Music Program Handbook
(revised 8-18-2024)
Contents
Introduction
Admission Requirements
Recital Procedures
Program Coordinators
Advising
Degree Program Descriptions
Degree Program Catalog Pages
Piano Proficiency Information
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Juries
Additional Requirements by Concentration and/or Area
Collaborative Pianist Policy
Health and Safety Information
The Music Program at the University of Louisiana Monroe is housed within the School
of Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA), a component of the College of Arts, Education,
and Sciences. The University of Louisiana Monroe is an accredited institutional member
of the National Association of Schools of Music, and offers the Master of Music Education degree, the Bachelor of Musicdegree in Performance (vocal or instrumental), Theory and Composition, Piano Pedagogy, Music Education (vocal or instrumental), and the Bachelor of Arts degree in Music.
GRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
A valid teaching credential, a writing sample, three letters of recommendation, and
successful completion of all admission requirements of the ULM Graduate Schoolare required for admission into the Master of Music Educationprogram. Additionally, at least one year of teaching experience is highly recommended.
If a potential applicant does not have at least one year of teaching experience, they
may contact theM.M.E. Program Coordinator.
UNDERGRADUATE ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS
All students seeking admission to an undergraduate program in music must first meet
general admission requirements to the University of Louisiana Monroe. A student applying for admission as a music
major must successfully complete an entrance audition and a theory placement exam.
The theory placement exam is administered during the PREP orientation program held
during the summer or during the week immediately preceding the first week of classes.
At the time of the admission audition, the prospective student may also audition for
a Talent Grant scholarship for the purpose of participating in a ULM music ensemble.
Transfer students must also successfully complete an entrance audition and a music
theory placement exam.
Contacts for audition information and appointments
For contact information, please see the Personnel Directory.
Choral
Deborah Chandler, Ph.D.
Vocal
Nancy Carey, D.M.A.
Winds/Percussion
Kathryn Irwin, D.M.A.
Allen Parrish, D.M.A.
Piano
Richard Seiler, D.M.A.
Theory/Composition
Mel Mobley, D.M.A.
Music Education
Carlton Kilpatrick III, Ph.D.
Prospective students may also contact the School of Visual and Performing Arts Office
at 318-342-3811 or the appropriate studio faculty member for information. A complete
list of music faculty is available at http://ulm.edu/music/facultystaff.html.
Undergraduate Admission Audition Procedures
All auditions for admission as a music major or minor will be heard by a minimum panel
of the appropriate studio professor and the director of the student’s major performance
area, i.e. band or choral. In cases where the student is interested in theory/composition,
the appropriate professor in that area should be included on the audition panel if
possible.
The Music Program audition form must be used and that form kept on file in the School
of Visual and Performing Arts office for three years following the audition. If the
audition is for talent grant assistance, the director of that performance area should
complete a Talent Grant Acceptance Form, obtain all required signatures, and mail
the form to the student at the earliest possible opportunity. A date should be specified
as a deadline for the student to return the signed form, according to NASM Standards.
Failure to return the form by the deadline is not necessarily a rejection of the offer
and the area director should contact the student to determine if the offer has been
accepted or rejected. The original signed Talent Grant Acceptance Form must be kept
in the School of Visual and Performing Arts Office for a minimum of three years.
Audition Requirements by Area
Brass and Woodwind
All woodwind and brass players wishing to pursue a music degree at ULM are required
to audition for admission and should begin by contacting the School of Visual and
Performing Arts Office, 318-342-3811, or the appropriate applied teacher. The student
should be prepared to schedule a time to visit the campus, meet with the band director
and/or applied teacher, and play an audition. (It is not necessary to do all of these
in one visit.)
