Approved 4-18-2016 

Applied Music Competencies 

Each Degree has levels of study (100, 200, 300, 400). After a minimum of two semesters of study at each level, students must pass an exit competency in order to progress to the next level. If the student does not successfully meet the exit competency, he or she will be held at the current level.  

For exit competencies specific to each degree, instrument and voice, refer to the "Applied Music Exit Competencies" for each applied music area (available in the Department of Music office or from the applied instructor and provided in the applied syllabus).  

Applied Jury Procedures 

All music majors and students wishing to advance in course level will be required to take a ten-(10) minute applied exam (jury) for each hour of credit earned up to a twenty-(20) minute limit. Applied exams will be scheduled at the end of the term. Each member of the area faculty, including part-time faculty, will write a criticism of the student's performance and will give a grade (see scale). The final grade for applied music will be determined in the following manner:  

1. Prior to the jury exam, the applied teacher will assign a letter grade for the semester's work.  
2. Immediately prior to the jury exam, the applied teacher may offer clarification of the assigned lesson grade.  
3. At the end of a student's performance, the jury will assign a letter grade based upon an average of the jury members' grades and record it in the student's permanent record.  
4. The final applied music grade will be determined by the applied teacher and recorded on the student's permanent record. This grade may be the same as the teacher's grade or one letter grade higher or lower, in the direction of the jury grade.  

Voice students will sing two songs/arias selected (one by student and one by jury) from four (4) songs/arias (four (4) for each hour of credit or equivalent), and instrumental students will play a prepared solo(s) or etude(s). Wind and percussion students may also perform selections from the student's repertoire sheet chosen by a jury member other than the student's teacher. Each semester, the instrumental students will play scales or scale routines (percussionists may substitute appropriate material chosen by his/her instructor) and sight read a short selection. Keyboard students will prepare two selections, and scales and/or other exercises at the end of each course level. Prior to jury exams, teachers or students will list on the student's Music Performance Studies Repertoire Report material covered in the semester.  

All students who present required solo recitals will be exempt from applied exams for the term in which the recital is given. A minimum of three faculty members, including the student's instructor, must hear and approve recitals at least two weeks prior to scheduled performance. For BM and BME degree recitals the recital committee will grade the recital performance. BA degree recitals will be graded by the applied instructor and/or a committee. For Bachelor of Music candidates, the composite recital grade will become the final course grade for Junior or Senior Recital (MU-300 and MU-400, respectively). For all recitals, the composite recital grade will become part of the applied lesson grade in the same manner as the final exam grade outlined above for regular jury exams.  

A student may, at any time, be denied advancement to the next course level by a decision of the jury. A Sophomore Review Exam is required of all music majors wishing to advance to junior-level standing in applied music and will normally be given at the completion of four semesters of lessons. The applied music portion of this exam given during the regular jury time may be fifteen minutes in duration and will include:  

1. Prepared repertoire, which includes various musical styles. 
2. Sight-reading chosen by the student's applied instructor (instrumental only). 
3. Oral questions concerned with the performed repertoire and a general knowledge of the performing medium.  
4. Scales and arpeggios as required by competency level (instrumental only). 

90 -100% = A 
80-89% = B 
70-79% = C 
60-69% = D 
59 & below = F  

(.5 or above will be rounded up)

All students wishing to participate in any music ensemble must audition at the beginning of the semester. 

Auditions are held at the beginning of both the Fall and Spring semesters for the Wind Symphony.  Materials for those auditions are normally released one month prior to the audition date.  

Auditions for the Show Band are held at the beginning of the Fall semester.  Only members of the University Marching Band are considered for positions in the Show Band.  

Auditions for the Southeast Symphony Orchestra are held at the beginning of the fall semester. Studio Jazz auditions are held during the first class meeting time, 2:30 on Tuesday afternoon in CAC155. Auditions consist of major and minor scales, chromatic scale, prepared exercise(s), as well as sightreading.  

Auditions for Choral Ensembles are held at the beginning of Fall Semester. Individual auditions may be considered at the beginning of Spring Semester, at the discretion of the director.  

