Departmental Grading Policy (for composition lessons)
In addition to the grading policy of your specific teacher for private composition lessons, the following policy applies departmentally for grading K100, K400, K710, K810, K910:
COMPOSING:
Undergraduate composition students cannot be given a grade higher than a 'C' for a semester unless they have completed at least one work during that term, fully notated and ready for their portfolios. Graduate students cannot receive a grade higher than a 'B' unless they have completed at least one work during that term, fully notated and ready for their portfolios.
PERFORMANCE:
Undergraduate students cannot be given a grade higher than a 'C' in the second semester of any academic year unless they have had at least one work performed on a composition department recital in either the fall or spring semester of that year. Graduate students cannot receive a grade higher than a 'B'.
Recital Attendance and Composition Lesson Grading Policy
Rev. 9/20/23
Attending recitals and new music concerts is a vital part of your education as composers. It is through these concerts that you can learn a great deal from your colleagues and other composers, find inspiration in their work, and discover ideas and concepts you may not have previously considered. Among the many benefits for young composers include:
- observing how others work out their compositional ideas;
- hearing how different instrumental combinations and techniques sound in a specific musical performance context;
- understanding how a concert hall affects the sound of everything;
- understanding issues of balance in a live performance (with and without amplification);
- knowing when to bow and other performance etiquette;
- thinking about what it might be like when it’s your turn to give a recital;
- supporting colleagues so that they will support you.
Because of our commitment to the performance of new music, especially that of our students, we expect a high level of attendance at new music events that are starred in our departmental calendar. These include, but are not limited to, Student Composer Recitals, degree recitals, and New Music Ensemble, NOTUS, and CECM concerts. The following minimum requirement will apply to all students taking K100, K400, K810, K710, and K910:
K400/810/910
Students must attend a minimum of 10 starred concerts per semester. Starred concerts are those marked with an asterisk (*) in the department events calendar.
Not meeting this minimum requirement will result in your lesson grade being lowered by 1/3 (e.g. A to A-, B+ to B) for each absence below the required number of 10.
K100/710
Students must attend a minimum of 5 starred concerts per semester. Starred concerts are those marked with an asterisk (*) in the department events calendar.
Not meeting this minimum requirement will result in your lesson grade being lowered by 1/3 (e.g. A to A-, B+ to B) for each absence below the required number of 5.
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THE FOLLOWING:
1) A periodically-updated list of required and other recitals is posted on the Composition Department's home page under "Events/Announcements." It is the student's responsibility to frequently check this page and know the recitals at which attendance is required.
2) At each required recital students must check in with the Associate Instructor taking attendance to be sure their names are recorded. Do not expect the AI taking attendance to find you; you must make your presence known to the AI!