Undergraduate Student Policies
General
Photocopies
The School of Music leases a photocopy machine to provide services to the music faculty for university business. Photocopy service for personal business, for students, and for the general public, is prohibited. Violation of the Copyright Law is prohibited. Students are expected to purchase their own music materials for study and performance. Students must own at least one non-library, non-photocopied score/set of parts before the work in question may be performed for an applied music jury, an upper-level performance, or in a public recital. Students performing from photocopies of out-of-print, copyrighted material must receive the publisher’s permission.
Telephones
Telephones provided by the School of Music are to be used by faculty and staff for university business only. Long distance calls by students or by the general public are prohibited.
Tickets
Many ticketed School of Music events are now free to any WVU student presenting a valid WVU student ID!
All you need to do to take advantage of this new opportunity is to present your WVU student ID to the usher at a given event, then go in, choose your seat, and enjoy the music.
Academic Items
Accompanists
All students must pay accompanying costs when necessary. Students with keyboard skills often provide accompanying services to other students during lessons, at juries, and for recitals. A small number of accompanists may be assigned (based on assistantship, or instructional obligations), but costs are still charged. Most accompanying is negotiated between the students involved. Accompanying for recitals and associated rehearsals are paid by the recitalist.
Advising (undergraduate)
All undergraduate students majoring in music are assigned to an advisor who is a member of the music faculty. These assignments are overseen by the Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising, Dr. Kelly Burke. Questions about undergraduate advising should be directed to Dr. Burke.
Change in Course Requirements
Course requirements for degree programs are printed in the University Catalog, which can be accessed on the University Catalog website. Substitutions are normally not permitted, although the Director will consider requests in extenuating circumstances. The student’s advisor must determine if a request for a course substitution is warranted and, if so, forward the request to the Director in writing.
Instrumental Rental
The School of Music maintains a limited inventory of instruments to supply music students and participants in performing ensembles with certain instruments, and to provide instruments for music education pedagogy classes. The Instrument Control Office, overseen by Timothy Richards and his Graduate Assistant, is in room 2024. The hours are posted on the door. Some “special” instruments (such as English horn, D trumpet, and contrabassoon) may be borrowed at no charge through an applied faculty member. “Regular” instruments of professional quality may be rented through the Instrument Control Office with permission from an applied faculty member. It is recommended that students rent instruments for only one semester, since the WVU Undergraduate Catalog states that all music majors (except pianists) should own their own instruments.
Student-quality instruments are rented in the following priority: (a) students in pedagogy classes; (b) music majors – students playing secondary instruments and students experiencing financial hardships may rent instruments (at the director’s discretion) for use in marching or pep band; (c) students enrolled in the Community Music Program. The rental fee per instrument per semester is $25.00. Students enrolled in pedagogy classes that require more than one instrument during the semester may exchange related instruments for no additional fee. For instance, a trombone may be exchanged for another brass instrument, a clarinet for another woodwind instruments, and a violin for another string instrument. This exchange policy is not applicable to the rental of guitars.
In addition to the $25.00 rental fee, students who rent instruments over the summer must pay a $50.00 security deposit in cash. The deposit will be returned to the student when he or she returns the instrument.
Students who fail to return instruments in a timely manner will receive a letter of warning indicating that if the instrument is not returned by a certain date, the result will be the suspension of University services (grades, transcripts withheld, etc.) and the notification of the police that state property has not been returned. Students will be billed for lost and unreasonably damaged instruments and accessories.
Juries
All music majors, music minors, and non-majors on music scholarships enrolled in Applied Music, Music 500, or Music 700 in the Fall and Spring Semesters must take a jury. Exceptions will only be allowed in the event of illness (a doctor’s statement is required) or by the approval of the Director upon receipt of a written petition. Students should consult the jury policies of their performance area.
Practice Room Assignments
All full-time music majors are permitted to reserve up to one hour per day of weekly rehearsal time in a practice room on the basement level of the CAC. All piano majors may reserve up to two hours. All requests must be submitted through the online form and are subject to availability and confirmation of active major status.
Scheduling of practice rooms is done per semester.
Non-music majors and part-time students may seek approval from the School of Music office to reserve time in a practice room.
Practice rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis for all times not reserved through the Operations Office. This applies to non-majors, part-time students, and music majors wishing to utilize more than their reserved time.
All practice room usage is subject to restriction by building operating hours.
Reserve your practice room online
Probation and Suspension—Academic
Students must maintain a grade point average of 2.0 or better. Students who do not meet the requirement will receive a letter of warning stating the terms of probation. If these terms are not met in the prescribed time, the student’s enrollment in the music program will be discontinued. Please refer to the West Virginia University Undergraduate Catalogue for further clarification.
Probation and Suspension—Applied Instrument or Voice
Each student identified as a music major or a music minor shall perform a jury examination on their principle performing instrument or voice for members of the Applied Music faculty at the end of each regular semester of study. After each jury, students who are below the expected level will be placed on applied music probation and will receive a letter from the Music Committee on Academic Standards stating the terms of probation. If these terms are not met in the prescribed time, the student’s enrollment in the music program will be discontinued.
Applied faculty may invoke a warning (rather than probation) ONE TIME in a student’s undergraduate career in the School of Music if a) the student has been doing good work in principal applied study all semester, AND b) the student barely missed a level because of a substandard jury performance, OR c) the student was admitted with a deficiency that is being corrected but is no yet up to standard.
Scholarship Policies
The School of Music Undergraduate Music Scholarship Committee (comprised of faculty representatives of each performance area) is responsible for awarding music scholarships to students. Final decisions are based on results of student auditions, the specific needs of the School’s performing organizations, and criteria associated with certain scholarship endowment funds. Auditions are held for new students in February and March of each year. Provision is made for taped auditions and individually arranged auditions when necessary. Students must meet the terms of the Music Scholarship Award Agreement to maintain scholarship eligibility. This means maintaining a grade point average of at least 2.5, participating in ensembles as stipulated in the agreement, and advancing in performance levels as required by the degree program.
Transfer of Credit
Music credits earned by students at other institutions will be evaluated by Coordinator of Undergraduate Advising, Dr. Kelly Burke, with recommendations made to the Dean of the College. Transfer of applied music credits will be based upon proficiency levels attained by students at West Virginia University.
Undergraduate Overloads
Normally, undergraduate students may enroll for no more than 20 credit hours per semester. Students with strong academic records may petition to enroll in additional credit hours.
Recitals and Performances
Recitals
Please refer to the School of Music Student and Faculty Recitals Policies and Procedures.
Recordings of Performances and Studio Sessions
Please refer to the WVU Sound Productions Recording Price Guide and Policy; more information available in room 4103.
Young Artists’ Competition
Announcements of this annual competition are posted (usually mid-October) and forms are available from your studio teacher or from the administrative associate in room 4103.
Music Library
The music library is housed WVU’s Evansdale Library, which is about a 10-minute walk from the Creative Arts Center. The collection in the Music Library (books, scores, recordings) is available to faculty, students, and the general public, subject to Library regulations. Questions about the music holdings may be directed toward Creative Arts Librarian Beth Royall at Beth.Royall@mail.wvu.edu.
