Graduate Student Policies
Division of Music
College of Creative Arts
West Virginia University
(Compiled August, 1997)
General
Photocopies
The Division of Music leases a photocopy machine for the purpose of providing services to the music faculty for university business purposes. Photocopy service for personal business, for students, and for the general public, is not provided. Violation of the Copyright Law is prohibited.
Students are expected to purchase their own music materials for study and performance. Students must establish ownership of at least one non-library, non-photocopied score/set of parts before the work in question may be performed for an applied music jury, an upper-level performance, or in a public recital. Students performing from photocopies of out-of-print, copyrighted material must receive the publisher’s permission.
Telephones
Telephones provided by the Division of Music are to be used by faculty and staff for university business only. Long distance calls by students or by the general public are prohibited.
Tickets
Music students may receive one complimentary ticket for each ticketed music event. Students will not receive a second ticket for repeat performances of the same event. Students must obtain a concert voucher from the division administrative associate in room 416A.
Academic Items
Accompanists
Students with keyboard skills often provide accompanying services to other students in studio contexts, at juries, and for recitals. Accompanists may be assigned (based on assistantship or instructional obligations); some accompanying time is subsidized by the Division of Music; and some accompanying is negotiated between the students involved. The Division of Music will ensure that voice studio needs are met, and, to the extent possible, some non-voice studio needs. Some recitals may be subsidized, in hardship cases. Non-required recitals will not be subsidized. Accompanying expense for most required recitals and associated rehearsals will have to be paid by the student, due to lack of division resources.
Advising—Graduate
All graduate students are advised initially by the Director of Graduate Studies, subsequently by an assigned program advisor, and finally by the student’s committee.
Graduate Assistantships
Students applying for a graduate assistantship may obtain the form from Graduate Office of the Division of Music (416A). The applicant may be required to participate in one or more interviews or auditions. Final decisions regarding awards and assignments will be made on the basis of faculty recommendations and the necessity of various assignments as determined by the Chair of the Division of Music.
The renewal of graduate assistantships is not automatic. The performance of each Graduate Assistant will be reviewed by the Graduate Committee in three areas: academic performance, performance of teaching or service duties, and student conduct. Graduate Assistants must meet or exceed the minimum grade point of 3.0 as specified in “Manual for Graduate Students in the Division of Music at West Virginia University.” For the teaching or service duties of Graduate Assistants the Area Coordinators will forward their assessment of Graduate Assistants to the Graduate Committee. Graduate Assistants must submit student evaluations for each course taught to the appropriate Area Coordinator in a timely fashion. Graduate Assistants are considered adjunct faculty appointees and as such must conform to professional and ethical conduct as specified in the Faculty Handbook of West Virginia University. A copy of the Faculty Handbook is available in the Chair’s office or can be accessed on the World Wide Web at the following address: http://www.wvu.edu/~acadaff/fac_hdbk_page.htm.
Instrumental Rental
The Division of Music maintains a limited inventory of band, orchestra, and other instruments in order to supply music students and participants in performing ensembles with certain instruments, and to provide instruments for music education methods classes. The Instrument Control Office, run by Tim Richards and his Graduate Assistant, is in room 237B. The hours will be posted on the door.
Some “special” instruments (such as English horn, D trumpet, and contrabassoon) may be borrowed at no charge through individual applied faculty. “Regular” instruments of professional quality may be rented through the Instrument Control Office with permission from applied faculty. It is recommended that students rent instruments for only one semester, since the WVU Undergraduate Catalog states that all music majors (except pianists) should own their own instruments. Student-quality instruments are rented in the following priority: (a) needs for pedagogy classes; (b) music majors, students playing secondary instruments, and hardship cases (at director’s discretion) may rent instruments for use in marching or pep band; (c) needs by students enrolled in the Community Music Program.
The rental of each instrument per semester is $15.00. Student enrolled in pedagogy classes which require more than one instrument during the semester may exchange related instruments for no additional fee. For instance, a trombone may be exchanged for another brass instrument, a clarinet for another woodwind instruments, and a violin for another string instrument. This exchange policy is not applicable to the rental of guitars.
Students who fail to return instruments in a timely manner will received first, a written reminder; second, notification of the suspension of University services (grades, transcripts withheld, etc.); and finally, notification that the police have been notified of their failure to return state property. Students will be billed for lost and unreasonably damaged instruments and accessories.
Juries
All music majors, music minors, and non-majors on music scholarships enrolled in Music 110 or Music 400 in the Autumn and Spring Semesters must take a jury. Exceptions will only be allowed in the event of illness (a doctor’s statement is required) or by the approval of the Chair upon receipt of a written petition. Please consult the jury policies of your performance area.
Practice Room Assignments
Each full time undergraduate or graduate student majoring in music is routinely assessed a Practice Room Fee of $15.00 per semester as part of their tuition and fee charges. Payment of the fee entitles the student assignment of a specific practice space one hour per day for the semester. Additional space may be reserved at the rate of $5.00 per hour (an hour is defined as one hour per day for fifteen weeks). Upon presenting proof of payment, the student will receive space assignment in the Division of Music Office. Non-majors or part-time students may be assigned space upon payment of the fee. After the second week of class, some practice space may be made available to Community Music students or the general public at the regular rate on a limited basis.
Probation and Suspension—Academic
Students must meet or exceed the grade point of 3.0. Students who do not meet the requirement will receive a letter of warning stating the terms of probation. If these terms are not met in the prescribed time, the student’s enrollment in the music program will be discontinued. For further clarification refer to the “Manual for Graduate Students in the Division of Music…”
Probation and Suspension—Applied Instrument or Voice
Each student identified as a music major or a music minor shall perform a jury examination on their principle performing instrument (voice) for members of the Applied Music faculty at the end of each regular semester of study. After each jury, students judged to have potential but who are below the expected level will receive a warning letter from the Music Committee on Academic Standards. Students who make insufficient progress, or who are judged not to have sufficient potential to complete the requirements will be placed on applied music probation, and will receive a letter stating the terms of the probation. If these terms are not met in the prescribed time, the student’s enrollment in the music program will be discontinued.
Teacher Assignment in Applied Music
Students wishing to study applied music with a private teacher must complete an application for a teacher assignment in applied music (forms available from 401A), in addition to the normal course registration procedure. These requests will be forwarded to the appropriate Area Coordinator, and, if teaching time is available, an assignment will be made (sometimes after an audition has been completed). Music majors receive first consideration for assignments. If teacher time is not available, requests by non-music majors will be denied, in which cases the course registration must be dropped by the student.
Transfer of Credit
Music credits earned by students at other institutions will be evaluated by the Chair of the Division of Music, with recommendations made to the Dean of the College. Transfer of applied music credits will be based upon proficiency levels attained by students at West Virginia University.
Recitals and Performances
Recitals
Please refer to “WVU CCA Division of Music Student and Faculty Recitals Policies and Procedures” on this web site.
Recordings of Performances and Studio Sessions
Please refer to the “WVU Sound Productions Recording Price Guide and Policy” available in room 416A or on this web site.
Young Artists’ Competition
Announcements of this annual competition are posted (usually mid-October) and forms are available from your studio teacher or from the secretary in room 416A.
Music Library
The music library is housed WVU’s Evansdale Library, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Creative Arts Center. The collection in the Music Library (books, scores, recordings) is available to faculty, students, and the general public, subject to Library regulations. Questions about the music holdings may be directed toward Creative Arts Librarian Beth Royall at Beth.Royall@mail.wvu.edu.