Guidelines for Private Music Lessons at Swarthmore College

Transcription

1 Revised August 2018 Guidelines fr Private Music Lessns at Swarthmre Cllege I. Wh can take private music lessns? The Music Prgram welcmes Swarthmre students t study music at all levels. Beginners are encuraged t enrll in Music 2 (Reading and Making Music) during the fall semester. The Sttt Beginners Prgram ffers free weekly lessns in pian r vice t all students in that curse. Academic credit is nt available fr the Sttt Prgram; its gal is t prvide a strng fundatin s that students can eventually jin ur Music 48 prgram. Intermediate and advanced perfrmers are eligible t enrll in Music 48. This prgram enables these students t: Take a weekly private lessn with a private instrumental r vcal teacher, with financial supprt frm the Department; Earn 0.5 academic credit per semester fr as many semesters as they wish; Perfrm fr and meet with Swarthmre music faculty members as part f their learning prcess; and Enrich their perfrmance experience by jining with thers in a large ensemble directed by a faculty member. The music faculty hlds that this cmmunity cmpnent is crucial t every student s success. Fr this reasn, credit and financial subsidy is available nly t students wh participate in these ensembles: Chrus / Garnet Singers Jazz Ensemble Orchestra Wind Ensemble Taik (Japanese Drumming and Dance Ensemble) Gamelan (Indnesian Percussin Orchestra) Chinese Music Ensemble Nte: Chamber Music (Music 47) des nt satisfy the Music 48 ensemble requirement. II. Hw d I knw whether I am at the beginning, intermediate, r advanced levels? Cnsult with a member f the Music Faculty. In general, we classify beginners as thse wh have never taken regular private lessns, r have nt dne s in many years. We define as intermediate r advanced thse wh have taken private lessns; have been active in high schl ensembles; and/r wh are prepared t participate at Swarthmre in faculty-directed ensembles such as the Chrus, Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, and Jazz Ensemble. III. If I have never previusly studied music, hw d I arrange t take pian r vice lessns? Enrll in Music 2 (Reading and Making Music) during the fall semester. Tell the instructr f the curse that yu are interested in lessns. See Bernadette Dunning, the Administrative Crdinatr in the Department f Music and Dance (Lang Music 401). Tell her whether yu are interested in pian r vice lessns. She will match yu with a teacher and arrange fr payment. Cntact the teacher t arrange a lessn schedule. The Department will pay fr ten 30 minute private lessns. In additin t attending these lessns, yu are respnsible fr practicing (apprximately minutes daily). 1

2 If yu wuld like t begin pian lessns but can already read music fluently, enrll in Music 11 (Harmny, Cunterpint, and Frm I) instead f Music 2 during the fall semester. The Department ffers free pian lessns t thse students in Music 11 with limited keybard experience. Lessns at the beginning level fr instruments ther than pian and vice are nt currently funded by the Department. Hwever, we are happy t assist yu in finding a teacher. IV. If I have previusly studied music, hw d I enrll in Music 48? Sign up t auditin fr the Music Faculty. A sign-up sheet is psted utside the Department ffice (Lang 401). Auditins t enter the prgram ccur n the first Friday when classes are in sessin in the fall semester; and during the reading perids in December and in May. Jin ne f ur Department Ensembles. Fr sme, an additinal auditin is required; fr thers, n auditin is necessary. Please cnsult the handut entitled Perfrmance Opprtunities in the Music Prgram fr detailed infrmatin abut each ensemble. Vcal students nrmally jin the Chrus / Garnet Singers; string players nrmally play in the Orchestra; wdwind players, brass players, and percussinists nrmally play in the Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, r Jazz Ensemble. Pianists and thers whse ensemble placement is nt s bvius shuld cnsider playing in the Chinese Music Ensemble r Gamelan. Music 47 (Chamber Music) is in a separate categry and des nt satisfy this requirement. Find a teacher. Vcalists: Our vice teachers are: Nancy Jantsch (njantsc1@swarthmre.edu) Clara Rttslk (crttsl1@swarthmre.edu) Lara Nie (laraniemezz@gmail.cm) Tm Sitzler (twsbaritne@gmail.cm) Yur preference f teacher will be accmmdated whenever pssible with the teacher's scheduling cnstraints. If yu wuld like extra guidance, any member f the music faculty can assist. A link t mre infrmatin abut these teachers can be fund n the Lessns fr Credit webpage ( Instrumentalists: cnsult Bernadette Dunning fr the Department s list f recmmended private instrumental teachers. If yu wuld like sme additinal guidance, speak t Andrew Hauze r anther member f the music faculty. A number f utstanding teachers cme t campus t give lessns; thers are easily accessible via public transit. V. Submit a Music 48 Applicatin Frm t Bernadette Dunning in Lang 401. It is due by 12 nn the same day that add/drp perid ends. Yu cannt enrll in Music 48 thrugh the Registrar. 2

