Departmental Applied Organ Study Procedures and Policies
(Updated 23 August, 2021)
Applied Lesson Grading and Attendance Policy
Lessons: Grading is based attendance, quantity of music learned, quality of preparation for each lesson, and performances. In addition to the consistent application of good practice habits, students thrive when they approach the learning process with a sense of musical curiosity and initiative. Fourteen lessons per semester are required of both student and teacher. If you know in advance that you will be unable to attend your lesson, please arrange to trade lesson times with another student so that the professor’s schedule is not interrupted. Last minute cancellations for anything other than illness are made up at the professor’s discretion. Faculty who miss lessons due to other applied professional activity or illness will offer make-up lessons, either in advance if the absence is planned or after the absence.
Studio Class and Colloquium:
Studio Class and Colloquium are required for all students enrolled in Q400 or Q900. Each student will work with the appropriate faculty member to develop a plan for participation, which includes both active performing and attentive listening and interaction.
Juries:
All BM (BA, BSOF), MM, PD and non-majors are required to play a jury each semester except during the semester when playing a degree recital. DM students play a jury once per academic year unless they perform a recital during that time. All organ majors in all organ degree programs are required to play one piece from memory at each jury. Please see your individual applied teacher’s syllabus for more information.
MM and PD “mystery” piece:
In order to demonstrate successful independent application of applied studies, all MM and PD students must prepare a (brief) self-learned “mystery” piece that will be heard by the faculty at the conclusion of each semester. The scheduling of this is customarily during the student’s jury but it may also be performed during Colloquium.
MM Comprehensive Exam:
This requirement is met through the submission of program notes. Students should submit a final copy of their proposed notes to each faculty member no later than the recital permission hearing.
Upper Divisional Examination:
See the JSoM bulletin for general policies regarding the UDE. Undergraduate organ majors generally play the Upper Divisional Examination at the conclusion of the fourth semester of degree study. It consists of twenty minutes of repertoire, with one piece played from memory. The works chosen should represent the Baroque period and at least one other contrasting period and style.
Recital Policies:
See the JSoM bulletin for general policies regarding recitals.
Memory Requirements: BM, MM and PD students are encouraged, but not required, to perform at least one piece from memory on each degree recital. Doctoral students must play a total of 40-45minutes of memorized music during the cycle of the three required doctoral recitals. This may be achieved by performing one entire recital from memory or split among the three recitals.
Hearings: BM, MM and PD students play a thirty-minute recital permission hearing at least 2 weeks prior to their desired recital date. Students should be prepared to play any work in its entirety, though the faculty may wish to hear only excerpts from any, or all, of the recital repertoire. DM students do not play hearings.
Scheduling: Recitals are scheduled according to general policies distributed by the Recital Scheduling Office. The Department Chair will work with student recitalists, faculty, and Scheduling to reserve acceptable Auer Hall recital dates in advance of every semester. Those performing at other venues (Alumni Hall or local church) should work with their applied teacher and other faculty to choose a recital date that works at the intended venue. Once a date has been secured students must complete online recital scheduling details, such as submitting the program.
Recital Attire: Men: tuxedo, suit or formal coat and tie. Women: formal dress or trouser suit, either of which provide suitable coverage for reaching the top manual with grace and modesty.
Length: See the JSoM Bulletin for these requirements.
Encores and Program Notes: The department wishes to make a distinction between the formality appropriate for a degree recital and the more casual, less academic, approach that one might take when playing a recital for the general community or one’s home church. For this reason, encores are not allowed at a degree recital and written program notes, rather than verbal, are appropriate. All program notes must be approved by the student’s instructor no later than two weeks prior to the recital.
Department Recital Attendance: Recitals by your peers, faculty and guest artists are a vital part of mastering your instrument. They offer each of you the opportunity to hear new music or gain new insights into music that you already know, and they provide a venue for you to further your listening skills. Your attendance also offers the performer important peer support as each of you learns to perform in public. Therefore, attendance at all recitals is expected and will be taken into consideration by your teacher when grading your applied organ or studio class work. Conflicts with the events listed here should be discussed with your teacher who may suggest you attempt to hear a dress rehearsal or listen to a recording in lieu of attendance on the day.
Special Projects such as
Organic Voices and the Liturgical Repertoire Project:
The organ faculty design annual projects that further prepare you for your vocation. These common experiences not only expand one’s musical horizons but build esprit de corps, as faculty and students work on common goals that lead to public performance. Given the important nature of these activities they are a mandatory part of applied study for all students enrolled in Q400 or Q900.
Any questions? Ask the department chair Jfishell@indiana.edu