Performance Studies/Applied Music

Students who enroll for applied music study (private lessons) should familiarize themselves with the following policies and procedures of the School of Music. Faculty advisors must approve applied music study prior to registration.

Applied Studies: Private Lessons

Each student enrolled in applied music studies is assigned to a faculty member for private instruction. The School of Music does not permit applied music students to study simultaneously with another teacher in the same field of performance outside the institution. Students must prepare and present recitals while under the tutelage of a member of the School’s faculty. For students in the conducting programs, the conducting seminar represents the applied studies component.

Lesson unit policies

  • Half-hour lessons (even-numbered courses) can be taken for no less than 1 unit and no more than 2 units, per semester.
  • Hour-long lessons (odd-numbered courses) can be taken for no less than 1 unit and no more than 4 units, per semester. (Only exception: Artist Diploma students may opt to take their hour-long lessons for up to 5 units per semester).

Lesson unit requirements by program

UNDERGRADUATES
  • Please refer to the official program of study in the Bulletin for your class (view Bulletin archives for pre-Fall 2024 cohorts here) and consult with the Manager of Student Services Barb Raney to confirm that you are completing the required number of lesson units during each year of your 8 required semesters of private study. The number of lesson units varies between Applied Departments, music education and theory/composition majors, and may change as you progress through semesters.
  • Undergraduate students pursuing the BA in Music should consult the BA Bulletin.
  • Undergraduates approved to study any semesters beyond the initial required 8 may take lessons (hour-long or half-hour) for 1 unit, providing required minimum lesson units have been satisfied.
GRADUATE STUDENTS (MM, PD, DMA, AD)
  • MM and PD: 3 units of hour-long lessons per semester, for 4 required semesters of private study (12 lesson units required in the degree or diploma program).
  • MM and PD students continuing beyond the required four semesters may register for lessons (hour-long or half-hour) for 1 or more units, with teacher and advisor approval.
  • MM students may opt to register for up to 4 lesson units on the major instrument per semester, with advisor approval. Note that no more than 14 lesson units on the major instrument can count toward the degree total for the MM. Any extra lesson units (up to 2 total extras) beyond the required 12 will only serve as elective units*. Students are strongly encouraged to use elective units to take advantage of a variety of course offerings.
  • PD students may opt to register for up to 4 lesson units on the major instrument per semester, with advisor approval. Note that no more than 16 lesson units on the major instrument can count toward the diploma total for the PD. Any extra lesson units (up to 4 total extras) beyond the required 12 will only serve as elective units*. Students are strongly encouraged to use elective units to take advantage of a variety of course offerings.
  • If an MM or PD student is required to register for lessons during an added semester due to a delayed recital, and IF the maximum of 14 (for MM) or 16 (for PD) lesson units on the major instrument have already been taken, the required extra unit does not count in the degree total, but IS mandatory in order to present a required recital.
  • DMA: 3 units of hour-long lessons per semester, for 6 required semesters of private study (18 lesson units required in the degree).
  • DMA students continuing beyond the required 6 semesters of applied study may register for lessons (hour-long or half-hour) for 1 or more units, with teacher and advisor approval.
  • DMA students may opt to register for up to 4 lesson units on the major instrument per semester, with advisor approval. Note that no more than 23 lesson units on the major instrument can count toward the degree total for the DMA. Any extra lesson units (up to 5 total extras) beyond the required 18 will only serve as elective units*. Students are strongly encouraged to use elective units to take advantage of a variety of course offerings.
  • If a DMA student is required to register for lessons during an added semester due to a delayed recital and IF the maximum of 23 lesson units on the major instrument have already been taken, the required extra unit does not count in the degree total, but IS mandatory in order to present the required recital.
  • Lessons are not required during a semester of preparing/presenting the DMA Recital Track “Recital Prepared without Guidance,” if the required 6 semesters of lessons have already been completed. Lessons may be taken during the semester of this recital, but none of the recital repertoire may be taken to any faculty member for any lesson, coaching, or critique.
  • AD: 3 units of hour-long lessons per semester, for four required semesters of private study (12 lesson units required in the diploma program).
  • AD students may opt to register for up to 5 lesson units on the major instrument per semester, with advisor approval. Note that no more than 20 lesson units on the major instrument can count toward the diploma total for the AD. Any extra lesson units (up to 8 total extras) beyond the required 12 will only serve as elective units*.
  • If an AD student is required to register for lessons during an added semester due to a delayed recital, and IF the maximum of 20 lesson units on the major instrument have already been taken, the required extra unit does not count in the diploma total, but IS mandatory in order to present a required recital.

