School of Music Guides:Curriculum

Applied Instruction (Private Lessons)

Eligibility for Applied Instruction

Any student may enroll in applied music study; however, if personnel resources are limited, the School of Music may not be able to accommodate every student's desire or need to study music in applied lessons. The School of Music will offer lessons to students ranked according to the following hierarchy of needs:

  1. music majors needing applied study for graduation;
  2. music minors needing applied study for graduation;
  3. students from other academic disciplines (non-majors or non-minors) needing applied lessons to fulfill a specific scholarship requirement;
  4. students from other academic disciplines who also contribute to one of the Department's ensembles;
  5. students from other academic disciplines.

Further, the School of Music may deny the opportunity to study music in applied lessons to students who, in previous semesters of applied study:

  1. were frequently unprepared for lessons;
  2. were frequently absent from lessons;
  3. and/or failed to pass the Junior Level Proficiency Exam after two attempts. 

Course Numbers for Applied Instruction

  • MUS 152/352 (2-3 SH during long semesters) for music majors only
  • MUS 151/351 (1-2 SH during long semesters and summer session) for music minors and for study  of secondary instrument (piano for voice majors; organ for piano majors; secondary instrument for instrumentalists)
  • MUS 149 (1 SH) for all other students

Principal Applied Instruction

Undergraduate music students must master the requisite technical skills for artistic expression in at least one performance area through study in principal applied lessons. In the first two years of lower division study, the student takes Applied Music 152 for 2 or 3 semester hours depending on their degree plan (fifty minutes of lessons each week). At the end of each semester, the student performs a jury for faculty evaluation of technical progress and performance of the assigned literature. At the end of the 4th semester of study at East Texas A&M University, students will perform an extended jury known as the Junior Level Proficiency Exam (JLPE; see below for more information). After successfully completing the JLPE, the student continues applied lessons in advanced lessons (MUS 352) for fifty minutes each week. As a culmination of the MUS 352 process, all students will perform a half recital. In addition, performance majors (Bachelor of Music) will continue with MUS 352 and perform a full recital in a subsequent semester (See below for specific area length requirements).

Principal Applied Lessons (152, 352, 552) are not offered in the May-Mini, Summer, or Winter semesters.

Jury Exams

Music majors and minors must complete a jury examination at the conclusion of each semester of principal applied (MUS 152, 352) and minor applied (MUS 151) study. Students performing a half recital may have the recital graded by the appropriate faculty in lieu of the jury for the semester in which the recital is performed at the discretion of the applied instructor. Students may perform on a minor applied (MUS 151) instrument on a convocation recital or in studio class and have that performance graded by the appropriate faculty in lieu of the minor applied jury for the semester at the discretion of the applied instructor.

The material and repertoire performed for the jury exam comes from material assigned in applied study during the semester. For instrumental majors, the assigned material may include, but is not limited to scales, exercises, etudes, solos, chamber literature, and orchestral excerpts. The assigned vocal repertoire comprises memorized art songs in multiple languages, folksong arrangements, recitatives, and arias. Keyboard majors perform literature from the major style periods (e.g., Baroque, Classic, Romantic, Contemporary, etc.) In general, each member of the applied faculty establishes and states the grading policy in the course syllabus; thus, the value or weight of the jury exam on the final grade may differ between studios.

A student enrolled in restricted applied study (MUS 149) is not subject to jury examination unless required by the individual professor.

Junior Level Proficiency Exam (Jlpe)

At the end of the 4th semester of study at East Texas A&M University (TAMUC), all music majors must perform and pass an extended jury known as the Junior Level Proficiency Exam (JLPE). All music majors must pass the JLPE to be admitted into upper division Principal Applied lessons (MUS 352) and most other upper division courses in the department. For the JLPE, the student must demonstrate technical and musical excellence, music literacy (sight reading), and the ability to perform a cross-section of standard repertoire for the specific studio area. A student who does not pass all portions of the JLPE must retake only the failed portions at the end of the following long semester. Piano majors are required to retake the entire JLPE if they fail any portion. Students are not eligible to enroll in upper division Principal Applied Lessons (MUS 352) until all portions of the JLPE are passed. A student who does not pass the second attempt at the junior level proficiency exam will no longer be allowed to continue as a music major. Transfer students are encouraged to take the JLPE at the end of their 2nd semester of applied lessons at TAMUC, but no later than the end of their 4th semester.

