Regulations and Procedures
Individual Studio Study and Performance-Related Policies
Examinations and Goals in Performance
Level of Achievement
Each student taking performance courses must make satisfactory progress each semester as determined by the various examinations in performance.
Upper-Division Examination
The purpose of the upper-division examination is to assess the undergraduate student’s general progress and to determine continuation in the chosen curriculum. The examination is administered, usually in the last week of classes, at the end of the fourth semester of study or, for transfer students, at the end of a semester to be determined by the instructor/department. Students who have a valid reason to postpone the examination may petition the director of undergraduate studies of the Jacobs School of Music. The examination should not be postponed past the time when an estimated four semesters of degree work remain to be completed.
A committee composed of the student’s major department faculty members (in some cases including a Jacobs School of Music administrator) administers the examination. A written report of the committee’s comments is compiled in the Office of Undergraduate Studies and furnished to the student after the upper-division examination. The committee votes to pass, fail, or require the student retake the upper-division examination. If the student fails, they are dismissed from the school of music. Students required to retake the upper-division examination do so the following semester. For any retake of the upper division examination, the committee votes to pass or fail the student. Students that do not pass are dismissed from the school of music.
Bachelor of Music Education and Composition majors (Option 1) have a departmental examination in addition to the performance portion of the examination. Audio Engineering and Sound Production majors have only a departmental examination.
Each student who is studying performance is given a grade on the upper-division examination. The grade given by the departmental committee is an average of the grades given by each member of the committee. This grade will comprise 25% of the final semester applied grade. The grade given by their studio teacher for the work done during the semester will comprise 75% of the final semester applied grade.
Other Examinations in Music Performance Courses
The student should consult the relevant performance faculty for specific information on the scheduling of examinations, the constitution of the hearing committee, and grading procedures. Examinations by a committee composed of the student’s teacher and two other members usually are held as follows:
BM majors in performance: freshman jury at the end of fall semester of the first year for all performance areas except piano, string, and woodwind majors, who have their juries at the end of the spring semester of the first year. The upper-division examination and junior and senior recital hearings constitute examinations for second, third, and fourth years.
BME concentrations, BS concentrations, and BM composition and jazz studies majors: freshman jury at the end of spring semester of the first year. The upper-division examination and the senior recital constitute examinations for the second and fourth years.
Non-music majors in elective performance (undergraduates and graduates): each semester of enrollment.
Music majors enrolled in 100-, 700-, or 800-level performance study: each semester of enrollment, or as determined by the department.
It is the prerogative of the teacher to ask for a committee examination of any student who is making doubtful progress in the curriculum.