Generally, prospective students should be prepared to play:
- all major scales and arpeggios
- chromatic scale
- two solos or etudes in contrasting styles
- sightreading
Piano
Major/harmonic minor scales and arpeggios, parallel motion, 4 octaves. Two memorized
pieces in contrasting style from standard keyboard literature. The following examples
may be used as a guideline:
- Baroque: J.S. Bach - WTC Prelude and Fugue
- Classical: a movement from a sonata by Mozart, Haydn, or Beethoven
- Romantic: a work of Chopin, Schumann, Brahms, Liszt, etc.
- Impressionistic or Contemporary: a work of Debussy, Ravel, Bartok, Prokofiev, etc.
Percussion
(Live or recorded audition acceptable)
Potential students must complete an audition, representing themselves in the areas
listed below. Though the list contains suggested repertoire, the student is not limited
to the repertoire listed. Solos or etudes that show a similar level of technical and
musical achievement may be used in conjunction or in substitution. LMEA All-State
materials are acceptable audition repertoire, however, it is highly suggested that
the student perform the complete etude/selection and not just the All-State bracketed
sections.
- Snare Drum
Perform a concert/orchestral-style etude or solo. A rudimental-style solo may also
be performed in addition to the concert solo/etude.
A selection from the following concert etude books would be appropriate:
- Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
- Intermediate/Advanced Snare Drum Studies by Mitchell Peters
- Douze Etudes pour Caisse-Claire Jacques Delecluse
A selection from the following rudimental etude books would be appropriate:
- The All-American Drummer by Charley Wilcoxon
- Odd Meter Rudimental Etudes by Mitchel Peters
- 14 Modern Contest Solos by John S. Pratt
Selections from the 40 PAS Rudiments and sight-reading will be requested.
- Keyboard Percussion - Marimba, Xylophone, and/or Vibraphone
Perform a two-mallet and/or four-mallet etude or solo.
A selection from the following list would be appropriate:
- Fundamental Studies for Mallets by Garwood Whaley
- Modern School for Xylophone, Marimba and Vibes by Morris Goldenberg
- Masterpieces for Marimba by Thomas McMillian
- Furioso and Valse by Earl Hatch
- Yellow after the Rain by Mitchell Peters
- Ghost Garden by Adam Hopper
- Frogs by Keiko Abe
- Virginia Tate by Paul Smadbeck
Two-mallet sight-reading will be requested.
- Timpani
Potential students should demonstrate a basic knowledge of tuning timpani and perform
a timpani etude or solo.
A selection from the following books would be appropriate:
- Exercises, Etudes and Solos for Timpani by Raynor Carroll
- Modern Method for Timpani by Saul Goodman
- Musical Studies for the Intermediate Timpanist by Garwood Whaley
- The Solo Timpanist by Vic Firth
- Pedal to the Kettle by Kirk Gay
- Drum-set: Optional*
An audition on drum-set is not required but highly encouraged. Potential students
should demonstrate the following basic styles/grooves:
- Rock/Funk
- Jazz/Swing
- Latin/World
Guitar
Prospective guitar majors should be prepared to play:
- Three-note per string major scale with strict alternate picking and also with economy
picking, if using a pick. If playing fingerstyle, alternate i and m on right-hand
(or left, if you play left-handed).
- Two-notes-per-string minor pentatonic scale with alternate picking, alternate i, and
m if you are playing fingerstyle.
- Chromatic scale with alternate picking/i and m.
And, be prepared to:
- Identify each note name on the guitar fretboard (you don't have to name every fret,
just show that you can).
The tempo/speed at which the above four criteria are satisfied does not matter/there
is no specified time limit. The student may choose their tempo.
The student should also submit at least two minutes of repertoire performance. This
can be an excerpt from existing audio, this could be a prepared etude, and this could
also be an original composition. The student is also free to play one minute of two
pieces each.