At the conclusion of auditions, lists of personnel for each ensemble will be posted. 

More about auditions.

Updated and Approved: Fall 2024

The Major ensembles of the Music Department are as follows:  

MU346: Drumline and Front Ensemble (Marching Band for percussionists, open with instructor permission) 
MU384: Guitar Ensemble (required of guitar majors, open with instructor permission)  
MU386: Marching Band (open with instructor permission) 
MU387: Jazz Band (Studio Band by audition, Lab Band is open with instructor permission) 
MU389: Choral Union (open)  
MU394: University Choir (by audition)  
MU390: Wind Symphony (by audition)  
MU391: Concert Band (Open with instructor permission)
MU392: Orchestra (by audition, and required of string majors) 

Department Ensembles Webpage 

Requirements by Degree 

• BA: minimum of five (5) semesters of major ensembles. 
• BME: minimum of seven (7) semesters of major ensembles. 
• BM (orchestral strings, winds, percussion, and vocal): minimum of eight (8) semesters of major ensembles, plus MU378 or equivalent as required by degree (see below).   

Ensemble participation guidelines:  

Each music major and degree plan requires a combination of major and chamber ensembles.  Specific area requirements can be found below. Ensemble placements are always at the discretion of applied faculty and ensemble directors.  

• Students are required to participate in an ensemble appropriate to their applied major performance area.    

• Students on Scholarship may be required to participate in ensembles beyond the semesters reflected in the policy, as per their unique scholarship agreement.   

• Only one major ensemble per semester is counted toward the degree requirements (even if the student is in multiple ensembles each semester, e.g., marching band, wind symphony, orchestra).   

• For each required semester of ensemble participation, each student will audition for and participate in ensembles as determined by the ensemble directors and as required on scholarship contracts.    

Information by area: 

Voice Majors are required to participate in major vocal ensembles.   

BM Voice Majors are required to take two (2) semesters of MU378 or Opera Workshop to satisfy the chamber music requirement.  

All Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Majors (BA, BM, and BME) must participate in at least one major ensemble (Marching Band, Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra, or Jazz Band) for each of their 5 (BA), 7 (BME) or 8 (BM) semesters of residence at SEMO. Students may be assigned to more than one ensemble per semester, based upon auditions, scholarship requirements, and ensemble needs, as stated above.  

BME Woodwind, Brass, and Percussion Majors must participate in Marching Band for 2 semesters. 

Orchestral Strings Majors are required to participate in the University Orchestra for each of their 5 (BA), 7 (BME), or 8 (BM) semesters of residence at SEMO. 

BME String Majors are NOT required to participate in the Marching Band but may choose to fulfill that credit hour requirement with the Marching Band. If a string student chooses not to be in the Marching Band, they must enroll in 1cr Applied Lessons on a secondary string instrument for two (2) semesters or they may choose to participate on a secondary instrument/voice in an ensemble for two (2) semesters to fulfill the marching band credit hours. A course substitution will be completed by the Department Chair if any of these options are chosen. ME400, Marching Band Techniques, is required of all Instrumental BME majors. 

All BM Instrumental Majors must take at least two (2) semesters of MU378, Chamber Music.  

BM Piano Majors  

All piano students are required to participate in major ensembles on piano. BM piano majors must take ten (10) credits on their primary instrument: four credits of major ensemble and six credits of chamber music/accompanying, (MU378) to be overseen by their applied instructor. Students enrolled in the piano section of MU378 will meet with piano faculty at or before the start of the semester to determine the assignment or combination of assignments that fulfill the credit hour. Piano faculty will determine major ensemble placements for piano students. The Department Chair will provide a waiver for two credits of MU378 to substitute for major ensemble on the degree works.

BME Piano (instrumental track) Majors: minimum of seven (7) semesters of ensembles, including at least two (2) semesters in a major ensemble, jazz ensemble, or opera workshop, on piano and at least one (1) semester on a secondary voice/instrument.

BME Piano (vocal track) Majors: seven (7) semesters of ensembles, including at least two semesters of singing in major vocal ensembles.  

