Music Area

The music area of the Department of Performing Arts is an accredited member of the National Association of Schools of Music. Programs leading to the Bachelor of Music degree are offered for students seeking emphases in performance, keyboard pedagogy, vocal pedagogy, choral music education, or instrumental music education. Additional programs include the Bachelor of Arts in music and a music minor.

The primary goals of the music area are: 1) To develop individuals who are aware, artistically discriminating, and devoted to a lifelong association with music; 2) To provide opportunities for students and community members to participate in creative musical experiences; 3) To develop musical competence, sensitivity, and purpose; 4) To expose students and community to classic and contemporary musical works, and to provide the finest possible performances; 5) To provide for career development in music through the preparation of teachers, performers, and scholars.

Policies and Procedures

The following policies are subject to change. For current information, see the latest Department of Performing Arts student handbook and make an appointment with a music area advisor.

General Policies and Performance Requirements

1. All music majors and minors at Weber State University must study privately each semester with a WSU faculty member or an approved adjunct faculty member.
2. All music majors pursuing the performance, keyboard pedagogy, or vocal pedagogy emphasis will study privately in their major area for a minimum of 8 semesters. All music majors pursuing one of these emphases will enroll in one of the major performing ensembles (concert choir, symphonic band, symphony orchestra, guitar ensemble, keyboard ensemble--as appropriate to the student's major area) for a minimum of 8 credit hours.
3. Music education majors (instrumental or choral) will study privately in their major area for a minimum of 7 semesters. Music education majors will enroll in one of the major performing ensembles (concert choir, symphonic band, symphony orchestra, guitar ensemble--as appropriate to the student's major area) for a minimum of 7 credit hours; music education majors are exempted from performance group participation during the semester of student teaching.
4. All music majors must participate in their major area performing group during each semester of school enrollment, except as noted in "C" above.
5. All music majors are expected to complete the four levels of competency in their major area of study prior to graduation.
6. All music minors will study privately until advancement to the 3000 level of proficiency is achieved, with a minimum of four semesters of study.
7. All music minors must participate in their concentration area major performing ensemble each semester until the minor is completed, with a minimum of two semesters of enrollment in the ensemble.
8. A $320 Applied Music Fee is charged to music majors and minors for one credit hour instrumental or vocal lessons. These lessons are 45 minutes in length and require attendance at a weekly master class. The fee for two credit hours lessons is $640. This is for two 45 minute lessons each week plus master class attendance and a research paper or project.
9. A $230 Applied Music Fee is charged to students registering as non music majors or minors. These lessons are 30 minutes in length and may not be used as credit for music majors or minors in their primary performance area. A limited number of slots are available for students registering in this category.

Schedule for Performance Evaluations

1. Performance evaluations will be regularly conducted and scheduled:
   1. At the end of Fall and Spring semesters.
   2. By special request for evaluation during the year upon agreement of the student, the teacher and the committee. All special requests must be scheduled through the area head.
2. All music majors and minors must take performance evaluations each semester. Performance evaluations are required until completion of the student's final recital as stipulated by the degree program.
3. Students completing a junior recital may, at the discretion of the private teacher, be excused from that performance area's performance evaluation the semester in which the recital is completed.

Procedures for Performance Evaluation

1. All incoming music majors and minors and all transfer students and current students who change their major or minor to music subsequent to their initial enrollment at Weber State University will enroll at the 1000 level of private instruction.
2. A student may be placed in a higher competency level at the completion of any evaluation.
3. A student in a Bachelor of Music degree program will not be permitted to progress to the 3000 level until the piano proficiency examination is passed.
4. Student admittance to each competency level is granted only by general consent of the area faculty upon satisfactory completion of a performance level evaluation appropriate to that level.
5. Refusal by the appropriate area faculty to allow admittance to the next level may be appealed by the student provided there is consent of the private teacher.
   1. This appeal should be made directly to the area head, who will in turn consult with the faculty regarding a repeat performance evaluation.
   2. Only one appeal will be accepted at each performance evaluation.
6. More than three (3) semesters of study at any one competency level due to lack of improvement on the part of the student will be cause for a recommendation from the appropriate faculty that the student not continue as a music major or minor.
7. Failure to attend proficiency evaluations will result in a grade of "E" being given for the private lesson during that semester.