All of the above (scales, fretboard note names, repertoire) may be submitted as a
video, send the audition video to jfarmer@ulm.edu
Sight Reading
It is strongly recommended that you meet with your instructor well in advance of the
audition date to review supplementary materials tailored to the student's needs, to
prepare for the audition. A student can expect to see a few examples comparable in
difficulty to the rhythmic patterns and etudes found on pages 2-14 of Melodic Rhythms for Guitar by William Leavitt, and all examples on pages 11-15 of Carcassi Classical Method, New Revised Edition by Matteo Carcassi. Students may choose the tempo. It is not necessary to have a
background in reading sheet music, for a motivated guitar student to learn how to
comfortably read to this level in a short amount of time provided that the first four
criteria (3-note-per-string scales, pentatonic scale, chromatic scale, fretboard note
names) are met! If you are an out-of-state or an international student seeking to
audition, or you would rather audition at home then you may arrange a Skype call in
which I will email you a few examples during the call.
Please direct all questions and requests for more information to jfarmer@ulm.edu
Voice Major Audition Requirements
Before being accepted as a music major or minor, a student must successfully complete
an entrance audition and a theory placement examination. The applicant will audition
for the voice faculty and a representative of other areas of study as appropriate.
- Vocal Performance and Vocal Music Education: two (2) selections, one of which must be a classical song in English or a foreign
language. The second piece may be a music theatre selection or another contrasting
classical piece in any language. Pieces must be performed from memory, with piano
accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided.
- Bachelor of Arts of Music: one (1) selection, preferably classical song, or folk song arrangement in English
or another language. Pieces must be performed from memory with piano accompaniment.
- Music Minor or Non-Major Talent Grant: one (1) selection from the classical style or from standard music theatre repertoire.
This piece must be performed from memory, with piano accompaniment. An accompanist
will be provided.
- Video Submissions will be accepted with the above repertoire requirements represented
if travel to ULM for a live audition isn’t possible.
Theory and Composition
An instrumental or vocal audition is required of prospective students interested in
pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in theory and composition.
In addition to the audition, an interview with members of the theory and composition
faculty is required in which the student’s initial knowledge and understanding of
music theory will be explored. The student is encouraged to bring representative samples
of compositions to this interview.
RECITAL PROCEDURES
Requirements
- B.M., Performance: Required to present a Junior (half) and Senior (full) recital. Performance majors
must be enrolled for both applied credit and the appropriate junior (MUSC 3090) or
senior (MUSC 4090) recital course with the studio professor the semester they are
performing a degree recital.
- B.M., Composition: Required to produce a half-recital of original music.
- B.M., Music Education: Required to present a Senior Recital/Project, the requirements of which are to be
determined by the studio instructor. Must be registered for MSED 4053 the semester
of the Senior Recital/Project presentation and must be a minimum of twenty-five minutes
of music.
- B.A., Music: Required to complete a capstone project constructive of their intended career path.
The capstone can be a recital (minimum of 30 mins in length), research project, or
other scholarly activity as approved by the adviser.
- Junior Recitals (both optional and required) and Non-degree Recitals will consist of a minimum of twenty-five minutes of music and senior recitals consist
of a minimum of forty-five minutes of music. Recital repertoire is determined by agreement
of the student and professor. Voice and piano students are required to memorize their
recital music except when participating in a chamber work. Wind, guitar, and percussion
students may also be required to memorize pieces at the discretion of the studio professor.
Scheduling
- Music Performance Majors: Senior Recitals may be scheduled Monday through Thursday at 5:00pm or 7:30pm. Weekend
times may be requested with the approval of the recital committee and the Director
of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
- Music Education Majors: Senior Recitals/Projects may be scheduled Monday through Thursday at 5:00pm or 7:30pm.
Weekend times may be requested with the approval of the recital committee and the
Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
- Bachelor of Arts in Music Majors: Senior Capstone Recitals will be scheduled Tuesday or Thursday during Recital Hour
if time permits, or Monday through Thursday at 5:00pm or 7:30pm. Weekend times may
be requested with the approval of the recital committee and the Director of the School
of Visual and Performing Arts.