BA Piano Majors:Five (5) semesters of major ensembles or chamber music/accompanying on piano.  

BM Guitar Majors:Eight (8) semestersof ensembles on guitar, 2 semesters of MU378 on guitar. 

BME Guitar Majors: Seven (7) semesters of ensembles of guitar.  

BA Guitar Majors: Six (6) semesters of any ensemble on guitar.

BA MCT: Five (5) semesters of instrumental or vocal ensemble, to include MU378 chamber music. This is intended for students whose primary instrument may be technology-based and the need for a New Music Ensemble is present. The Department Chair will provide a waiver to substitute M378 for large ensembles if needed.

Foreign language requirements listed in the course bulletin must be satisfied as follows, by area and degree:  

BM Vocal: six (6) credit hours of French or German 
BM Instrumental: six (6) credit hours of foreign language (not required to be the same language) 

The Department of Music strives to provide students, faculty, and staff with pertinent information regarding health-related concerns.  The following links provide information on musculoskeletal issues, hearing issues, and vocal health issues.   

Musculoskeletal Issues: 

• Musicians and the Alexander Technique 
• Preventing Musculoskeletal Injury (MSI) for Musicians and Dancers
• Understanding Repetitive Stress Injuries for Musicians, by Donn LeVie, Jr.

Hearing Issues: 

• Hearing Conservation for Musicians 
• Decibel (Loudness) Comparison Chart 
• Hearing Loss in the Orchestra

Vocal Health Issues: 

• Classroom Acoustics 
• National Center for Voice and Speech: Vocal Health  
• Teaching and Voice Use

A limited number of concert and marching instruments are available for rental from the Department of Music. The rental fee is $50 per semester. The student must sign a legally-binding rental agreement. The rental agreement will list the type of instrument, serial number, university number, and accessories that are part of the agreement.  The rental fee covers the cleaning, maintenance, and normal wear and tear of the instrument.  In the event an instrument is damaged, the student will be assessed the cost of repairs. If the instrument is lost or stolen, the student is liable up to the replacement cost of the instrument. The cost of repair or replacement of a university-owned instrument will be billed directly to the student's account.  

Instruments must be returned to the instrument issue office on or before the Thursday of finals week each semester, or a student may renew the rental contract for the following semester. If a student fails to renew the contract or return the instrument on the due date, he/she will be assessed the replacement price of the instrument through the Cashier's Office.  

If two students "share" the same instrument, as is sometimes the case, both students must sign the rental agreement and are equally liable in the event of damage or theft.   

Often a student will need to rent a special instrument (e.g. alto flute, "A" clarinet, bass clarinet) for unusual repertoire requirements in various ensembles. In this case, the rental fee will be an additional $25.  

All percussion majors and drum line members will be accessed a $50 per semester instrument maintenance user fee.  

Note: Since applied music courses are not offered during the summer semester, instruments are available for rental during summer vacation months on a case by case basis. YOU MUST RECEIVE SPECIAL PERMISSION AS A PHYSICAL UNIVERSITY INVENTORY IS CONDUCTED EACH SUMMER. If permission is granted, a $50 fee will be charged to your student account.  

University-owned instruments are available for rental from Dr. Shane Mizicko or the Southeast Student Equipment Manager. 

Lockers for large and small instrument storage are available for rental from. Lockers are available at the River Campus in the Cultural Arts Center, room 154.  

The rental price is $25 per semester. Rental fees are non-refundable and are charged directly to the student account. Locks are provided for each locker and personal locks are not permitted.  

Lockers must be renewed for the following semester or cleaned out on or before the Thursday of finals week each semester. Failure to renew or clean out the locker by the due date will result in the removal of the contents of the locker. 

The Department of Music follows University policy with regard to advising practices. 

It is the student’s responsibility to follow through with the actual registration of classes and to follow the sequence of courses as listed in the Departmental Sequence sheets.  

All music majors are assigned an advisor based up their program of study: 

• BM students are advised by the applied teacher. 
• BME students are advised by music education faculty and/or applied faculty. 
• If you are a double major in the BM and BME – you should go to your BME advising session first, and then follow up with a BM advising as above.  
• BA students are advised by Dr. Fruehwald or applied teacher; your chosen minor is advised by the department of origin.  