3 VI. D I need t register in Music 48 fr academic credit? Yes. Music 48 students must enrll fr 0.5 credit. Please nte, hwever, that the Cllege will permit yu t enrll fr 5.5 credits per semester withut incurring an additinal tuitin charge if the additinal 0.5 credit is Music 48. Membership in a Departmental Ensemble is a c-requisite fr Music 48, but yu can chse t enrll in yur ensemble fr 0.5 credit r 0.0 credit. VII. Hw are lessn subsidies apprtined? All Music 48 Students receive sme level f financial supprt. The Department ffer subsidies based n merit and n financial need, and we als ffer subsidies t declared Music majrs and minrs. We never turn away a student n accunt f financial need. 1. Merit-based subsidies are awarded t Music 48 students based n auditins in September, December, and May. We ffer merit-based subsidies at three different levels: 60% (the student pays 40% f the cst f lessns) 80% (the student pays 20% f the cst f lessns) 100% ("Freeman Schlars"; the student pays nthing) 2. Need-based subsidies supplement merit-based subsidies s that students wh wuld therwise lack funds can participate in Music 48. The Music Prgram and the Financial Aid Office wrk tgether t ensure that students with need have access t musical instructin. The student gives Financial Aid cnsent t permit its fficers t cnsult with the Music and Dance Administrative Crdinatr. (There is a checkbx n the Music 48 applicatin fr this purpse). The Financial Aid Office will indicate a general level f need, but infrmatin abut incme r the student s specific financial aid package infrmatin is never shared. 3. Students wh have been frmally accepted as music majrs and minrs autmatically receive subsidies f 100%, regardless f the merit-based subsidy level at which they were ranked. VIII. What are the limitatins f Music 48 Funding? Music 48 requires ten ne-hur lessns per semester. The Department recmmends that teachers charge $80 per lessn --- amunting t $800 per semester --- and calculates subsidies based n that rate. Thus, the maximum subsidy fr students at the 60% level is nrmally $ (60% f $800); the maximum subsidy fr students at the 80% level is $ Please nte, hwever, that teachers are free t set their wn fees. Thus, if yur teacher charges mre than the recmmended $80 nrm --- and if yur subsidy is less than 100% --- yur share will be higher than it might be if yu studied with a different teacher. In recgnitin f the higher csts f pre-prfessinal training, students at the 100% level (Freeman Schlars) may receive a maximum subsidy f $1500 per student per semester, including reasnable transprtatin csts t and frm lessns. Music 48 funding is limited t ten lessns per semester. IX. Can I wrk with a cach r accmpanist? Freeman Schlars and students assessed at the 80% level can apply t receive additinal funding t supprt individual caching sessins with a prfessinal accmpanist. This is particularly recmmended fr vcalists. The specific number f cachings, and the amunt f departmental subsidy fr them, varies each year depending n the verall funding available t the prgram. 3

4 X. Can I take lessns in mre than ne area? N. Supprt is available fr a single set f lessns each semester. (In rare circumstances we will make an exceptin fr a declared majr r minr wh makes a cmpelling case fr simultaneusly studying tw different instruments. The student must submit a special request t the chair --- in writing --- in advance f the auditin.) XI. Hw shuld I prepare fr my Music 48 Auditin? Music 48 auditins take place in September, December, and May. At these auditins, the faculty listens t each student perfrm fr 3-4 minutes. Here is the prcedure: Sign up fr an appintment t play/sing fr us. There is a sign-up sheet n the bulletin bard acrss frm Lang 401. Sign up t rehearse in advance with a prfessinal accmpanist, if applicable. The Department prvides this free f charge. Perfrming with an accmpanist is required unless the music yu play is intended t be a sl withut accmpaniment. Practice a representative fur-minute excerpt that is nt t difficult fr yur level f technical develpment. (Yu may perfrm the same excerpt when yu auditin fr a Department Ensemble and/r fr a private teacher.) The faculty is mst eager t hear: Technical mastery f material that is apprpriate fr yur level; and A perfrmance that demnstrates yur musicality The faculty n the jury enjy hearing yu perfrm, and we want yu t enjy the chance t play in ur beautiful cncert hall. Incming students ranked at the 60% level are strng and highly mtivated musicians wh can be expected t make excellent nging cntributins t Department Ensembles. Students ranked at the 80% level demnstrate unusual accmplishment and leadership ptential significantly abve average. Students at the 100% level are cnsidered "pre-prfessinal" whse level f accmplishment equals that f students at tp cnservatries. XII. What are my Music 48 bligatins, and hw d I balance them with my ther cmmitments? Music 48 students learn t becme expert at time management. Develping this skill takes time, and can be especially frustrating in the initial stages. If yu feel verwhelmed, please talk t yur private teacher r a member f the music faculty fr advice. Eventually, many Music 48 students discver that the discipline f a regular practice schedule, punctuated by weekly lessns and rehearsals, helps them t recharge, resulting in imprved fcus and cncentratin n their academic wrk. Lessns: Music 48 requires ten ne-hur lessns during the semester, all with the same teacher. The Department expects that yu will be well prepared fr all f yur lessns and that yu will be prmpt. As part f yur curse f study, it is vital that yu and yur teacher think carefully abut yur chice f repertire. It is imprtant that yu and yur teacher select a cmpsitin at the apprpriate level f difficulty fr juries. In additin: find ut what yur teacher s plicy is fr advance ntificatin in the event that yu need t reschedule a lessn. Adhere t it since the department will nt pay fr lessns that yu have cancelled. 4