- Junior Recitals and Non-degree Recitals:will be scheduled Tuesday or Thursday during Recital Hour if time permits, or Monday
through Thursday at 5:00pm or 7:30pm. Weekend times may be requested with the approval
of the recital committee and the Director of the School of Visual and Performing Arts.
Collaborative Pianists
Collaborative pianists will be provided for ULM Music Program recitals as specifically
outlined in the ULM Music Program Collaborative Pianists Policy.
Committees
Undergraduate degree recital committees consist of three faculty members, not including
the studio professor. In forming the committee, the studio professor and student will
select and secure tentative availability from three appropriate faculty members who
would be willing to serve on the student’s recital committee.
Hearings
Recital hearings must be performed at least two weeks before the recital date. Exceptions
to this requirement must be approved by the Director of the School of Visual and Performing
Arts. At the hearing, the student will provide a typed draft copy of the program to
each committee member, and the major professor will provide a Recital Hearing Form
(obtained from the VAPA office). Upon completion of the hearing, the committee may
approve, disapprove, or approve conditionally the presentation of the recital. The
studio professor will then inform the student of the committee’s decision and the
hearing forms will be filed in the student’s academic folder in the School of VAPA
office.
Recital hearings must be arranged and performed at least two weeks in advance of the
scheduled recital date. All requests for Junior recital dates must begin with the
Recital Hour Coordinator, who will schedule the recital date when it occurs during
the 11:00am recital hour schedule. All requests for evening recital dates and times
(outside of the 11:00am recital hour schedule) must be made with the VAPA Events Coordinator,
along with all other scheduling that includes hearing and rehearsal dates and times.
For more information, refer to the “Detailed Procedures for Student Recitals. Recital
hearings may differ according to area specific requirements.
Reserving the Recital Hall
All requests for use of VAPA facilities must be directed to VAPA Events and Publicity
Coordinator. The student is entitled to adequate, but not excessive, rehearsal time
in the recital venue prior to the performance.
Programs
The student should take extreme care in preparing a draft of the printed recital program.
Accuracy of dates should be verified, and the program proof-read for correct grammar
and spelling. Following the successful recital hearing, the draft should be emailed to the VAPA
Administrative Assistant by the studio professor. The student and studio professor are responsible for proofreading the program before
it is duplicated.
Evaluation
For degree recitals, the studio professor will provide a Recital Grading Form to each
Recital Committee member before the recital. This form is completed by the committee
member and returned to the studio professor following the performance. The studio
professor then places the forms and a copy of the recital program in the student’s
academic folder in the VAPA Office. Senior Projects and Capstone recitals will be
evaluated at the discretion of the studio professor.
Detailed Procedures for Student Recitals
- The Studio instructor and the student select several possible dates for the STUDENT HEARING and RECITAL.
- Studio instructor and student identify and secure tentative availability from three
appropriate faculty members who would be willing to serve on the student’s recital
committee. The committee must be formed at least four weeks prior to the date of the
recital.
- Studio instructor communicates with the VAPA Events and Publicity Coordinator* to determine both the HEARING date and the pending RECITAL date *Any requests for Recitals scheduled during the RECITAL HOUR course time must obtain the approval of the faculty member in charge of the Recital Hour prior to communicating with the VAPA Events and Publicity Coordinator. The Recital Hour faculty member must approve the Student Recital Request before it can be scheduled.
- Any requests for events outside the standard times/days must be approved by the Director
of the School of Visual and Performing Arts prior to being scheduled. In the case
of degree recitals which require a faculty committee, the committee members must also
give approval for the non-standard scheduling.
- 5. The Events and Publicity Coordinator will notify the studio instructor of the approval for both the hearing and the recital
dates. Any recital committee member who cannot attend either the hearing or the recital
performance is responsible for securing an appropriate substitute and notifying the
studio instructor.
- The Studio Professor is responsible for securing the appropriate Grading Forms for
both the Hearing and the Recital from the VAPA office prior to each event.