* Students must complete a Course Substitution form to request use of applied lesson units for elective units.

All Performance Degree and Diploma Students

Any added semester (beyond the standard) that includes performance of a required recital must include registration for lessons on the major instrument. (Exceptions: DMA Recital Track Recital Prepared without Guidance and DMA Dissertation Track Lecture Recital).

Applied Lesson Policies
  • Individual instruction is given in weekly one-hour or half-hour lessons. Students are entitled to 14 hour-long or the equivalent of 14 half-hour lessons per semester.
  • Hour-long lessons may be taken for no less than 1 and no more than 4 units per semester. (Exception: AD program allows lessons for up to 5 units per semester).
  • Half-hour lessons may be taken for no less than 1 and no more than 2 units per semester.
  • See lesson unit requirements, norms, and limits by degree/diploma program above.
  • Teacher grading for individual study is determined on the basis of: (1) preparation for lessons taken and accomplishment of assigned work, (2) amount of daily practice, (3) attainment of prescribed levels of proficiency as required by instructor, and (4) participation in/attendance at any studio classes or special events required by the instructor and/or department.
  • Required levels for degree and diploma programs are independent of teacher lesson grades, and are determined by Juries or by Recital Permissions, also referred to as Performance Examinations.
  • Graduate students must earn a B- or higher to receive credit.
  • Students are expected to adhere to all scheduled hours for lessons and examinations. The School of Music holds students responsible for such appointments except in cases of emergency or unless, for good reason, the student cancels the lesson at least 24 hours in advance. The applied teacher is not obliged to make up lessons not canceled, nor lessons canceled for reasons other than those listed above. Lessons, juries, etc. are not to be scheduled during academic class times and do not constitute valid excuses for missing a class.
Juries, Recital Permissions, and Levels

Please see specific requirements for the voice department below. 

  • To advance through the required levels of Applied Study, students must pass Juries or Recital Permission hearings (Performance Examinations) or (for specific DMA recitals) receive attending faculty approval for each required degree/diploma recital.
  • Juries are required of all Freshmen and Sophomores; Juniors and Seniors who are Theory/Composition and Music Education; first-year MM Voice students, who give only one recital; and some first-year DMA Voice students.
  • Upon successful completion of each jury, the student will advance one level. If the student does not pass the jury, they may study one more semester, at the end of which they must either pass the level or leave the program.
  • Junior and Senior Performance Majors and all other Graduate Students progress through required levels by passing Recital Permission hearings.
  • If a Recital Permission examination is not passed, the student is permitted one retake of the examination. If the second attempt to pass is unsuccessful, the student may be required to leave the program.
  • See the Applied Lesson Syllabus for all CFA ML courses for details on required levels for each degree and diploma program and further policy information on Applied Study. Faculty members evaluate Juries and Recital Permissions. For small departments, adjudicators are drawn from full-time faculty from other disciplines, or appropriate full-time faculty in related fields (i.e. piano faculty for harpsichord Permissions). For those areas with no full-time faculty, the department chair will appoint adjudicators from the part-time faculty. Each department specifies repertoire requirements for its required levels and recitals.
Required Recitals
  • Junior Performance Majors are required to perform a Half-Recital containing at least 20 minutes of music.
  • Senior Performance Majors are required to perform a Full Recital containing 50-60 minutes of music.
  • PD and MM students in Performance are required to perform 2 Full Recitals containing approximately 60 minutes of music minimum. (Exception: Voice majors, who perform one MM recital).
  • DMA Dissertation Track students are required to perform 3 recitals (two Solo and one Chamber Music) in addition to a final Lecture Recital based on the Dissertation, when all other requirements are complete. See the Link below for detailed requirements.
  • DMA Recital Track students are required to perform 5 recitals (one Solo, one Concerto, one Chamber Music, one Lecture Recital, and one Recital Prepared without Guidance). See the Link below for detailed requirements for each recital.
  • AD students are required to perform 3 recitals containing a minimum of 60 minutes of music, typically all standard solo recital repertoire. Consult with individual Department Chairs for further detailed requirements.
Recital Procedures

All recital programs must be approved by the major teacher, and must be drawn from sources of acknowledged suitability. Students must be enrolled for applied lessons during the semester of a degree recital performance in order for the recital to count toward the degree, with the exception of the self-prepared recital for the DMA recital track. See Doctor of Musical Arts Programs recital policies and forms here.