All students should prepare and bring the following to your advising session: 

1. an updated copy of your degree audit report. Log into the portal and follow these steps:  
   1. Choose the “Student” tab 
   2. Find “Bookmarks Plus” and choose Degree Works Student 
   3. Your degree audit should automatically load 
2. a completed online registration worksheet 

To look up fall courses access the “Look Up Classes” feature in the portal and begin a tentative schedule before you come in to discuss your final schedule: 

1. Sign in to portal using SE Key 
2. Choose: Student Tab  
3. Choose: Click here to open My Southeast Self-Service  
4. Choose: Click on this link to access your self-service page….  
5. Choose: Student 
6. Click on Registration 
7. Choose: Look Up Classes; Select correct term from drop down box 

The Department of Music offers many opportunities for you to interact with fellow music students to share ideas, make professional contacts and to obtain information about careers in your field.  

College National Association For Music Educators (CNAfME) 

This is a professional organization for music education majors. Members of this organization have the opportunity to attend discussion panels featuring local music educators and are able to attend the annual Missouri Music Educators Association convention.  

Faculty Advisor for CNAfME:  

Dr. Elizabeth McFarland  
Office phone: (573) 651-2398  
Office location: River Campus Seminary 354  
Email: emcfarland@semo.edu 

Sigma Alpha Iota/Phi Mu Alpha 

These are, respectively, the women's and men's sorority and fraternity for students involved in music. Both organizations sponsor activities and performance opportunities for students. Phi Mu Alpha hosts the annual Clark Terry Jazz Festival, which includes a concert with jazz trumpet legend Clark Terry.  
 
Faculty Advisor for Sigma Alpha Iota: 
Shane Mizicko 
Office phone: (573) 651-2343  
Office location: River Campus Seminary 260 
Email: smizicko@semo.edu 

Financial Advisor for Sigma Alpha Iota: 
Leslie Jones 
Office phone: (573) 651-2339 
Office location River Campus Seminary 359 
Email: ljones@semo.edu  

Faculty Advisor for Phi Mu Alpha:  
Tim Schmidt  
Office phone: (573) 651-2428 
Office location: River Campus Seminary 358  
Email: tschmidt@semo.edu 

Student American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) 

This is a professional association for future choral directors and educators with interests in choral music.  Members of this organization have opportunities to attend local, regional, and national conferences and clinics and volunteer services for choral festivals  

Faculty Advisor for ACDA:
Dr. Barb Lamont 
Office phone:  (573) 651-2342 
Office: RCC259A  
Email  blamont@semo.edu 
acda.org

Approved 4-18-2016 

All music majors and transfer students on all degree programs will be required to take the Piano Proficiency examination upon admission to the program. Those students who do not pass the Piano Proficiency at that time will be placed in Functional Piano I, II, III, or IV as determined by their performance on the examination.  

All music majors on all degree programs are expected to pass the Piano Proficiency examination prior to the Sophomore Review.  

Transfer students will be granted up to four semesters in which to pass the examination. However, transfer music education majors must pass the Piano Proficiency to be eligible to student teach. B.A. students who do not pass the Piano Proficiency may not elect 300-level applied music; B.M.E. students who do not pass the Piano Proficiency are not allowed to register for Block III courses, and B.M. students who do not pass the Proficiency may not give the Junior Recital.  Music majors will be allowed to take the Piano Proficiency examination at any time prior to the Sophomore Review.  

Should a student not pass the examination, a second examination may be scheduled at the discretion of the music faculty. Should a student not pass the second examination, third and subsequent examinations may be scheduled after a full semester has elapsed between examinations. The Piano Proficiency examination may be administered at any time at the mutual convenience of the keyboard faculty and the student. Determination of piano proficiency will be made by the keyboard faculty.  