Instrumental JLPE Policies

Instrumental students must demonstrate competency in four areas of performance:

  1. Jury piece assigned by the instructor for that particular semester.
  2. Etudes/excerpts/misc. materials
  3. All major, minor, and chromatic scales (performed from memory)
    • Played in a 4/4 time signature, with the rhythm of quarter notes and eighth notes for every measure
    • Any of the 12 major, three forms of minor scales, and chromatic scale (played in steady eighth- notes) could be asked for at the JLPE. Scales will be drawn at random and performed within the same key area. For example, if the key of C is drawn, the student will perform the C Major, c natural minor, c harmonic minor and c melodic minor scale. A minimum of four key areas will be assessed.
    • The minimum tempo to perform all scales is as follows:
      • Woodwinds: ± = 120
      • Brass: ± = 96
      • Percussion: ± = 160
      • Number of octaves is determined by the applied instructor.
  4. Sight-reading: While the jury and etudes portion is graded similar to a typical jury exam with a final number value, grading for the scales and sight-reading portion of the JLPE is based on a pass/fail system. As stated in the JLPE requirements, all students must satisfactorily perform and pass a sight- reading etude. To obtain a consistent approach and difficulty level among all studios, etudes will be selected according to a variety of factors.

Selection Requirements include:

  • 16-24 measures long
  • Simple or compound meter
  • Key signature: up to 4 sharps or 4 flats (Major or minor key signatures; no modes)
  • Occasional accidentals
  • Rhythmic Values: Half-notes, Quarter-notes, Eighth-notes, Sixteenth-notes, Triplets, Syncopations
  • Marked dynamics
  • Marked articulations
  • Marked tempo
    • Simple meter: ± = 80-140
    • Compound meters: ± = 60-132

The JLPE Rubric will be used for the sight-reading etude. Students will need a 2.5 average score or higher to pass the sight-reading portion of the JLPE. The rubric is published on the music department website; a synopsis is below.

  • Students performing the etude technically correct with added musicality, not written in the music, including phrasing, nuance, and clear direction will constitute a “4” on the rubric scoring sheet.
  • Students performing the etude technically correct and/or making a quick recovery will constitute a “3” on the rubric scoring sheet.
  • Students performing the etude with minor technical and musical mistakes will constitute a “2” on the rubric scoring sheet.
  • Students performing the etude with major technical and musical mistakes will constitute a “1” on the rubric scoring sheet.

Before performing the JLPE, students are required to submit the following at the time of their performance exam:

  1. The student should have their personal copy of an original score. Two copies of the solo/jury piece will be used by the jury panel.
  2. Two copies of the other works prepared (etudes/excerpts/misc. materials)
  3. Two typed copies of the semester repertoire sheet (available on the music department website)

Piano JLPE Policies

Keyboard students must successfully perform the literature and technical requirements assigned during their last semester of lower division applied study. Questions should be directed to Dr. Luis Sanchez, Head of the Piano Division.

Vocal JLPE Policies

For the vocal JLPE, students must successfully perform a varied and challenging repertoire that includes one piece from each of the following categories: an Italian art song, a German Lied, a French melodie, and an English art song. All four pieces will be performed to demonstrate mastery of all four languages and the ability to expressively perform various styles of music. All literature must be performed by memory. In addition to the repertoire performance requirement, students must: 1) demonstrate competency sight-singing using solfege, the text, or a neutral syllable; 2) speak a sentence written from the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) to the chosen language (Italian, French, or German) and transliterate words from English into IPA; and, 3) learn on their own and expressively perform an assigned selection of literature. Students will be responsible for picking up their prepared piece two weeks before their JLPE from the applied voice instructor.