Recital dates must be booked through the Scheduling Office (Room B01) a minimum of two weeks in advance of the recital, but it is strongly recommended that they be booked in September for fall recitals and in January for spring recitals. Students will receive email notification each semester regarding dates when recital booking requests will be accepted. This communication will also include many important policies and procedures for reserving recitals dates and locations.

Official permission to present a recital is granted by successfully passing a Recital Permission examination, which also signifies passing a required level. The department chair will post a schedule of recital permission examinations prior to the recital dates as booked. Each examination must be taken well in advance of the anticipated date of the recital. While the faculty may fail a student’s Jury or Recital Permission, the student cannot be demoted to a lower level. One re-take is allowed, the timing of which is dependent on faculty availability and consultation with the applied teacher and chair. If a student’s applied performance deteriorates, the student, teacher, advisor, and department chair will meet to discuss the situation, at which time the student may be advised to withdraw from the program. Individual departments may institute more stringent requirements.

Voice Department Requirements

JURY EXAM REQUIREMENTS

BM Voice Performance 

BM Voice Performance students are required to take a jury examination at the end of each of the first four semesters. During the third and fourth years, students are not required to take a jury exam, as the junior and senior recital permissions replace the jury examination. All jury examinations and recital permissions are graded on a pass/fail basis.

1st semester: a minimum of three memorized songs
Semesters 2-4 : a minimum of five memorized songs. We recommend the inclusion of pieces in French and German by the third semester.

BM Music Education 

BM Music Education (Voice) students are required to take six jury examinations, one at the end of each of the first four semesters and one each during the junior and senior years. All jury examinations and recital permissions are graded on a pass/fail basis.

1st semester: a minimum of three memorized songs
Semesters 2-4: a minimum of five memorized songs. For semesters 2-4, at least two languages should be represented.

MM Voice Performance 

Master of Music students are required to sing a jury examination at the end of the first year of study. All jury examinations and recital hearings are graded on a pass/fail basis.

The student must present 8 pieces for the jury. Of these pieces, at least 6 must be taken from song repertoire. The remaining pieces may include concert arias and/or arias from opera or oratorio literature. The jury must include a variety of styles and at least three different languages. Students who perform significant roles in an opera production may offer 7 instead of 8 selections, with the applied teacher’s approval (substituting the role for one of the two aria selections).

RECITALS

Recitals must be presented during a semester in which the student is enrolled in lessons for credit. Recitals may not include any repertoire that has been performed in a previous degree recital. All repertoire must have the applied teacher’s approval.

BM Voice – Junior Recital

  • 20-25 minutes of music
  • Minimum of two languages
  • One opera/oratorio aria is permitted

BM Voice – Senior Recital 

  • 45 minutes of music
  • Four languages chosen from: Italian, French, German, Spanish, and English
  • Baroque/Classical, Romantic, and 20th-21st century periods and styles
  • Chamber music is allowed and encouraged. However, if more than one chamber piece is programmed, only one chamber work may be performed with music
  • One opera/oratorio aria from any time period is permitted

MM Voice Recital 

  • 50 minutes of music
  • Any four languages
  • Chamber music is allowed and encouraged. However, if more than one chamber piece is programmed, only one chamber work may be performed with music
  • One opera/oratorio aria from any time period is permitted

PD Voice Recital

  • 50 minutes of music
  • Chamber music is allowed and encouraged. However, if more than one chamber piece is programmed, only one chamber work may be performed with music

PD candidates will perform one public 50-minute recital on campus, plus a role in either opera or oratorio while in residency for the diploma (on or off campus with approval of faulty), OR a performance with orchestra on or off campus, OR an additional public recital at a major off-campus venue.

MM – WRITTEN COMPREHENSIVE EXAM

In addition to preparing the degree recital, MM candidates will complete a written comprehensive review no sooner than the end of three semesters of study and no later than the end of the fourth and final semester of vocal studies. The review will be administered by a member of the voice department, and will be approximately sixty (60) minutes in duration. This written review will cover topics of vocal literature: composers of opera, song, and oratorio of different periods, diction/IPA, and musical terminology. Additionally, candidates will respond to two out of three prompts, which will be provided in advance of the examination. The exam typically occurs in the last two weeks of the spring semester.

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