PIANO PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS 

SCALES: Major (two octaves) with hands together; in eighth notes. mm = 80 Minor (harmonic form only) with separate hands; in eighth notes. mm =80, up to four flats and sharps  

PROGRESSIONS: Major and minor forms in all keys as follows: I, IV, ii, V7, I and letter equivalents. Format: Three notes in the RH, bass line in the LH or 3-note chords in LH (as in "chording" requirement).  

COMPOSITIONS: One approved selection chosen by the student. Also, "The Star Spangled Banner" and "America."  

CHORDING: One simple melody to be harmonized at sight. Format: Either (A) melody in the RH, three-note chords - root position and/or inversions - in the LH, or (B) chords in the RH, bass root in the LH (students should also be prepared to harmonize a major scale up to four sharps or flats).  

OPEN SCORE: One selection chosen by the faculty. Students will be expected to perform a minimum combination of any two voices from an SATB texture.  

TRANSPOSITION: Students will be expected to play and transpose up or down one whole tone the following songs: “Happy Birthday”, “Home on the Range”, and “On Top of Old Smokey.”  

SIGHT READING: One section chosen by the faculty. Expected competency level: Bastien, Piano Literature, Level I, easier selections. 

For courses except those listed below, the Department of Music follows University policy regarding repeating courses, found in the undergraduate bulletin:  

REPEATED COURSES (p. 36 – Undergraduate Bulletin) 

Students who have received a grade below an ‘A’ in a course may repeat the course, provided they have not completed a course for which the repeated course is a prerequisite. When a course is repeated, the first grade remains on the permanent record, but only the last grade is used in computing the grade point average. Students must have the permission of the Registrar to repeat a course.   

Exceptions 

For all music majors: MM100 Music Fundamentals may only be repeated once. If not successfully passed with a ‘C’ after the second attempt, the student will be removed from the music program. Notification of removal will occur within 2 weeks after the end of the semester.

For music education majors: Professional education courses may only be repeated once. If not successfully passed with a ‘C’ after the second attempt the student will be removed from the Teacher Preparation Program (TPP). ME222 must be passed with a minimum grade of ‘B.’  

Appeals: In the case of extenuating circumstances, students may appeal removal from a program. For MM100, the student must direct the appeal to the Department Chair within two weeks of receiving the notice of program removal. For professional education courses, the student must direct the appeal to the Associate Dean of the College of Education, Health, and Human Studies. Appeals must be made within 10 days of dismissal from the TPP. 

Practice rooms are available to students who are enrolled in either applied music or music ensembles. All rooms will be locked and entry can only be gained through the use of a practice room access card issued by Beverly Delph, administrative assistant in the Department of Music. There will be one room for piano majors only, one organ practice room, and two rooms set aside for percussion practice.  

Practice rooms are not available during winter break. 

Access cards are available through Beverly Delph in room 254 of the seminary building on the River Campus for a fee of $5 which is charged to the student account. Cards which are lost will be replaced for an additional $5 fee.  

Practice rooms in Brandt Music Hall on the Main Campus are unlocked, however an ‘After Hours’ pass is needed to access the building after 8:00 pm Monday-Friday and on weekends.  An ‘After Hours’ pass may be obtained from Beverly Delph or from an ensemble director.   

NOTE: ABSOLUTELY NO FOOD OR DRINK IS PERMITTED IN ANY PRACTICE ROOM! 

Approved 10-10-89  

The following course prefixes will be employed for courses offered in and developed by the Department of Music:  

MM: Music Theory and Musicianship  
MH: Music History and Music Literature  
MP: Applied Music  
ME: Music Education and Techniques  
MU: Non degree-specific music courses, General Education (lower division) courses, music electives and ensembles  
UI: Interdisciplinary General Education/Music courses (upper division) 

Approved 4-18-2016 

All music majors on all degree programs are required to present a recital during their residency. Recital literature is subject to approval by the supervising applied faculty member.  The recital requirement will be met as follows:  

BA: performance of one major work or a collection of works of 12-15 minutes in duration for the applied instrument or voice during the sixth semester in residence or during the second semester of applied music study at the 300 level. Students should enroll in MP 001 the semester of the recital.  

