Current Students
The purposes of these pages is to keep Albion College Music Majors informed and up to date with policies and procedures that have a direct impact on the success of our students. This site is an invaluable resource for our majors as they prepare for juries, recitals, apply for scholarships within the department, and for preparing for their career beyond Albion College.
Use the links below to learn more about the specific aspects of being a Music Major at Albion College.
Music Department Handbook
The Music Department Handbook is the survival guide of the Albion College Music Major. In it you will find all the departmental policies and procedures for virtually everything a major will need to know. Should students not find the answers to their specific questions, they are encouraged to speak with the chair person or any other full-time faculty member.
End of Semester Juries
Who has to do a Jury?
All music majors studying applied lessons are expected to perform a jury at the end of each semester that they take lessons. Non-majors are not required to perform a jury but may opt to do so after consultation with their applied teacher.
What is a Jury?
The “jury” is the equivalent of a final exam and is a venue for students studying privately to perform in front of members of the Music Department Faculty.
What do I have to do in a Jury?
- The jury traditionally consists of (1) a prepared solo with piano accompaniment, or piano solo(s), as well as (2) major and minor scales performed from memory. Students should consult with their studio teacher to determine what scales are expected of them during each semester.
- Note that the Sophomore Jury is slightly different, and its requirements are outlined below.
- ALL students performing a jury are required to complete a Repertoire Sheet as well as a Jury Form every semester, and make ample copies for the number of Music Department faculty sitting in the jury.
Is the Jury graded?
- The jury is considered the final exam for a student’s lessons and is therefore graded. The jury consists of 15% of a student’s overall grade for lessons, and the jury grade is given only by the student’s studio teacher.
- Additionally, the other members of the Music Department faculty in attendance will fill out Jury Forms that offer helpful comments and criticisms designed to improve a student’s solo performance ability. However, only your studio teacher gives you a grade for the jury.
Why do we have Juries?
The jury is required as part of the Music Department’s NASM certification. But beyond that, the jury serves as an opportunity for students to experience performing in a solo setting in front of an audience. This experience is one which, especially if a student is a music major, will occur often throughout a musician’s career and must be practiced.
Sophomore Jury
At the end of a 12.5-unit Music Major’s third semester of study (usually Fall semester, Sophomore year), the student is expected to perform a Sophomore Jury. This jury is more in-depth than the regular jury and consists of an interview in addition to the student’s usual performance. Sophomore Juries are also completed at the end of the semester but are scheduled separately from the regular juries. See the Music Department Handbook for more information. Note: 8 unit majors are not required to do a sophomore jury, but do have to complete the standard end-of-semester jury.
Performance Expectations for Sophomore Jury
Piano
Please contact Dr. David Abbott ([email protected]) regarding the requirements for the Sophomore Jury for piano majors.
Voice
Three songs/arias (with at least two foreign language selections) from memory. Students should perform repertoire which clearly demonstrates technical ability and solid musicianship.
Strings
- 1 – Solo demonstrating technical ability
- 1 – Solo demonstrating lyrical ability
- All major and minor scales from memory
- Note: One sonata or concerto with contrasting movements is acceptable.
- Consult with your studio teacher to determine repertoire well in advance.
Winds and Brass
- 1 – Solo demonstrating technical ability
- 1 – Solo demonstrating lyrical ability
- All major and minor scales from memory
- Note: One sonata or concerto with contrasting movements is acceptable.
- Consult with you studio teacher to determine repertoire well in advance.
Percussion
- Mallet Percussion
- 1 – 2 mallet keyboard solo or orchestral excerpts,
- 1 – 4 mallet keyboard solo, and
- All major and minor scales/arpeggios and standard rudiments from memory (to be selected at sophomore jury)
- Snare Drum
- 1 – Rudimental snare drum etude, and
- 1 – Orchestral snare drum etude or orchestral excerpts
- Timpani
- 1 – long roll timpani etude or minimum demonstration of tuning ability and tone production
- Consult with your studio teacher to determine repertoire well in advance.
Jury Forms
All students taking lessons at Albion College are expected to perform a jury at the end of each semester. As part of that jury, students must complete a jury performance evaluation form and repertoire sheet that is to be signed by their studio teacher. Below you will find jury sheets and repertoire sheets for all applied lessons.
- Repertoire Sheet – For all applied lesson students
- Keyboard Jury Form – For piano and organ students only
- Vocal Jury Form – For voice students only
- Strings, and Percussion Jury Form – For strings (including guitar), & percussion students only
- Woodwinds and Brass Jury Form – For all Woodwind and Brass students
Recital Forms
12.5-unit Music Majors are required, as part of their private study, to perform a Senior Recital in their 4th year as a major. See the Music Department Handbook for details concerning length, repertoire, logistics, et al.
8-unit Music Majors are encouraged, but not required, to perform a senior recital. In addition, 12.5-unit juniors are also encouraged to perform on recitals.
Scholarships and Applications
Koether Scholarship
The Helen Sue Koether Memorial Music Scholarship was established by her husband, Bernard A. Koether, ’29, in 1987. The monetary prize is presented annually to 1-3 sophomore or junior music students who excel in music. The recipients are selected by the music faculty. The award is presented at the Honors Convocation and students’ names are engraved upon a plaque displayed in the Music Department. Deadlines for the Koether and other scholarships are posted downstairs in Goodrich Chapel.
Koether Memorial Scholarship Criteria and Guidelines Koether Memorial Scholarship Application
Concerto Competition and Application Form
Each year the Albion College Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Dr. James Ball, holds a concerto competition open to all Albion College musicians. The deadline for applications will be posted downstairs in Goodrich Chapel. Requirements for the competition can be found in the Music Department Handbook. You can download an application by clicking on the link below, or contacting the Music Department secretary. For more information about the Concerto Competition, contact Dr. James Ball.
Musician Health and Safety
The Music Department places a strong emphasis on musician health and safety. Students, as well as faculty and staff, rely upon their hearing, vision, and general physical health to produce the highest quality music possible. To this end, the Music Department has adopted the following statement regarding health and safety of all musicians participating in our ensembles and other academic courses:
“Performers need to learn about health and safety issues in order to perform at a high level throughout their lives, and are expected to take steps to maintain best performance health throughout this course. For more information about physical health and hearing safety for performers, please consult the Student Handbook.”
Additionally, below is a select list of web-based resources addressing general and specific issues related to the topic of musician health and safety (check back regularly as the list is frequently updated). The Music Department also has on file many hard copy documents available for perusal and/or photocopying pertaining to the same topic. If a student is experiencing difficulty with a particular issue related to health and safety, the Music Department strongly recommends the student schedule an appointment with their primary care physician, and/or campus health services.
General
- Performing Arts Medicine Association, PAMA (website)
- The Complete Guide to the Alexander Technique (Alexander Technique website)
- Musical America Sepcial Reports – Musicians and their Healthcare, June 2012 (PDF)
- Musician’s Way (website)
- The American Tinnitis Association (website)
- Musicians and Injuries (website/resource)
- Musicians Health – Dr. Timothy Jameson (website)
- Hearing Health Matters – Hearing Loss Prevention for Musicians (website)
- Stress – How to Control the Body’s Responses (PDF)
Brass Musicians
- trumpetdoctors.org (website)
Woodwind Musicians
Percussion Musicians
Vocal Musicians
String Musicians
Keyboard Musicians
- pianomap.com (website)