Students must complete and submit five typed copies of the Jury Form and Jury Repertoire Form (under the Current Student resources section of the music department website) to the evaluators at the time of the jury.

Applied Minor Requirements

Instrumental: Instrumental students pursuing a Bachelor of Music in instrumental performance must, in addition to their primary instrument, master the requisite technical skills for a minimum of one secondary instrument (minor applied) as part of their course of study. Students must enroll in four lower level minor applied lessons (MUS 151) as part of this sequence. These lessons would typically be taken as a one credit lessons (30 minutes per week) over four semesters. At the end of each semester the student will perform a jury for faculty evaluation of technical and musical progress over assigned literature.

Piano: performance majors must complete 7 hours of applied minor study (organ is often used), 3 of which must be upper division. They must also pass the proficiency exam for the minor applied instrument.

Vocal: Vocal majors must declare piano as their minor instrument and meet the piano proficiency requirements. (See piano proficiency requirements on p. 20)

RECITAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS

The School of Music mandates the following procedure to document a student’s performance of a recital on his or her transcript:

1. At the beginning of the semester, the applied faculty will notify the Music School Office of any students performing a recital that semesters.

2. The staff will create a section of the appropriate recital

  • MUS 353 Junior (half) Recital
  • MUS 453 Senior (full) Recital

The student will enroll in 1 hour of MUS 353 Junior Recital or MUS 452 Senior Recital. In addition the student will register for 1-2 hour(s) of applied lessons based on their degree plan. (i.e. Performance majors may enroll in 2 hours of applied lessons if needed to satisfy number of hours needed for graduation).

Sample Enrollments:

  • Music Education Junior Level Half Recital (1 credit of MUS 353 and 1 credit of MUS 352)
  • Performance Junior Level Half Recital (1 credit of MUS 353 and 2 credits of MUS 352)
  • Performance Senior Level Full Recital (1 credit of MUS 453 and 2 credits of MUS 352)

3. If a student fails to complete the recital, the applied faculty member will determine if a grade of F (fail) or Incomplete (X) is appropriate. If an incomplete grade (X) is assigned, the faculty member and student must follow the procedure for receiving and removing an Incomplete (X).

Grading

The Recital Rubric will be used for the degree recital. Students will need an overall grade of C or better on the recital to be considered passing. The rubric is published on the School of Music website.

Exceeds Expectations

Meets Expectations

Below Expectations

Unsatisfactory

Performance Technique

Musicianship / Interpretation

Professionalism / Presence

Recital Hearings

All degree recitals require a “recital hearing” to be scheduled and completed prior to the recital in order for the instructor to give final approval to move forward with the recital. The hearing is graded Pass/Fail. Committee members will use the Recital Performance Scoring Rubric to determine the students' score.

The recital hearing must be completed no less than 10 business days before the recital date (policies vary by area. Consult with your applied teacher). While the hearing is recommended to occur in the performance venue, it is not required. The principal applied teacher is required to be present at the hearing and the recital. Two of the three committee members must evaluate the hearing and recital and at least two committee members should be in attendance at the hearing. The student should provide a copy of the program draft to the panel at the hearing. If the student fails the pre-recital hearing, or individual pieces at the hearing, one additional hearing may be scheduled (during the same semester) at the discretion of the committee, or the recital may be cancelled or postponed. If the recital is cancelled/postponed the student will receive a grade of F in the Principal Applied Recital course. The student will have one additional semester in which to successfully pass the recital and remain a music major. This additional attempt must be during the next consecutive long semester.