BME: performance of representative solo literature for the applied instrument or voice of 30 minutes in duration during the seventh semester in residence or during the semester of applied music study at the 400 level to be performed in an approved public setting.  

Option 1: BME majors may present a full, public recital (45-60 minutes of solo literature and/or chamber literature, (chamber literature, in which the recitalist is the principal or lead performer, should not to exceed 15 minutes).   

Option 2: BME majors may present a recital consisting of 25-30 minutes of solo literature. (with another student, when possible).  

BM (Performance):   

Junior Recital - performance of representative solo literature for the applied instrument or voice of 25-30 minutes in duration during the sixth semester in residence or during the second semester of applied music study at the 300 level to be performed in an approved public setting.  The student must enroll for MU300 (Junior Recital).   (When possible, Junior recitals should be combined with other recitals)  

Senior Recital - performance of a full, public recital of representative solo repertoire for the applied instrument or voice of 45-60 minutes in duration in an approved public setting during the eighth semester in residence or during the second semester of applied music study at the 400 level. The students must enroll in MU400 (Senior Recital)  Chamber music, not to exceed 15 minutes of performing time, may be included in the recital. However, the recitalist must be a principal or lead performer in any chamber ensemble.   

BM (Composition): presentation of original compositions in a variety of media of 45-60 minutes duration during the eighth semester in residence or during the second semester of applied music composition study at the 400 level in an approved public setting. The composer must perform in at least one of the compositions presented in the recital.  The performance must be previewed and approved by the applied music instructor.   

SCHEDULING OF RECITALS:  Students may not schedule degree recitals in the final week of classes of the semester or in the weekend prior to final exams.  No recitals or concerts are scheduled during the week of final exams.  All recitals must be scheduled in the Music Office with the approval of the Music Departmental Calendar Chair.  

PRINTED RECITAL PROGRAMS:  Printed recital programs will be prepared in the departmental office at no charge to the student.  Titles of works and translations must be received in the office no later than one week prior to the recital. A standard departmental cover will be used, and original art work for the cover is not allowed.  Since the program is an official university document, the program and cover format must conform to departmental guidelines and must be approved by the Chairperson of the Department of Music.  There are no exceptions to this rule. 

All music majors on all degree programs must register for MU110 (Recitals and Concerts) in each semester of residence until minimum degree requirements are completed. All music majors are required to attend a minimum of eight (8) departmentally sanctioned musical performances and/or activities in each semester. Students who do not meet this requirement each semester will have their diplomas withheld until this requirement is met. The requirement for each degree is as follows:  

BA: a minimum of six (6) semesters 
BME: a minimum of seven (7) semesters 
BM: a minimum of eight (8) semesters 

River Campus Building Hours 

Monday – Friday 7 a.m. – 10 p.m. 
Saturday/Sunday CLOSED (Accessible with key card)  

Brandt Music Hall Hours  

Monday – Friday 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.  
Saturday/Sunday CLOSED - (Admittance allowed by calling DPS (573) 651-2215 and presenting a valid University ID)  

NOTE: These hours may be modified during summer months. There will be no special permission to remain in the building past the 12:00 a.m. "student" closing hour 

Approved 4-18-2016 

The purposes of a sophomore review are as follows: 

• to provide students with a standard against which to measure themselves and their training as appropriate to anticipated careers in music and/or continuation in a music major  
• to enable programmatic faculty to observe students in a formal setting in order to evaluate student potential for successful completion of a music degree program  
• to provide students with a specifically defined set of competencies and expectations to be demonstrated at the conclusion of the lower division undergraduate educational experience  
• to assess the effectiveness of the music faculty and the music curriculum in enabling students to develop defined skills and competencies appropriate to the lower division undergraduate experience in music  
• to examine the ability of students to make connections among the music subdisciplines of theory, history, and performance  
• to assess the effectiveness of the music faculty and the music curriculum in enabling students to make connections among the sub-disciplines of theory, history, and performance  

Music majors wishing to advance to junior level (upper division) standing must stand for and complete successfully ALL PARTS of the Sophomore Review. To be eligible for consideration for review, students must have a minimum music GPA of 2.5 and credit hours sufficient for advancement to junior standing. The Sophomore Review will include:  