- The Studio Professor is responsible for collecting the signed grading forms from
the Recital Committee and returning the forms to the VAPA Office for filing.
- If the recital hearing is not passed, the studio instructor will notify the Events
and Publicity Coordinator and the scheduled recital date will be released from the
calendar.
- 9. If the recital hearing is passed, the studio instructor will submit the program
to the VAPA Administrative Assistant withing 24 hours of the recital hearing. The
program is part of the permanent file and should be complete with the following: order
of the performance, composer identifications and biographies, translations and/or
interpretations, and proper recognition of assisting musicians and recital personnel.
- The studio instructor may reserve the Recital Hall for student rehearsals (depending
on availability) with the Events and Publicity Coordinator with the expectation that
the studio instructor will personally attend all rehearsals.
- All original paperwork related to a student recital becomes part of the student’s
permanent record. It is ultimately the responsibility of the studio instructor to
check in the VAPA office to ensure that all paperwork has been placed in the student’s
file.
MUSIC PROGRAM COORDINATORS
Piano Area Coordinator,Richard Seiler, D.M.A.
Voice Area Coordinator, Nancy Carey, D.M.A
Music Education Coordinato, Carlton Kilpatrick III, Ph.D.
Instrumental Area Coordinator, Sandra Lunte, D.A.
Graduate Program Coordinator, Carlton Kilpatrick III, Ph.D.
MUSIC MAJOR ADVISING
Upon admission to pursue a degree in music, the student will be assigned to an academic
advisor (talon advisor) within the the Student Success Center for their first two
semesters at ULM. After the first two semesters with a talon advisor at ULM, music
majors will advise with Music Program faculty according to their degree plan and concentration
as outlined below. Academic advising takes place at designated times during the semester.
The student must make an appointment with his/her academic advisor to determine courses
for the next semester and to discuss overall progress toward degree completion. Following
advisement, the student should register for those classes promptly since any delay
could result in the classes being unavailable. Once the semester has begun, any consideration
of dropping courses must be discussed with the academic advisor. For more information,
visit: https://www.ulm.edu/studentsuccess/advising.html
Advisors
DEGREE PROGRAM DESCRIPTIONS
The Music Program offers the Master of Music Education degree, Bachelor of Music degree
with the following concentrations: Instrumental Music Education, Vocal Music Education,
Instrumental Performance, Vocal Performance, Piano Pedagogy, Theory and Composition,
and the Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. Undergraduate degree plans include required
core courses in general education, core music courses in theory and ear training,
piano, ensemble performance, and applied study. Students are encouraged to carefully
consider which program best suits their needs based on interest, abilities, and career
goals. For more information, please refer to the current Undergraduate Catalog:http://catalog.ulm.edu/
Master of Music Education
Master of Music Education, M.M.E.
Bachelor of Music
Music, Instrumental Education (Grades K-12), B.M.
Music, Instrumental Music Performance, B.M.
Music, Music Theory and Composition, B.M.
Music, Piano Pedagogy, B.M.
Music, Vocal Education (Grades K-12), B.M.
Music, Voice Performance, B.M.
Bachelor of Arts in Music
Music, B.A.
DEGREE PROGRAM INDIVIDUAL CATALOG PAGES
Bachelor of Music
- • Music, Instrumental Education (Grades K-12), B.M.
- • Music, Instrumental Music Performance, B.M.
- • Music, Music Theory and Composition, B.M.
- • Music, Piano Pedagogy, B.M.
- • Music, Vocal Education (Grades K-12), B.M.
- • Music, Voice Performance, B.M.
-
Bachelor of Arts
- • Music, Business Operations and Analysis Skills Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Communication Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Creative Writing Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, English Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Jazz & Commercial Music Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Music Theater Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Music Therapy Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Pre-Medicine Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Psychology Concentration, B.A.
- • Music, Spanish Concentration, B.A.