The primary instructor may cancel a student recital at any time for the following reasons:

  1. Lack of progress/preparation
  2. Failure to schedule a recital hearing, for degree recitals
  3. Failure to turn in the proper scheduling paperwork on time
  4. Failure to submit program or program notes (when applicable)
  5. Failure to pay accompanist fees (when applicable)

Individual faculty members can define the recital grading procedures for the course in their syllabi, as well as requirements for program notes. The scheduled dress rehearsal is merely a rehearsal and will not be graded by the committee.

Recital Scheduling

Students must adhere to the procedure for scheduling events:

  1. Check with your applied instructor about the procedure in your instrument area. All A&M- Commerce students must obtain the permission of the instructors in their area (e.g., piano, brass, percussion, string, voice, woodwinds) to perform a recital on campus. Some areas require a recital hearing; in other areas the procedure is less formal.
  2. Choose 3 possible dates for your event and check against the master calendar of music events maintained online. The Music Office will not permit a simultaneous ensemble performances in the Concert Hall and a recital performance in the Recital Hall in the same division. Concert times:
    • Monday-Friday: 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
    • Saturday and Sunday: 3:00 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
  3. Obtain a Recital Scheduling Form from the School of Music Website or the Music Office if one or more of your performance and dress rehearsal dates are available. All wind and voice recitals will be in the Recital Hall; the percussion and piano recitals will be in the Concert Hall. A student performing a recital may have one two-hour dress rehearsal in the performance venue (2 two-hour rehearsals for percussion students) and must note that rehearsal date and time on the scheduling form. Additional rehearsal time in the venue may be arranged by the respective applied teacher through the Music Office, depending upon the availability of the facility.
  4. Obtain the permission/signatures required on the scheduling form.
  5. Check with ALL faculty/committee members who will be evaluating your recital.
  6. Return the form to the Music Office no later than three weeks prior to event. Any changes to the event must be made at the earliest possible moment through the Department Administrative Assistant.
  7. See the section on piano accompanists for information regarding accompanist fees.
  8. Provide a check payable to the A&M-Commerce School of Music for $50 with the submission of the form, or use a credit card to pay through the campus Marketplace system. Students performing a half or full recital must have the performance recorded using the School of Music’s equipment and Recording Crew—an archival copy is required for accreditation and grade. The Music School’Administrative Assistant will provide a receipt to the student. Then, the student will give the receipt to the Recording Crew captain. Following the recital, the crew will provide both the student and the applied instructor one copy of the recording and will place another copy in the Department archives.
  9. If you plan a reception prior to or after the recital, provide a $50 deposit with the submission of the form. If the prep kitchen is clean with all utensils put away the following morning, the Department will return the deposit check. If not, the Department will cash the check.
  10. Provide Program information via the Recital Program Information Page available on the School of Music Website. The form should be filled out no less than 14 days before the recital. (Click here) Include ALL information required for program: composition titles, movement titles, composers, composer dates, additional musicians, instruments, date of recital, time of recital, degree or non-degree recital, and primary instructor(s) for recital material.
  11. Translations and Text (voice recitals): Programs for vocalists will include text translations as appropriate.
  12. Program Notes: These may or may not be required by applied instructor. All program notes will be formatted and copied by the performer, and approved by the applied faculty member. The School of Music will not print program notes.

Degree Recital Requirements

Instrumental

  • Instrumental students studying for a Bachelor of Music with All-Level Certification perform a half recital in their junior or senior year. A half recital is defined as a minimum of 25 minutes of music with no more than 12 and 1/2 minutes devoted to chamber music.
  • Instrumental students studying for a Bachelor of Music (performance) perform a half recital as a junior and a full recital as a senior. A full recital is defined as a minimum of 50 minutes of music with no more than 20 minutes devoted to chamber music.
  • The Bachelor of Arts in Music does not require a recital.

