Undergraduate Student Policies
School of Music
College of Creative Arts
West Virginia University
(Revised, April 2003)
General
Photocopies
The School of Music leases a photocopy machine to provide services to the music faculty for university business. Photocopy service for personal business, for students, and for the general public, is prohibited. Violation of the Copyright Law is prohibited. Students are expected to purchase their own music materials for study and performance. Students must own 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 School 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 school administrative associate in room 416A.
Academic Items
Accompanists
Students with keyboard skills often provide accompanying services to other students during lessons, at juries, and for recitals. A small number of accompanists may be assigned (based on assistantship, or instructional obligations), while most accompanying is negotiated between the students involved.
Accompanying expense for most recitals and associated rehearsals will have to be paid by the student, due to lack of School resources.
Advising (undergraduate)
All undergraduate students majoring in music are assigned to an advisor who is a member of the music faculty. These assignments are overseen by the Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising, Dr. Sandra Schwartz. Questions about undergraduate advising should be directed to Dr. Schwartz.
Change in Course Requirements
Course requirements for degree programs are printed in the University Catalog, which can be accessed on the University web site (http://catalog.wvu.edu/undergraduate/collegeofcreativearts/divisionofmusic/). Substitutions are normally not permitted, although the Director will consider requests in extenuating circumstances. The student’s advisor must determine if a request for a course substitution is warranted and, if so, forward the request to the Director in writing.
Instrumental Rental
The School of Music maintains a limited inventory of instruments to supply music students and participants in performing ensembles with certain instruments, and to provide instruments for music education pedagogy classes. The Instrument Control Office, overseen by Timothy Richards and his Graduate Assistant, is in room 237A. The hours are posted on the door. Some “special” instruments (such as English horn, D trumpet, and contrabassoon) may be borrowed at no charge through an applied faculty member. “Regular” instruments of professional quality may be rented through the Instrument Control Office with permission from an applied faculty member. 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) students in pedagogy classes; (b) music majors – students playing secondary instruments and students experiencing financial hardships may rent instruments (at the director’s discretion) for use in marching or pep band; (c) students enrolled in the Community Music Program. The rental fee per instrument per semester is $25.00. Students enrolled in pedagogy classes that 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.
In addition to the $25.00 rental fee, students who rent instruments over the summer must pay a $50.00 security deposit in cash. The deposit will be returned to the student when he or she returns the instrument.
Students who fail to return instruments in a timely manner will receive a letter of warning indicating that if the instrument is not returned by a certain date, the result will be the suspension of University services (grades, transcripts withheld, etc.) and the notification of the police that state property has not been returned. 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 Applied Music, Music 500, or Music 700 in the Fall 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 Director upon receipt of a written petition. Students should consult the jury policies of their 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 his or her tuition and fee charges. Payment of the fee entitles the student to sign up for one hour per day in a specific practice room for the semester. To sign up, students should email their preferred practice time to CAC-Scheduling@mail.wvu.edu
Probation and Suspension—Academic
Students must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better. 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. Please refer to the West Virginia University Undergraduate Catalogue for further clarification.
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 or voice for members of the Applied Music faculty at the end of each regular semester of study. After each jury, students who are below the expected level will be placed on applied music probation and will receive a letter from the Music Committee on Academic Standards 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.
Applied faculty may invoke a warning (rather than probation) ONE TIME in a student’s undergraduate career in the School of Music if a) the student has been doing good work in principal applied study all semester, AND b) the student barely missed a level because of a substandard jury performance, OR c) the student was admitted with a deficiency that is being corrected but is no yet up to standard.
Scholarship Policies
The School of Music Undergraduate Music Scholarship Committee (comprised of faculty representatives of each performance area) is responsible for awarding music scholarships to students. Final decisions are based on results of student auditions, the specific needs of the School’s performing organizations, and criteria associated with certain scholarship endowment funds. Auditions are held for new students in February and March of each year. Provision is made for taped auditions and individually arranged auditions when necessary. Students must meet the terms of the Music Scholarship Award Agreement to maintain scholarship eligibility. This means maintaining a grade point average of at least 2.5, participating in ensembles as stipulated in the agreement, and advancing in performance levels as required by the degree program.
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 in room 416A), in addition to the normal course registration procedure. Most incoming freshmen music majors are given an opportunity to complete these form during summer Orientation. These requests will be forwarded to the appropriate Area Coordinator, and, if teaching time is available, an assignment will be made (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 case the course registration must be dropped by the student.
Transfer of Credit
Music credits earned by students at other institutions will be evaluated by Assistant Chair John Hendricks, 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.
Undergraduate Overloads
Normally, undergraduate students may enroll for no more than 19 credit hours per semester. Students with strong academic records may petition to enroll in additional credit hours.
Recitals and Performances
Recitals
Please refer to “WVU CCA School 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 administrative associate 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.