Music Majors

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 Major Curricula
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Below you will find links to both suggested course sequences for all majors and a detailed course listing for the education emphasis major. We encourage you to check these pages often, especially when advising begins toward the end of each semester.

Suggested Course Sequence for 8-unit Major
Suggested Course Sequence for 12.5-unit Major, Performance Emphasis
Suggested Course Sequence for 12.5-unit Major, Education Emphasis

Detailed Course Listing for 12.5-unit Major, Education Emphasis
 

Music Department Handbook
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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.

Juries
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Who has to do a Jury?
All students studying privately, regardless of major, are expected as part of their private study to perform a jury at the end of each semester that they take lessons.

What is a Jury?
The "jury" 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
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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 separate from the regular juries. See the Music Department Handbook for more information.

Performance Expectations for the Sophomore Jury

Piano: Please contact Dr. David Abbott (dabbott@albion.edu) 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 you studio teacher to determine repertoire well in advance.

Winds & 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 advnace.

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 you studio teacher to determine repertoire well in advance.

Jury Forms
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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 & organ students only

Vocal Jury Form
For voice students only

Strings, Winds, & Percussion Jury Form
For strings (including guitar), woodwinds, brass, & percussion students only

Sophomore Jury:
Sophomore juries are required of ALL 12.5 unit majors and take place at the end of the 3rd semester at Albion College. There are specific requirements in addition to that of a regular jury. Please consult the Music Department Handbook for more details. 8 unit majors are not required to do a sophomore jury, but do have to complete the standard jury.

Recital Forms
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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.

Recital Request Form

Piano Repair Form
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It is in everyone's best interest to keep our pianos in the best shape possible. To that end, it is up to you to inform the appropriate faculty when you notice problems with pianos.

Take a few minutes and print out a Piano Repair Form, fill it out, and drop it off in the Music Department Office for Dr. David Abbott, or deliver it to him in person. We would all greatly appreciate your help in this matter.

Scholarships & Applications
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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 student's 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

Presser Scholarship:
The Presser Scholarship Award is provided by the Presser Foundation of Bryn Mawr, PA. The award is presented to an outstanding music major, at or after the end of the student's junior year, and the student is to be known as a Presser Scholar. The student is to be selected by the music faculty solely on the basis of merit.  The scholarship is for one year and no application is required.

Other scholarships available in the Music Department are based on the decisions of the Music Department faculty and applications are not required. For a complete listing of scholarships available to Albion College students consult the
Music Department Handbook.

Concerto Competition & Application Form
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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.

Competition Rules

Concerto Competition Application Form

Music Organization Links
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National

The American Choral Directors Association (ACDA)

American Symphony Orchestra League (ASOL)

International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE)

MENC: The National Association for Music Education (MENC)

Music Teachers National Association (MTNA)

National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS)

The National Band Association (NBA)

State

Michigan Competing Bands Association (MCBA)

Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA)

Michigan School Vocal Music Association (MSVMA)