Vocal

  • Vocal students studying for a Bachelor of Music with All-Level Certification perform a half recital in their junior or senior year. A half recital is defined as a minimum of 25 minutes of music.
  • Vocal students studying for a Bachelor of Music (performance) perform a half recital as a junior and a full recital as a senior. A full recital is defined as a minimum of 50 minutes of music.
  • The Bachelor of Arts in Music does not require a recital.

Piano

  • Piano students studying for a Bachelor of Music in piano pedagogy perform a half recital and a lecture recital. A half recital is defined as a minimum of 25 minutes of music.
  • Piano students studying for a Bachelor of Music in piano performance perform a half recital as a junior and a full recital as a senior. A full recital is defined as a minimum of 50 minutes of music.
  • The Bachelor of Arts in Music does not require a recital.

Ensemble Requirements

All music majors must participate in ensembles as required by their degree program and, when applicable, the terms of their scholarships. The requirement varies according to degree, principal instrument, and of course, the terms of the scholarship(s).

Instrumental Division: Every instrumental major must enroll and participate in a principal instrumental ensemble every semester in which they are a full-time music major. In addition, every instrumental music education major is required to be in the Pride Marching Band for four semesters. Transfer students are required to participate in The “Pride” Marching Band for a minimum of two semesters, unless waived by the Director of Instrumental Activities.

Keyboard Division: Piano majors must complete a minimum of six semester hours of ensemble to meet the six semester hour requirement of the Music Core. Piano majors studying for the Bachelor of Music with All-Level Certification fulfill this requirement by 1) performing in the ensemble determined by their minor instrument (e.g., applied minor instrument: perform in band; applied minor voice: sing in choir), 2) performing in a chamber ensemble, and/or 3) performing as an accompanist. Piano performance majors fulfill the requirement by performing with a chamber ensemble or as an accompanist for choir or solo voice or instrument.

Vocal Division: Every vocal major must enroll and participate in a principal vocal ensemble (e.g., University Singers, Chorale) every semester in which they are a full-time music major.

Piano Proficiency

All music majors must demonstrate proficiency in piano; however, the proficiency requirement differs for instrumental and vocal students. (NB: Keyboard majors must pass the applied proficiency exam.)

Instrumental majors must pass Class Piano, level C (MUS 236) with a grade of C or higher. By default all incoming students are automatically enrolled in Class Piano A (MUS 136). Any incoming student with prior piano experience may attempt to test into Class Piano B (MUS 140) or into Class Piano C (MUS 236) by contacting the Class Piano course instructor prior to or during the first week of classes. It is possible that the MUS 236 requirement itself may be waived if a student displays sufficient skill. (NB: It is extremely rare for a student to demonstrate sufficient skill to merit the recommendation that any, or all, of the piano class levels be waived.)

Vocal majors working towards the BM with All-Level Certification degree must declare piano as their applied minor. Accordingly, they must enroll in Class Piano (MUS 136 or MUS 140, depending on their prior experience at the keyboard). All vocal majors must pass Class Piano Level C (MUS 236) with a grade of C or higher, before they may enroll in upper-division Applied Piano (MUS 351). Then, they must enroll in upper-division Applied Piano (MUS 351) until they pass the upper-division proficiency exam.

Vocal majors in the Bachelor of Music program must complete 4 hours of lower division applied piano (MUS 236) and MUS 151, pass the proficiency exam, complete 4 additional semester hours of study at the upper division level (MUS 351), and pass the upper division proficiency exam.

Regardless of the level, a vocal music student may not enroll for more than 1 semester hour of piano (half-hour lesson) in a given semester.

Convocation/recital Attendance Requirements

All undergraduate music majors must enroll in and pass six semesters of MUS 100R (Convocation) to graduate from East Texas A&M University with a baccalaureate degree in music. Convocations are scheduled Wednesdays at 4:00pm and consist of recitals and lectures. Transfer students must enroll in MUS 100R each semester until graduation, student teaching, or until four semesters have been passed (whichever comes first). The pass/fail grades for recital attendance are based on the number of recitals/concerts attended during each semester. Other requirements are described on the MUS 100R syllabus.

