asked to provide feedback about their experience in classes, lessons, and ensembles. Course surveys (SET; Student Experience of Teaching) provide instructors, departments, and the University with information that is critical to developing and modifying curricular offerings and instructional methods.
Convocation
Music majors attend a weekly, zero-credit course designed to provide exposure to music outside the major area, guest artists and industry professionals, and a venue for a yearly performance. The course components and schedule for Convocation are located here. Requests to perform at Convocation must be completed on a Convocation Agreement Form that requires the approval of the applied teacher or coach and any accompanist, available here. The Department of Music keeps records of all Convocation performances.
Residency Requirement
Residency consists of concurrent enrollment in Convocation, applied lessons, and participation in a major ensemble. Students may not omit one component of residency without permission of the department head. Students are expected to be in residence for every semester. Students pursuing the BA with no emphasis may reduce their residence requirement to six semesters. Students pursuing the IB/M in Music Education typically complete a clinical placement in their eighth semester and are therefore not in residence during that semester. Students studying abroad or enrolled at another institution will have the residency requirement waived for the affected semester.
Lessons
All music majors receive the equivalent of fourteen 50-minute lessons per semester. The amount of credit varies according to major and level, and expectations for the amount and type of practice, the repertoire to be studied, the technique to be mastered, etc., are detailed by the instructor in the relevant studio policy. Unless an exception is made by the department head, participation in an appropriate ensemble, MUSI 1110, 1111, or 1112, is required each semester for students registered in MUSI 1222 (3222). The same requirement is in place for secondary applied lessons (MUSI 1221).
One-credit lessons (25 minutes) on secondary instruments (MUSI 1221) are available with the consent of the instructor and the department head.
Accompanists
Depending on their applied area, students have varying needs for the services of one or more accompanists and must pay individually for those services, unless the accompanist is fulfilling requirements for an accompanying class or a scholarship. All participants in a collaborative rehearsal should arrive thoroughly prepared. The Coordinator of Keyboard Studies can help students identify and contact appropriate accompanists for lessons, juries, and other performances. An accompanist database is also located here. Accompanists set their own fees.
Juries
At the end of each semester, all students enrolled in applied study perform a 10-minute jury for no fewer than two faculty members. Students receive from each member of the faculty a letter grade for the jury that is averaged with the other(s) to constitute a certain percentage of the applied-lesson grade for the semester, as specified in the grading policy on the teacher’s studio syllabus.
Typically, at the end of the fourth semester, Bachelor of Music and Pre-Teaching majors perform a 20-minute promotional jury for no fewer than two faculty members that must be passed for admission into upper-level study. As with other juries, students receive a letter grade from each faculty member that is averaged with the other(s) to constitute a certain percentage of the applied-lesson grade for the semester, as specified in the grading policy on the teacher’s studio syllabus. A student must receive a B average from the panel to be considered to have passed the promotional jury.
A student who does not pass the promotional jury is permitted one re-take, to occur during the next semester’s add/drop period (i.e., the first 10 days). In the case of a student not passing the promotional jury on the second attempt, the applied teacher will communicate to the department head the panel’s recommendation for an appropriate course of action which may lead to dismissal from the degree program. A recommendation may be made for continuation in a music degree program that does not require upper-level lessons (i.e., MUSI 3222).
Recitals
Recitals required for graduation, i.e., junior half-recital and senior recital, are preceded no later than 14 days prior to the recital date by a pre-recital jury for no fewer than two faculty members. Students receive a designation of S (satisfactory), or U (unsatisfactory) for the jury from each faculty member. A student must receive a designation of “Satisfactory” to be considered to have passed the pre-recital jury and permitted to present the scheduled recital. A student who does not pass the jury is permitted one additional jury. A student who does not pass the recital may retake the course during a subsequent semester. In the case of a student not passing the recital on the second attempt, the applied teacher will communicate to the department head the panel’s recommendation for an appropriate course of action which may lead to dismissal from the degree program. A recommendation may be made for continuation in a music degree program that does not require a recital.