1. an applied music performance jury consisting of  
2. a six-(6) to seven-(7) minute performance of repertoire demonstrating the defined competencies appropriate to advancement to upper division status, 
3. a performance of scales and arpeggios in a format appropriate to the performance medium (instrumental only), and  
4. sight-reading (instrumental only) 
5. a series of questions concerning the performed repertoire and basic performance pedagogy and practice to be answered in oral or written format,  
6. an assessment of student progress to date as recorded in the permanent record, and an interview with a committee of Area Coordinators.  
7. an interview with the Sophomore Review Committee consisting of: The Department Chair, the student's applied instructor and selected faculty. The Sophomore Review will be scheduled during the latter part of the week of final examinations.  

Results of 1) and 2) above will be forwarded to the Department Chair and will be reviewed along with 3) and 4) above. The Sophomore Review Committee will determine the advancement of students to junior standing. The department chair, on behalf of the committee, will notify all students in writing of the committee's decision. Students not approved for advancement to junior standing may petition the Music Department Chair in writing for subsequent review the following semester. Students requesting subsequent review have the option to re-enroll in lower division courses according to the stipulations contained in the current University Bulletin.  

NOTE: Transfer students who expect to begin at junior-level standing must be examined, by special arrangement, before their initial enrollment at Southeast Missouri State University. Those denied junior standing may petition the Music Chair in writing for subsequent review.   

Collaborative Pianist Guidelines 

Collaborative Pianist Guidelines, effective Fall 2024:

The Department of Music provides collaborative pianists for students for all degree recitals.

According to the department handbook, the duration of the MUSIC performed on a student's recital (not counting staging, entrances, exits, and time backstage) is to be as follows: 

• B.A.: 12-15 minutes
• B.M.E.: 25-30 minutes
• B.M. junior: 25-30 minutes
• B.M. senior: 45-60 minutes

As recital repertoire is chosen for the student's recital, it is the student's obligation to ensure that these time requirements are met. Students should work closely with their applied instructor to determine appropriate repertoire for the recital carefully considering music that is pedagogically appropriate and diverse while being mindful of the time commitment for collaborative pianists.

 All students needing to schedule a degree recital will do so by the end of the previous semester with Mr. Yount's supervision as instructor of record for recital credits. By the end of the previous semester, the student will know the date of the degree recital and the repertoire to be performed. After all dates have been scheduled, available accompanists will confer and divide up recital accompanying assignments as they deem appropriate (considering repertoire, the calendar dates, Mr. Yount's load, etc.) Students will then be notified which accompanists have been assigned to which recitals. Accompanists’ decisions are final.

Accompanists may include Matt Yount, Barb Lamont, Rachael Rule, or approved piano majors taking chamber credit (MU378) coached by Mr. Yount as instructor of record and assigned to the student's recital as appropriate. Any recital accompanied by Mr. Yount will be counted towards his faculty load and he will offer students weekly lesson/rehearsal time comparable to that of an applied lesson credit. Any other faculty member accompanying a degree recital will do so in addition to his/her faculty load and will be compensated by the Department of Music.

For Department-assigned accompanists, the maximum amount of time granted for each type of performance is given below. Common Hour recitals or Studio Masterclasses may be agreed upon pending the accompanist's availability and willingness. The times can be broken up as needed. For instance, a BME student may schedule seven 30-minute rehearsals, two common-hour performances, and a one-hour dress rehearsal, plus the hearing and recital. 

• BA Recital: 5.5 hours
• BME Recital: 7.5 hours 
• BM Junior Recital: 7.5 hours 
• BM Senior Recital: 11.5 hours

Compensation for rehearsal time needed beyond the aforementioned allotment is the responsibility of the student. Students should work closely with their applied instructor to determine when they are prepared to begin rehearsals. Students will schedule at least one rehearsal with the accompanist with the applied instructor present before the performance. In this context, the applied instructor serves as an extra chamber coach, NOT as a studio teacher over-emphasizing the minutiae of voice-, string-, woodwind-, or brass-specific details. 