Recital Performance

1. All music majors and minors must participate in at least one general student recital per semester. This should normally be a solo appearance, but this determination is left to the discretion of the teacher.
2. All music majors, except those in the keyboard pedagogy program, must present a half-hour formal junior recital upon reaching the 3000 competency level. All music minors must present a half-hour formal junior recital upon reaching the 3000 competency level. The student must register for Music 3991 during the semester the recital will be presented.
3. All music majors in Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Arts programs must present a one-hour senior recital while at the 4000 competency level. The student must register for Music 4991 during the semester the recital will be presented. See "Senior Projects" below for music education exceptions to this requirement.
4. Repertoire for the senior recital must not contain music performed on the junior recital.
5. Completion of a senior recital will exempt a student from further proficiency level evaluations but not from continued private study.
6. All students presenting a senior recital must perform that recital before a faculty review committee not less than two weeks prior to the recital date. The review committee will consist of the student's applied teacher, the appropriate area head, and one other faculty member of the student's choice.
7. A faculty committee selected by the area director will be present at the public performance of the senior recital and will recommend pass/fail of the recital.
8. No junior or senior recitals may be presented within the two weeks prior to the end of the semester.
9. All students must complete a recital approval form for junior or senior recitals. The recital form must be completed and signed by the music advisor and applied teacher prior to scheduling any required faculty preview performance.

Senior Project

1. Music education majors, at the discretion of the private teacher, have the option of completing a senior project in lieu of the recital and should register for Music 4992 during the semester in which they plan to complete the project.
2. The senior project option must be approved by the student's applied music instructor and by the appropriate area head.
3. Once the senior project option has been approved as in (B) above, the student must submit a proposal for the project to a faculty committee comprised of at least three (3) members. The committee must include the student's private teacher and the music education area head or their designee, and may include the performance area head, or other department faculty. Outside members of the committee may be selected with the approval of the music faculty.

Recital/Concert Attendance

All music majors and minors must attend 24 music area recitals, concerts, and/or community concert events per year while enrolled in applied music at the 1000 or 2000 level. Attendance reports are required for two years and are maintained in the music office. No student will be approved for graduation until this two year recital attendance requirement is met.

Piano Proficiency

All students in the Bachelor of Music and Bachelor of Music Education programs must pass the piano proficiency examination and must be registered for Group Keyboard or private piano until the exam is passed. It is suggested that the requirements for piano proficiency be completed by the end of the student's sophomore year.

Music Major Foreign Language Requirement

The Bachelor of Music, Bachelor of Music Education, and Bachelor of Arts in Music degree foreign language requirement is for two languages, chosen from French, German, or Italian, with a minimum of one semester of each, or demonstrated proficiency via the Department of Foreign Language examination. A total of 2 years of foreign language is required. This requirement may be satisfied by the following:

1. A student may take one year each of two of the three listed languages. It is not necessary to achieve 2000 level proficiency in either.
2. A student may take any combination of the three languages provided a total of 2 years of study is completed. It is not necessary to achieve 2000 level proficiency in any of the three.
3. A student entering the university with a foreign language skill which is sufficient to pass the Foreign Language Department's proficiency examination in a language other than one of the three listed above needs only one semester each of two of the three languages.
4. A student entering the university with a foreign language skill which is sufficient to pass the Foreign Language Department's proficiency examination in one of the three listed languages needs only one semester of one of the remaining two languages.

Music Area Advisors

Advisors for Bachelor of Music in Performance, Pedagogy, and Bachelor of Arts degrees are:

Advisors for the Bachelor of Music Education degree are:

Advisor for the Music Minor is:  Dr. Donald Keipp  626-7073 

Weber State University 2002-2003 Catalog