-
PIANO PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
The following information outlines the course of study for students who are pursuing
piano as a minor instrument to fulfill degree requirements. This program is designed
to assist students in acquiring functional keyboard skills necessary for completing
the Piano Proficiency Examinations required of all music students. It is the student’s
responsibility, as well as the instructor’s, to see that the requirements in each
level are properly fulfilled.
All students registered for credit must take a piano proficiency level jury at the
end of each semester. It is expected that a minimum of one proficiency level will
be completed each term. If a student fails to meet the minimum requirements for a
particular level and/or does not pass the jury, that level (and course number) will
need to be repeated the following semester.
A student who has prepared two or more proficiency levels for examination in one semester
must fulfill all the requirements in each level. The student will be examined on all
requirements. Once a level has been satisfactorily completed, the examination material
of that level will not be covered again.
SYLLABUS OF PIANO PROFICIENCY REQUIREMENTS
This document contains an outline of the required course of study that is designed
to assist students in acquiring functional keyboard skills necessary for completing
the four levels of Piano Proficiency Examinations required of all non-piano music
major students. It is the student’s responsibility (as well as the instructor’s) to
see that the requirements in each level are properly fulfilled.
All students registered for group piano lab credit (or private applied lessons and
who have not completed all four proficiency levels) must take a piano proficiency
level jury at the end of each semester. It is expected that a minimum of one proficiency
level will be completed each term. If a student fails to meet the minimum requirements
for a particular level (i.e., does not pass a jury), that level will need to be repeated.
A student who has prepared two or more proficiency levels for examination must fulfill
all the requirements in each level. The student will be examined on all requirements.
Once a level has been satisfactorily completed, the examination material of that level
will not be covered again.
DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR WHICH FOUR LEVELS OF PROFICIENCY ARE REQUIRED
Bachelor of Music – Instrumental Performance (non-piano)
Bachelor of Music –Vocal Performance
Bachelor of Music – Instrumental Music Education
Bachelor of Music – Vocal Music Education
Bachelor of Music – Theory/Composition
DEGREE PROGRAMS FOR WHICH TWO LEVELS OF PROFICIENCY ARE REQUIRED
Bachelor of Arts in Music (all concentrations)
FINANCIAL AID
Talent Grants
Prospective students may audition for a Talent Grant Award at the same time they audition
for acceptance as a music major.
When students accept a Talent Grant, they acknowledge a mutual commitment with the
university and agree to not consider any other offer from an institutional member
of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) after May 1 of the calendar
year of matriculation at the undergraduate level, or before April 15 of the calendar
year of matriculation at the graduate level. For further information on NASM policies,
see https://nasm.arts-accredit.org/students-parents/, Nos. 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15.
The student must maintain satisfactory academic progress as measured by the following
criteria:
- Enrolls in nine hours of university core requirements each semester until those courses
are completed.
- Maintains a minimum cumulative GPA no lower than 2.0 in core requirements.
- Maintains a minimum overall cumulative GPA no lower than 2.0
- Maintains status as a full-time student (12 hours) throughout the semester.
- Complies with all ensemble requirements of the Major Area Director.
- Music majors must take major applied lessons on their primary instrument or voice
and must complete each semester of applied study with a minimum grade of “C” each
semester in which they receive a Talent Grant. This requirement doesn’t apply to
Music Education majors during their last semester in Residency II.
- Music majors are required to enroll in Recital Hour (MUSC 1000/2000/3000/4000) each
semester in which they receive a Talent Grant. This requirement doesn’t apply to Music
Education majors during their last semester in Residency II
- Talent Grants are renewable on a semester-by-semester basis for four years.
- All Talent Grant awards are contingent on the availability of state and university
funds.
Academic Scholarships
These awards are for incoming undergraduate students and are based on academic achievement.
