POLICY 4.14.2.2 - Applied Music Lessons

• Number of Lessons: In the fall and spring semesters, the student is to receive one lesson for each week of classes. The lessons for minor students are one-half hour in length; for major students, one hour in length. When lessons are given in other units of length, the total amount of instructional time should be an actual equivalent in clock hours.
• Keeping Records: Applied music teachers should keep a record of all applied lessons, recording date of lesson, length of lesson, and any other features of the lesson such as make up lesson, unprepared lesson, starting date of new compositions, etc. The keeping of applied lesson records is particularly important for part-time teachers whose activities away from Shenandoah may cause an irregular schedule.
• Guidelines for Applied Studio Assignments: All assignments are the final responsibility of the department/ division chair. Students should be accepted for instruction when sent by these chairs. Student assignments are exchanged or rearranged only with permission of the department/division chair.

All studios will be assigned major and minor students. Major and minor students and new and returning students are divided among faculty members as evenly as possible. The number of returning students, plus the number of requests, may cause some imbalance among studios.

In the Vocal and Keyboard Divisions, faculty members may wish to review the audition sheets of new students so students with varying backgrounds may be evenly shared throughout the department. In the Instrumental Division, most assignments follow instrument lines; however, where there is more than one faculty member for a particular instrument, the division chair, in consultation with the faculty members involved, should divide the students based upon the background of the faculty members concerned. For example, a faculty member teaching in a secondary area may have more minor students than a faculty member teaching in a primary applied area.

Faculty members should not promise a student a place in a specific studio. In those rare instances when there is not room for a student in any of the studios listed on the preference form, the division chair should discuss the situation with the student concerned. It is hoped that all students will be able to study in a preferred studio, even if another student will be studying in a studio of lower preference to achieve this. For example, it is preferable for two students to study in second choice studios than for one student to study in a studio of first choice causing another student to be assigned to a studio of no choice.

When student preferences for a studio exceed the number of students that can be accommodated in that studio, the faculty member involved may select students from the total number desiring to study in that studio, maintaining an overall balance in new and returning students and major and minor students.

Part-time teachers possessing appropriate academic credentials (master’s degree or the equivalent in professional experience) and teaching experience participate fully in the instruction of all students, major and minor. In some instances, part-time faculty members with less than a master’s degree or the professional equivalent may be assigned a larger proportion of minor students. The significant role of full-time teachers in the recruitment and retention of students in their major applied area is also acknowledged, and those part-time teachers whose presence on campus is limited by other factors may also be assigned a larger number of minor students.

Development in applied music is best supported by stability of instruction and students are to be encouraged to remain with an applied teacher for at least two semesters before requesting a change. When a student desires to change studios, an appropriate form, available in the Conservatory office, is completed. The student initiates the change by securing the signature of the division chair. In class piano, the signature of the class piano coordinator chair will also be required. Following this procedure entitles the student to indicate new teacher preferences at the next registration.

There may be a time when a faculty member wishes to initiate a change. In these instances, the faculty member should discuss the situation with the student, confirming the discussion in a letter to the student, a copy of which is placed in the student’s file in the Conservatory office. It is recommended that a student spend at least three semesters in a studio before such a change is made. When the above procedure has been followed, the student may make a new teacher selection or be placed in a new studio.

Every curricular student accepted by the school must be accommodated in a studio.

Extra students may be assigned to a studio after all other studios in the area are filled.

Changes of students from one studio to another, for whatever reason, are made at the end of semesters only.