If you are asked to participate in a Convocation recital by your applied instructor, you must submit your information by Friday at 5pm the week before your performance. The form is available on the Student Resources page on the School of Music Website.

Recital Etiquette

  • Turn off cell phones, watches, or any other noise-making device before entering any performance venue.
  • Avoid doing anything that might be a distraction to the performers or other audience members.
  • Applause should be reserved until the end of each section during the recital/concert
  • Dress to attend daytime/afternoon recitals in everyday school attire.
  • Dress for evening recitals in professional attire. (At minimum, wear dress slacks with dress shirts or blouses, dress shoes, etc.)
  • Gentlemen should remove caps or hats in performance venues.
  • Display respect for yourself, others, and the art of music!

Music Teacher Preparation

The Music Education program works in direct cooperation with the College of Education and Human Services and the State of Texas. Music Education majors will receive significant communication about related policies and procedures in your music education coursework. Near the end of your program, you will work directly with music education faculty to determine your field-based placements, internship, and student-teacher placements.

Music Teacher Field-Based Student Teaching

In the state of Texas music teachers must apply for and receive All-Level Certification (early childhood through secondary). In the semester prior to the internship semester, the music student must apply online for Admission to the Field-Based Student Teaching Program. These requirements include:

  • Full admission into the Field-Based Teacher Education Program (interview process and determination completed during SED 300).
  • Documented 30 hours of Early Field Experience Observation and Online Reflection (Completed during SED 300).
  • Completion of Basic Skills Requirements:
    • The Reading component must be met with a score of 250 or higher on Reading THEA or appropriate SAT or ACT score.
    • The Math component may be met with a “C” in college algebra (or appropriate test score).
    • The Writing component may be met with a “C” or higher in English 1301 or 1302 (or appropriate test score).
  • Senior Standing (completion of approximately 80 semester hours of college coursework).
  • Meet the Overall GPA requirement of 2.75.
  • Complete required Interdisciplinary Core, Specialization, and Professional Development courses with a GPA of 2.75 and no grade less than a C.
  • Mandatory participation in partnership district interviews. A successful interview resulting in a placement is required to complete student teaching.

At the beginning of the semester preceding the field based program, the student and Music faculty (Mrs. Meek, Dr. Hooper, Mr. Clements, and Mr. Gunderssn) will meet to confer regarding possible schools for placement. Their recommendations are then sent to the Placement Coordinator who works with the requested school districts to make the placement assignments.

In general, every music student teacher is placed in a secondary school for 8 weeks and an elementary school for 8 weeks. In exceptional cases, a 16-week extended placement at a secondary site may be arranged, contingent on student fulfillment of appropriate School of Musioc policies. Any student requesting an extended 16-week placement at a secondary site must:

  • Complete a minimum of 15 Field Placement Hours in an elementary placement in SED 300 (The Teaching Profession)
  • Complete MUS 465 Music and Movement 2 with a C or better. An exception to this requirement may be granted to students who complete the undergraduate curriculum in 4 years and cannot fit the extra class (MUS 465) into their course rotation.
  • Request an extended 16-week secondary placement on the Student Teacher Application and justify the request. This will be reviewed by the music education faculty.

These factors will be considered by a panel of music education faculty who will make the decision to approve or deny requests for 16-week secondary placement.

During the student teaching semester, the prospective music teacher must apply for certification through the Certification Office and pass the TExES exam.

The School of Music encourages music education students to maximize their time in the field-based program. To that end, the Department strongly suggests that interns in the fall begin attending their assignments when the mentor teacher begins work in the late summer (e.g., band camp) and continue until activities conclude in December (even after university graduation). Similarly, students in the spring should begin in early January when the mentor teacher begins work and continue until activities conclude in May. Thus, they have multiple opportunities to study with strong teachers in a variety of successful music programs.

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