The recitals are evaluated by a panel of no fewer than two faculty members. Students receive a designation of S (satisfactory), or U (unsatisfactory) for the recital from each member of the faculty panel. A student must receive a designation of “Satisfactory” to be considered to have passed the recital. The applied teacher reports the result in writing to the teacher-of-record for Senior Recital, i.e., the Associate Head for Undergraduate Studies.
A student performing a recital during the final eight weeks of school is exempt from taking a semester jury.
Ensembles
Large Ensembles (i.e., for Music Majors)
Concert Choir, Symphonic Band, Symphonic Wind Ensemble, Symphony Orchestra, and Jazz Ensembles (i.e., big bands) are the department’s major ensembles. These ensembles typically require 5 hours of rehearsal per week. Auditions for these ensembles occur during each semester’s first week of classes and are open to the entire campus. Repertoire requirements and sign-up sheets are posted on relevant bulletin boards within the music building and online. Assignment of students to ensembles is at the discretion of the ensemble directors. Expectations for each ensemble are detailed in the appropriate syllabus.
Jazz Ensembles (i.e., big bands) may be applied to the Large Ensemble requirement for jazz majors only. Students in their final four semesters of the BA Jazz Emphasis program must enroll in Jazz Ensemble (MUSI 1115) as their major ensemble. Students in the BM Jazz Studies program must enroll in Jazz Ensemble as their major ensemble for every semester of their program. Vocal performance majors in their final two semesters may substitute Opera Workshop for Concert Choir.
A limited number of small ensembles (generally conducted) are offered and, depending on the major, may be required. Additional performing opportunities are available in other departmental ensembles, in student organizations advised by departmental faculty, and in other campus organizations. Students can only earn credit for participating in departmental ensembles and must be prepared to meet the attendance, preparation, and performance requirements of any ensemble.
Chamber Music
Chamber music is for two or more players, each playing a separate part, and is not conducted. Chamber groups can be formed by students, with the approval of their applied teachers and the Chamber Music Coordinator. Each group is assigned a faculty or graduate-student coach who meets with them for the equivalent of seven hours (i.e., coachings) per semester. Groups are expected to rehearse several times on their own between coachings.
Audio/Video Recording
von der Mehden Recital Hall records and maintains all chamber music and large ensemble performances in an archive on the University of Connecticut Kaltura Live Capture website for student and faculty use. These rough recordings are for educational purposes only.
All performances presented by The University of Connecticut’s Department of Music in von der Mehden Recital Hall as part of its academic concert calendar and/or its instructional programs may be video recorded via the University’s Kaltura Lecture Capturing software. These recordings include performances by University of Connecticut ensembles, performing groups, and organizations, as well as performances by individuals given on campus as part of the academic program of the University of Connecticut. Also, the University of Connecticut may photograph students or video record their images as during university-related daily activities.
The University of Connecticut reserves all rights to these audio recordings, films, videotapes, and images (known collectively hereafter as “Recordings”), including the right to publish, reproduce, broadcast, license, assign, and distribute the Recordings and derivatives thereof in all media, including electronic media and publication on the internet, for any purpose and without limitation including commercial release, in perpetuity. All students who are members of musical performance ensembles and/or enrolled in music classes assign to the University of Connecticut all copyright and other rights in such performances and Recordings, including any proceeds earned from commercial distribution or other use of the Recordings. In addition, a student’s name and likeness may be used by the University of Connecticut and its agents in the published materials associated with these Recordings. The University of Connecticut is released from any claims arising out of broadcast, commercial distribution, and promotion of these recordings.
In addition to recital and concert recordings, students can request audio/video recording sessions to prepare audition/application material or for other purposes. Most occur in von der Mehden Recital Hall, and all are approved on a case-by-case basis depending on the time available. von der Mehden Recital Hall only utilizes the Kaltura Capture System. Any other recording hardware must be provided by the student and should be communicated in advance to the Theater Operations Manager. It is the responsibility of the student requesting the recording to reserve the venue. von der Mehden Recital Hall is available for recording sessions during university vacations in November, January, March and over the summer.