5 Payment: Students at the 60% and 80% level: please pay yur share f the lessn fee first t yur teacher; the Department will remit the remaining balance later in the semester directly t yur teacher. Meeting yur financial bligatin is a requirement f the Music 48 prgram. Music 48 paper: This is an pprtunity fr yu t wrk with a member f Swarthmre's Music faculty t enhance yur critical and research skills in music and develp a strnger and mre authritative apprach t interpretatin by writing a shrt paper abut the wrk yu intend t perfrm at juries. Fr detailed infrmatin abut the faculty s expectatins fr the paper (length, fcus, etc.), please visit Yur wrk n the Music 48 paper will prceed as fllws: After enrllment in Music 48, yu will be assigned a faculty member wh will serve as yur Music 48 advisr, whm yu may cntact at any pint in the semester fr guidance n yur paper. Once yu and yur private teacher agree n which wrk yu will perfrm at juries, it is up t yu t write the paper. The paper must be a minimum f tw pages f thughtful inquiry int the histrical/cultural cntext f the primary cmpsitin yu are preparing fr perfrmance at the end f the semester. It must als include a detailed bibligraphy. Submit a hard cpy f yur final draft t Bernadette Dunning in the Department ffice by the deadline psted at Late papers and electrnic cpies are nt accepted. Music 48 Advisrs will give a nnbinding letter grade t each student. Failure t submit a Music 48 paper n time will result in a grade f N Credit and lss f subsidy. After submitting yur cmpleted paper, yu will have an individual meeting with yur Music 48 Advisr t discuss it. This meeting is a required cmpnent f yur Music 48 cursewrk. Failure t meet with yur Music 48 advisr t review yur Music 48 paper will result in a grade f N Credit and a lss f subsidy. Perfrm at the end-f-semester jury. During the reading perid at the end f each semester, all Music 48 students perfrm fr the music faculty, just as in the auditins in September. We welcme the larger cmmunity at this event; please invite friends t cme hear yur perfrmance! Participatin is required f all Music 48 students, with nly tw exceptins: Secnd semester senirs wh have perfrmed a senir recital r a senir cmprehensive presentatin; and Secnd semester senirs wh have perfrmed a recital r a prminent sl with a Department Ensemble may apply in writing t have this requirement waived. Failure t perfrm at juries will result in a grade f N Credit and a lss f subsidy. Cnsult the list f Music 48 Deadlines n the Private Lessns page f the Music Prgram s website. ( Meet all f them t maintain yur enrllment in the prgram. 5

6 XIII. Why are there s many deadlines? Is there any flexibility? Music 48 is unlike any ther curse at Swarthmre. There is n single instructr; anywhere frm 50 t 90 students are matched with different teachers, sme n campus, sme ff. Amng ther tasks, the Department must cmmunicate with teachers; set subsidy levels; cnsult with the Financial Aid ffice; track ensemble memberships; arrange fr caching sessins; and crdinate Music 48 papers and advising. This cmplexity gives us n wiggle rm n deadlines. XIV. Hw is Music 48 graded? Music 48 and the ther perfrmance curses in ur Department are graded n a credit/n credit basis. Yu may take as many f these curses as yu wish; yur chice t enrll in them des nt affect yur ptin t take academic curses pass/fail. Given the lng-term nature f musical grwth we hpe that mst students will re-enrll in the prgram each semester. Therefre, we assess all Music 48 students at the end f the semester t mnitr their prgress. The music faculty's assessment takes int accunt the fllwing criteria: The end-f-semester perfrmance befre a faculty jury (this is an imprtant factr, but nt the sle ne). A written evaluatin by the student's private teacher. An infrmal evaluatin by the directr f the Departmental Ensemble. The Music 48 paper - which will be given a nn-binding letter grade. Other departmental service (e.g., participating in multiple Departmental Ensembles, chamber music, and ther frms f service t the musical cmmunity). In sme cases, the faculty prvides written cmments t students at the end f the semester. 6