Attendance is required at all studio classes and departmental recitals. Students are also required to attend 10 additional recitals, tracked by the recital attendance sheet distributed on CANVAS and available from the voice faculty.
Students enrolled in MUAM and MUAC lessons are expected to reserve 3:00 - 5:50 p.m. on Tuesdays for studio class or departmental recital.
LESSONS
Students are required to schedule their private lessons with their assigned teacher no later than the first full week of classes, or risk being dropped from lessons for the semester.
The College of Music has established THIRTEEN as the normal number of lessons per semester, and EIGHT as the minimum number of lessons a student must attend to receive a passing grade. Therefore, students who have missed a total of SIX lessons, either excused or unexcused, will be asked to drop voice for the semester or receive a grade of F. A grade of “I” (“Incomplete”) will only be given for verified reasons and with permission of the major professor. An Incomplete should not be given due to lack of preparation or simply needing more time.
MUAM and MUAC lessons are expected to be 50 minutes in length.
Voice students at all levels are expected to practice a minimum of three hours per week PER CREDIT HOUR of voice. This includes work on translations, and musical study.
Lesson Absences: Communication and Make-up lessons
If you must miss a lesson, your teacher should be notified with at least 24 hours’ notice. If this notice is not provided, your teacher is not obligated to make up your missed lesson, unless there are extenuating circumstances, such as an official University Excused Absence. Students should arrange make-up lessons owed as quickly as possible; failure to communicate with the teacher about make-up lessons in a timely manner may result in forfeiture of those lessons. If a student misses two lessons without notification, the student will receive a “Notice of Unsatisfactory Progress” report. If an additional lesson is missed without notification, the student will be dropped with a F.
Lessons missed by the teacher are always to be made up. If a studio teacher is missing an excessive number of lessons, or if make-ups are not being offered in a timely manner, students should contact the Division Chair immediately.
Lessons that occur on official university holidays (e.g., Thanksgiving) do not have to made up by your teacher nor do lessons that were scheduled for a day that the university is closed due to inclement weather.
Division of Vocal Studies Required Event and Recital Attendance Policy
The College of Music expects each student with a major in music to attend a variety of concerts and recitals in addition to required departmental recitals as a graduation requirement. Voice students are expected to attend 10 programs each semester, in addition to the Vocal Studies Departmental Recitals. Students use the Recital Attendance Sheet to document attendance at those recitals. The attendance sheet must be turned in at the jury or, if a student does not have a jury in a given semester, they must turn in the attendance sheet to the studio teacher by the end of the last week of class.
Voice students who fail to meet these requirements will have their grade for Studio Voice lowered by one full letter grade. This policy is to be strictly enforced, regardless of major or instructor.
Studio Assignments and Changing Voice Teachers
All sections of Voice Lessons and Vocal Coaching require permission of the Division of Vocal Studies.
The responsibility for assigning Faculty Workloads rests with the Dean and typically will be delegated to the Division Chair. (College of Music Faculty Handbook, 5.1.) Any student wishing to change studios must therefore schedule a meeting with the Division Chair to confirm the studio change and discuss possible alternative studios.
Changing Teacher/Major Professor (College of Music Faculty Handbook, 8.15)
This statement is intended to address faculty and student responsibilities with regard to working relationships in major or concentration applied lessons, composition major study, and graduate thesis direction.
The College of Music recognizes the individual rights of all students to act independently in the pursuit of knowledge and to seek varying points of view. Students have the right to change teachers for the types of study listed above, but should follow the recommended procedure:
The relationship between teacher and student should be established, maintained, and terminated in a professional manner. Faculty members should respect the personal integrity and privacy of students at all times, while recognizing their responsibility to promote principles of ethical and professional conduct throughout the College of Music community.
Employment as a singer while enrolled in applied voice lessons
It is expected that voice students will seek appropriate outside employment singing and teaching voice once they are properly prepared to do so. Students should consult with their teachers before accepting any public appearance, whether paid or not, or participating in any musical organization, either on or off-campus. The caution expressed in this position stems from the concern that a student may become overcommitted and hinder their academic and performance progress.
STUDIO CLASS
A schedule of studio class locations (classes are rotated in order to give each studio the opportunity to hold class in some of the larger spaces) will be given to each faculty member and teaching fellow at the beginning of the semester.
Vocal Performance majors are expected to attend studio class each week that their studio teacher holds a class. Faculty studio classes are typically scheduled on Tuesdays from 3:00 - 3:50 p.m., though they may occasionally begin at 4:00 or 5:00 p.m.
Voice Concentration Students:
DEPARTMENTAL RECITAL
Generally, Division of Vocal Studies Departmental Recitals are held on Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m. in Voertman Hall. Attendance is required of all students enrolled in MUAM or MUAC applied voice lessons. If students have an unavoidable conflict, they should discuss this with their studio teacher.
Students must arrive promptly and must leave the back two rows clear for faculty and teaching fellows. All performances will be recorded, and students will have access to their recording within 1-2 weeks of the recital.
All performers (including pianists) must be available to perform for the duration of the recital. No special requests for appearance order will be accommodated. If working with Dr. Dubberly, his standard rehearsal time will be between 3:00 - 3:45 in room 295.
The time limit for Departmental Recital performances is six minutes/person, and 10 minutes for an ensemble piece with 2 or more singers.
Students must receive approval from their studio teacher to sing on Departmental Recital before submitting the performance request form.
Your form submission must occur no later than midnight on Tuesday a week before the Departmental Recital on which you wish to sing.
Sign-up Process:
The student fills out the Departmental Performance Request Form, found HERE. Approved submissions are added to the requested date on a first-come, first-served basis. Students are responsible for the accuracy of the sign-up form, including the estimated length of performance, correct spellings and dates, etc.
Note from Ms. Linda Strube, a retired staff member who oversaw concert programs in the College of Music for many years: