Shenandoah Conservatory

Michael J. Stepniak, Dean
Ruebush Hall, Room 108, (540) 665-4600

Jeffrey Marlatt, Senior Associate Dean and Associate Dean for Faculty and Academic Affairs
Ruebush Hall, Room 108, (540) 665-4600

Ting-Yu Chen, Associate Dean for Student Affairs
Ruebush Hall, Room 108, (540) 665-4600

Explore the Shenandoah Conservatory on our university website .

Mission Statement

As a community uniquely committed to rigor, nurture, and innovation, Shenandoah Conservatory inspires artistic and scholarly excellence, preparing talented students for successful careers in the arts.

Conservatory Entrance Requirements

Conservatory applicants must satisfactorily complete an audition, interview, and music theory diagnostic skills exam or portfolio review as outlined in the admissions requirements. For specific requirements visit www.su.edu/admissions. See “Conservatory Admissions Requirements ” in the Admissions Entrance Requirements section of this catalog.

Deferring Admission to Shenandoah Conservatory

Students who have been fully accepted into a Shenandoah Conservatory curriculum and fully admitted to Shenandoah University, have the option to defer their entrance to the Conservatory for a maximum of one year (two academic semesters), per University policy. Conservatory scholarships and awards are not held for the duration of a deferral, and students must be re-evaluated for any talent funding to be awarded. This re-evaluation must take place during the semester prior to the student’s intended start date, and the most common method for this re-evaluation is to attend a regularly scheduled audition date and go through the audition portion only (the interview and theory diagnostics are not required).

Re-Auditioning for Shenandoah Conservatory

Students who have been denied admission for a Conservatory curriculum based on their audition for a specific instrument (or interview for a specific program) must wait one year before they are able to re-audition for the same instrument (or program). At the point at which they are eligible to re-audition, they must register for the new audition through the Office of Admissions and meet all audition requirements.

Ensemble Requirements and Procedures

Music

Ensemble participation requirements for undergraduate students are stated in terms of duration and credit. Students are required to continuously enroll in an ensemble every semester until curricular requirements are met, as outlined in each curricular map. Students are placed in ensembles by audition. Music students must fulfill requirements by performing in ensembles in their major applied music area. When ensemble duration and credit requirements have been met, no further ensemble participation is required; however, Conservatory scholarship recipients may be required to register for a large or small ensemble beyond the curricular requirement as needed. Every student who participates in an ensemble must be enrolled through the university.

Students who wish to participate in additional ensembles may register in one of two ways:

as a regular credited student
without credit through the Shenandoah Conservatory Arts Academy (registration fees apply)

Any ensemble registration placing the student in excess of 18.5 credits, the maximum number of full-time credits, will be at the full expense of the student. Any deviations or exceptions to the above must be approved and documented by the Conservatory director of advising.

Choral Ensembles

Voice students are auditioned by the choral ensemble directors for ensemble placement. Students are assigned to a single large choral ensemble; however, Conservatory scholarship recipients may be required to register for and participate in more than one large ensemble per semester, and these responsibilities are considered when students are placed. Choral ensembles are open, by audition, to students from all curricula and all schools.

Instrumental Ensembles

Instrumental students are auditioned by ensemble directors for large and/or small ensemble placement. Conservatory scholarship recipients may be required to register for and participate in more than one large and/or small ensemble per semester, and these responsibilities are considered when students are placed. Instrumental ensembles are open, by audition, to students from all curricula and all schools.

Dance

Dance majors are placed in ensembles as auditioned by the dance faculty. Participation is normally limited to dance majors. Students in other curricula are considered on an individual basis by audition.

Theatre

Specific requirements for theatre productions and performances are published in the Theatre Division Handbook.

Applied Music Study

Description

All students enrolled in Music and Musical Theatre curricula must be continuously enrolled in applied music until curricular requirements are fulfilled. For specific duration of study and credit requirements, see the curricular map for each degree program within this catalog.

Overall Content

The content of each applied music area is outlined for each semester of study. Minimum requirements in technique, sightreading, memorization, repertoire, performance, etc. are provided by each division of the Conservatory, and may be obtained from the individual instructor or division chair.

Studio Assignment

Students are assigned to studios by the chair of the division that offers the applied major. Students’ requests are honored when space and balance in studios permits.

Development in applied music is best supported by stability of instruction. Studio changes occur only at the end of the academic year. Information about appropriate studio change procedures is available in the division handbooks.

Bassoon and Oboe Applied Majors

All oboe applied majors are required to register for Oboe Reed Making, MUPP 241, to be taken concurrently with major lessons until applied curricular requirements have been met.

All bassoon applied majors are required to register for Bassoon Reed Making, MUPP 242, to be taken concurrently with major lessons until applied curricular requirements have been met.

Evaluation

The student performs an end-of-semester jury for evaluation by a panel of applied music faculty every semester of applied study.

If a student fails to perform the jury, the instructor must report a grade of “F” for the semester’s study. Incomplete grades will only be considered upon submission of the appropriate documentation; the missed jury must be completed during the drop/add period of the next semester.

Screening Juries

The screening jury, conducted at the end of the fourth semester of applied major study (or for composition students the end of the second semester), examines the student’s progress in applied music and leads to decisions regarding the student’s future applied study.

The screening jury determines if the student has made sufficient progress in the applied area to warrant the recommendation to proceed with the curricular applied major. A minimum average grade for the jury is “C.” If the average grade for the jury is less than “C,” the student may repeat the work of the fourth semester of applied study or successfully audition for and enter a new applied area.

Doubling Up Applied Policy

Where students may need to take more than one applied major lesson in one semester of study, in the cases of transfer students, students changing applied instrument or failure in an applied lesson, taking more than one lesson may be permissible. No student may double up on applied lessons until the screening jury has been successfully completed. Under no circumstances may a student take more than 2 applied major lessons in a given semester. Specific doubling up policies per division are outline below.

Keyboard Division

Keyboard students may register for two major lessons in only one semester, but may not do so in any future semesters.

Instrumental Division

Instrumental students may register for two major lessons in the same semester as allowed by the individual applied teacher without restriction. This allows for the fact that each student comes with differing levels of advanced background and learning processes.

Vocal Division

Voice students may not register for two major lessons in the same semester. A minor lesson to catch up on applied credits may be added after a successful screening jury. Additionally, summer study is possible pending faculty availability. Only one major lesson may be completed each summer.

Recital Requirements

All half and full recitals and senior performance recital projects must be presented for credit and included in the student’s course load for the semester in which the recital is given. Students presenting a half recital, full recital or senior performance recital project must be concurrently registered for applied study in the area involved. Pre-recital hearings are required of all piano and voice majors, and may be required of other students at the applied music instructor’s discretion.

All recitals are to be presented live, either face-to-face to a jury panel or live streamed to YouTube or other appropriate online streaming service. Students are responsible for providing and setting up their own audio and video for live-streamed or recorded recitals, and may not under any circumstances alter or edit a recorded recital without prior written approval from the area division chair.

Half Recitals

The student is required to present a half recital, which consists of 25 minutes of music, in the sixth* semester of study as outlined in each curricular map. An elective half recital may be presented after four semesters of applied music study and 200-level study is completed. The elective half recital does not fulfill curricular requirements.

*Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music in Composition program are required to present the half recital in the seventh semester of study.

Full Recitals

An elective full recital, consisting of 50 minutes of music, may be presented after six semesters of applied music study and 300-level study is completed. The elective full recital does not fulfill curricular requirements.

Senior Performance Recital Projects

Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, Bachelor of Music in Music Performance and Bachelor of Music in Musical Theatre Accompanying programs are required to present a senior performance recital project, which consists of 50 minutes of music, in the 8th semester of study.

For detailed requirements, refer to the division handbook.

Performance Certificates

A Music or Musical Theatre student may earn a Performance Certificate in recognition of achievement beyond curricular minimums with the completion of a half and full recital. The additional repertoire and the recital must be completed while the student is enrolled in a baccalaureate-level degree program. The grade point average for the final semesters of applied study, plus the full recital, must be at least a 3.5. Performance Certificate candidates must earn a minimum grade of C in both the half recital and full recital.

Permission to enter performance certificate study is given as part of the fourth semester screening jury process. Information on timing, content, and required level of achievement for these juries is available from the individual applied music instructor, division chair, or from the division handbook.

Students pursuing a Performance Certificate who are enrolled in the Music Education program are required to present the full recital in the seventh semester of study. Music Production and Recording Technology majors must present a full recital in the eighth semester of study. Concurrent registration in Applied Recital Study (APRS 401 or APRS 402) is required.

Musical Theatre Majors

Musical Theatre majors are required to complete a screening jury only if they wish to be considered for performance certificate study.

Composition and Music Therapy Majors

Composition and Music Therapy majors are required to complete a screening jury on their applied minor instrument only if they wish to be considered for performance certificate study. If approved, students will be required to register for applied major lessons (AP** 302 and AP** 402) in semesters five through eight and present both a half and full recital in semester six (half) and semester eight (full).

Students may register for an additional half hour of elective study lessons in semesters 1-4 if approved by the senior associate dean and associate dean for faculty and academic affairs.