For more information, refer to the ULM Scholarship Office: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/index.html
Out-of-State Tuition Waivers
These fee waivers are available to undergraduate students whose permanent residence
is outside of Louisiana and are contingent on large ensemble participation. For more
information, refer to the ULM Scholarship Office: https://www.ulm.edu/scholarships/outofstate.html
Housing Scholarship Policies and Procedures
University housing payment scholarships are available as an additional financial aid
incentive to deserving incoming freshmen. The housing scholarships vary in amount
and are dependent on the following criteria:
- Ability- The student demonstrates exceptional ability at their ULM audition.
- Financial Need- The student states demonstrated financial need corroborated by the
Financial Aid department.
- Declared Music major with admission to area
- Admission to ULM
Housing Scholarship recipients are expected to meet all requirements of an undergraduate
music major in their specific degree program. They are expected to maintain a 3.0
GPA in their Music Area courses. Students who do not meet expectations will be placed
on probation. If that student fails to meet the expected requirements at the end of
the Spring semester, they will have their Housing Scholarship rescinded for the following
academic year.
If a student chooses to leave a Music Area degree program, they will forfeit their
Housing Scholarship.
Housing Scholarships are always contingent on available funding.
ULM Foundation Scholarships
Foundation scholarships are funded by the generosity of alumni and friends of ULM.
These scholarships are awarded based upon a variety of criteria, including program
of study, classification, college affiliation, and more. For a list of Foundation
Scholarships available to Music Majors, visit https://ulm.academicworks.com/
INSTRUMENTAL AND VOCAL JURIES
Music majors and minors are required to complete a graded jury at the end of every
semester of studio instruction. The results of the jury will be used to determine
the student’s final studio grade for the semester. The jury will cover the material
studied during that semester. It is the student’s responsibility to sign up for a
jury time, complete a jury repertoire sheet, and present it to the faculty at the
appointed jury time. More information on the content of juries for instrumental and
vocal majors is contained in the sections of this handbook specific to those areas.
Jury Forms
Course Syllabi
Information on how students are graded in a particular course is available in the
course syllabus. Course syllabi are available on Canvas, and it is the student’s responsibility
to know what is required by the course even if a hard copy of the syllabus is not
handed out in class.
Additional Brass Area Requirements
Music majors who play brass instruments are required to perform a jury for the brass
faculty during exam week each semester. The instructor and student will decide on
repertoire prior to the jury examination, which may include scales, etudes, orchestral
excerpts, solos, and sight-reading. The jury will count as 20% of the student's overall
grade for the semester. Minors are not required to perform a jury, but can schedule
one upon recommendation of the studio teacher.
By the fourth semester of applied lessons, majors will perform a scale jury and a
full faculty jury instead of a brass faculty jury. The scale jury should be scheduled
for no later than the middle of the fourth semester, and will consist of all major
and minor scales with arpeggios, as well as a full range chromatic scale. The scale
jury is graded on a pass/fail basis and must be passed before giving the full faculty
jury. For the full faculty jury, students will perform a fifteen-minute recital with
piano accompaniment. The entire instrumental faculty will evaluate this jury, and
the jury must be passed before a student can enroll in 3000 level lessons.
Undergraduate Music Performance majors are required to perform a half recital during
their junior year and a full recital during their senior year. Undergraduate Music
Education students are required to present a Senior Recital/Project, the requirements
of which are to be determined by the studio instructor. In their final semester, Bachelor
of Arts in Music students are required to complete a capstone project constructive
of their intended career path. The capstone could be a recital, research project,
or other scholarly activity as approved by the adviser.
An Introduction to Music Education at ULM: A Culture of Excellence
Student selection and preparation in music education at ULM are based upon a very
simple premise--every person involved as a learner should have the best instruction possible.
This premise implies that every teacher should be committed to music and its use with
people. This commitment should be apparent in the academic and social behaviors of
each prospective music teacher, both in and out of the university environment, and
is characterized by diligent pursuit of musical and academic excellence and an active
dedication to the improvement of the quality of life.