Students requesting accompanists for performances outside of degree recitals (juries, competitions, graduate school auditions, etc.) will be responsible for finding an accompanist at their own expense or compensating their department-provided accompanist for the additional time involved.

Students must provide scores to their accompanist as soon as accompanists have been assigned. Digital PDFs are preferred and must be scans (not photos from a phone or tablet). Scans from a copying machine or scanner are also preferred. The ARC furnishes a copying machine that will scan scores for free. If the student must give a published hard copy of the score to the accompanist, the student should retain a photocopy or scan of the piano score for personal study.

Before being approved to perform the recital, the student must perform a recital hearing. This will involve performing the recital program in front of a panel of three or four faculty members who will deliberate and vote on whether the recital is prepared well enough to proceed as planned. Recital hearings need to be scheduled approximately two weeks before your recital date, in order to give students time to incorporate any suggestions the committee may make in preparing the performance. In the case that the committee finds that the student is not adequately prepared for your recital, it will most likely be postponed and a second hearing will be scheduled. B.A. students alone are exempt from the recital hearing requirement. 

 A faculty or adjunct accompanist will become a de facto member of the student's recital hearing committee (because they can speak to the rehearsal process and preparation and will be in attendance at the performance anyway). Students are encouraged to invite any faculty member to participate, even faculty members outside their area of study (woodwinds, brass, percussion, keyboard, strings, voice, composition, music education). Instrumentalists should provide copies of their music to the committee members.

Recital hearings are generally recorded so that the product offered to the committee is preserved.

Faculty accompanists reserve the right to determine if any student's absence for a scheduled rehearsal is excusable and if a make-up rehearsal is appropriate. Students must be punctual for rehearsals, warmed up, and ready to begin. They must conduct themselves professionally, part of which requires adequate notice for any rehearsal that must be missed and/or rescheduled.

Any student failing a recital hearing or the recital itself must provide for their accompanist at their own expense for subsequent attempts at the degree recital. 

All students must agree to these terms. Questions about these policies may be directed to the head of the piano area (Mr. Matt Yount, myount@semo.edu) or the department chair (Dr. Nicholas Kenney, nkenney@semo.edu).

1. For admission to any degree program, transfer students will need to present an official transcript to their assigned advisor before they register for courses. Students transferring to Southeast with less than 24 credit hours must attend First STEP Orientation., enroll for UI100 ("Music Makers" section if possible), enroll for CL001 Career Proficiency I and CL002 Career Proficiency II, and meet requirements of the sophomore review process. Students transferring with more than 24 credit hours have the option of attending a Transfer Orientation or meeting one on one with a music faculty advisor. To attend a Transfer Orientation, students must register with New Student Programs: (573) 651-2007.  
2. All transfer students must perform an applied music audition to ascertain competency level. 100- and 200- level applied music courses from other institutions may be accepted as transfer credit, but Southeast Department of Music reserves the right to assess incoming applied competency and place students accordingly.  
3. Transfer students are expected to take the piano proficiency test upon entering Southeast. Those who do not pass must enroll for MU151 (Functional Piano I). B.M.E. candidates are expected to PASS the piano proficiency test upon transferring to Southeast and may not student teach without having passed the test. Transfer students on the B.A. or B.M. degrees may not give the junior recital without having passed the proficiency in piano.   
4. Transfer students with more than 90 credit hours are not required to enroll for WP003 (75 hour writing exam).  
5. Students with an AA degree must enroll for WP003 (75 hour writing exam).  
6. Music Education students with an AA degree must meet the required university courses for state teacher certification (a BS course, a CH, GG or PH course, EN140, EX390, PS103, PY222, SC105, Pedagogy 1-3, OS200, US105 or US107)  
7. Transfer students who have had UI100 waived will also have CL001 and CL002 waived. CL003 Career Proficiency III and CL004 Career Proficiency IV will be required for all transfer students.  
8. MAPP2 is required of all students prior to graduation. Students should register through for MAPP2 through testing services, upon completion of 90 credit hours.