Proficiency Information

Piano Proficiency Examination

The Piano Proficiency Examination is available to all students enrolled in Music curricula. The examination assesses each student’s keyboard skills essential to the professional life of the musician. The Piano Proficiency Examination for all new and transfer non-piano majors is offered during the start of term in both fall and spring semesters. Based on the results of the Piano Proficiency Examination, the student will be placed at the appropriate level of applied class piano study or the student will be exempt from piano requirements. Students who are exempt from applied class piano study are required to complete the credits with either further study in applied piano lessons or open electives.

Students who do not pass the Piano Proficiency Examination will register for APCP 105 Basic Piano and Keyboard Harmony Skills I and continue in applied class piano study until curricular requirements have been met.

Students are permitted to retake the Piano Proficiency Examination after one failed attempt. After two failed attempts, students are placed in the appropriate applied class piano level and must complete the sequence by enrolling in each of the remaining courses.

To place out of APCP 106 , APCP 205 and/or APCP 206 ,Basic Piano and Keyboard Harmony Skills II-IV, after beginning the class piano sequence, students must successfully complete the final exam for the respective class. The materials for these exams can be obtained from the coordinator of class piano.

Basic Musicianship Proficiency Examination

The Basic Musicianship Proficiency Examination is available to students enrolled in the Musical Theatre, Contemporary Musicianship and Entrepreneurial Development and Collaborative Audio Arts curricula. The examination assesses each student’s keyboard and fundamental theory knowledge essential to industry standards. The Basic Musicianship Proficiency Examination for all new and transfer students is offered during the start of term in the fall semester. Based on the results of the Basic Musicianship Proficiency Examination, the student will be placed at the appropriate level of applied basic musicianship or the student will be exempt from the applied basic musicianship sequence. Students who are exempt from applied basic musicianship study are required to complete the credits with open electives.

Students are permitted to retake the Basic Musicianship Proficiency Examination after one failed attempt. After two failed attempts, students are placed in the appropriate applied basic musicianship level and must complete the sequence by enrolling in each of the remaining courses.

Transfer Students

Application of Transfer Credit in Applied Music

Transfer students are initially placed in AP** 101 or AP** 102 or AP** 103 dependent upon curriculum. At the first jury, the faculty jurors place the student at the appropriate level based on the level of performance ability. Occasionally, the placement decision is deferred to the second-semester jury.

Applied Conducting Policies

Applied conducting is available only after MUCO 361 Beginning Choral and Instrumental Conducting and MUCO 363 Choral Conducting or MUCO 364 Instrumental Conducting have been completed successfully.

Applied conducting study at the undergraduate level is considered elective study and approval is based on faculty availability. Students enrolled in elective study do not have access to Conservatory ensembles as laboratory conducting settings.

Conducting study will not fulfill requirements for an applied minor or music electives. All applied elective conducting has to be approved by the senior associate dean and associate dean for faculty and academic affairs.

Curriculum Requirements

The following curricular requirements are stated in terms of minimum requirements for graduation. Additional courses may be elected in any semester in accordance with regulations concerning student load. Course substitutions are possible only when approved in advance by the Conservatory director of advising.

The Conservatory does not allow double counting of course work to fulfill degree requirements. Exceptions may be made only with permission of the director of conservatory advising.

Sequence of Courses

Students must complete all required courses for graduation and should carefully follow the advice of their advisor. The program tracking sheet, available through Canvas and the Conservatory Office, should be reviewed every semester. All courses are not offered every year and it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that all degree requirements are being met in a manner that allows for an on-time graduation. Failure to follow the prescribed sequence of courses or the advice of the advisor may result in a delayed graduation until all degree requirements are met.

Upon completion of MUTC 115 Thinking in Key I, students enrolled in all music curricula must remain continuously registered each fall and spring semester until the music theory sequence of MUTC 115, MUTC 120, MUTC 215 and MUTC 220 is completed.

General Education

Conservatory students must consult with their advisors and the undergraduate catalog when selecting courses to fulfill the university-wide general education requirement. Transfer students are exempt from FYS 101 Going Global: First-Year Seminar , but must still complete the general education requirements with an approved three-credit course from the Navigating Difference sphere. Transfer students are also exempt from the ShenCo Skills sequence of classes.

Course Overloads

Students who wish to register for more than 18.5 credits per semester must secure permission from the Conservatory director of advising. Students enrolled in their first semester of study may not register in overload. Thereafter, permission is granted only when the student has earned a grade point average of 3.0 or higher the previous semester.

Programs

Bachelor of Arts

Bachelor of Fine Arts

Bachelor of Music

Bachelor of Music Therapy

Music Therapy (B.M.T.)

Certificate

Minor