For those who value knowledge, the learning process is perpetual throughout life.
To be an EFFECTIVE music educator, one must develop:
- The ability to think, and thus, value and discriminate
- The ability to feel, and thus, become sensitive to aesthetic qualities in music and
life, and
- The courage to act, and thus, translate these abilities to think and feel into overt
behaviors.
Successful music educators evidence personal qualities of leadership, intellectual
curiosity, and social commitment. They approach life, music, and the teaching profession
in a positive, creative, and enthusiastic way.
A successful music teacher, as defined in the effective teaching research literature,
possesses the following skills and behaviors:
- Ability to involve all students in learning process
- Demonstrates effective classroom management and procedures
- Establishes effective instructional pace
- Maintains appropriate eye contact
- Motivates students
- Uses a positive approach
- Teaches with clarity
- Addresses individual student needs, all ages and abilities
- Exhibits enthusiasm, energy
- Presents a professional persona
- Teaches with confidence
- Establishes appropriate affect and/or humor
- Structures the environment and is organized
- Exemplifies patience and flexibility
- Exhibits leadership
- Creates an environment with high musical expectations
The Road to Residency-the final two semesters
- Application and successful admission to the Music Education Professional Sequence
prior to fall of junior year
- Successful completion of MSED 2040
- Successful completion of Full Faculty Jury
- Recommendations: Studio professor, Ensemble professor, and one additional music faculty
member of your choice
- Completion of theory and aural skills I-IV
- Complete School of Education Teacher Education Application (MSED 3022)
- Complete School of Education PTAP (MSED 3022)
- Complete School of Education Background Check #1
- PRAXIS Tests, completed spring of junior year
- PRAXIS PLT, successful completion no later than April 1 prior to Residency I (MSED
3025)
- PRAXIS Music, successful completion no later than April 1 prior to Residency I (MSED
3025)
- Complete School of Education Residency I Application spring of junior year
- Complete School of Education Background Check #2
- Complete School of Education Residency II Application fall of senior year
- Complete Graduation Application fall of senior year
Catalog Pages for Music Education Program
COLLABORATIVE PIANIST POLICY
Faculty/staff collaborative pianists will be provided for the following required student
and faculty performances, up to a point until the faculty/staff pianists have reached
their “full teaching load.” Any collaborative pianist requests beyond the “full teaching
load” will be approved by both the collaborative pianist in question, and the Director
of Visual and Performing Arts.
- MUSC 4090 Senior Degree Recital (vocal/inst) *
- MUSC 3090 Junior Degree Recital (vocal/inst) *
- MSED 4053 Senior Project Recital (vocal/inst) *
- MSED 4001 BA Senior Capstone Recital (vocal/inst) *
- Full Studio Recitals (all horn, all flute, all brass, etc.)
- Instrumental full faculty juries
- Playing for voice lessons (semester lessons and juries, including full-faculty juries)
- Applied voice lessons will be supplied a collaborative pianist half the lesson time
every other week, except during the semester of a degree recital when a collaborative
pianist will be present for half the lesson every week.
* Degree plan requirement within the major and concentration.
The following examples are situations for which faculty/staff pianists may be for personal hire, which means that the student hires and pays the pianist out-of-pocket
at said pianist’s hourly rate or flat fee. Student pianists may also be for personal
hire at their hourly rate or flat fee, if the request is outside their specific keyboard talent grant assignments and responsibilities.
These assignments and responsibilities may include, but are not limited to:
- A student recital hour performance, which is not part of a degree recital, or assigned
semester jury repertoire.
- Honors Recital auditions and rehearsals, but not the recital itself.
- Rehearsals and recording practice materials for students outside of their assigned
accompanied lesson time.
- Any non-degree recital.
- Audio and/or video recording for purposes of entering local/state/regional/national/international
competitions.
- Audio and/or video recording for purposes of applying for graduate school.
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