Undergraduate Policies & Guidelines - NJCU :: Music, Dance and Theatre

Music Majors

Undergraduate Handbook

The Department of Music, Dance & Theatre welcomes you to New Jersey City University. We sincerely hope that your experience here will be stimulating and exciting. First we want to share a few thoughts with you on what it means to be a music student.

A career in music is among the finest and most satisfying a person can hope to obtain. It is, however, also very demanding. Total dedication is essential for success. The study of music requires a complete commitment of most of your time and energy. You will be studying, practicing, going to concerts, learning music theory, music history, and how to listen.

We cannot emphasize strongly enough that you are entering a highly competitive field where competence and ability are taken for granted. If you are lacking skills, ambition, or dedication, there will always be someone right behind you ready to take your place. If you have talent and are not afraid of hard work, there is no more rewarding career in the world.

Developing a sense of discipline is a critical factor in success. Many students try to carry a full-time course load while working at a part-time or even full-time job. It is very difficult to do this and still be a successful music student. Many hours outside the classroom are needed in order to practice and prepare for classes. Budgeting your time and sticking to your schedule are the first steps toward discipline and success. It is also essential that all students recognize the importance of regular attendance and being on time. A major component of our grading policies includes these items. In the music profession, missing a rehearsal, or even being late, may cost you work.

In addition to the concert attendance requirements listed under Academic Standards, all students are encouraged to attend the Great Performers Series, Town and Gown and Mid-day Concerts, Faculty Recitals, Student Recitals and off-campus performances. The New Jersey Performing Arts Center, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and many other New York City concert halls and museums offer special student discounts and are just minutes away from NJCU.

Opportunities for careers in music are numerous and diverse. Each of them reflects dignity and prestige and brings satisfaction and happiness to the lives of countless people. Some of these careers include:

The department of Music, Dance & Theatre at New Jersey City University is a full member of NASM (National Association of Schools of Music) and is accredited by the Middle States Association. The department offers six Bachelor degree programs.

Each degree program is outlined in the APPENDIX. All of the Bachelor degree tracks have a four-year applied music requirement, with the exception of Music Business. (That degree program has a minimum requirement of two years of applied study.) Applied instruction culminates in a senior recital or senior theatrical project; students in the BM program will also perform a junior recital. All recital procedures are outlined under “Junior/Senior Recital Procedures.”

Ensemble requirements are listed in the University catalog for each music degree program. Students who are in good academic standing are encouraged to take advantage of performing in more than just the required ensembles. The ensemble director as well as the area coordinator must approve participation in additional ensembles.

All students taking applied music will have a weekly lesson. The instructor will be determined by agreement of the area coordinator, the instructor and the student. Students receiving 30-minute coaching sessions with staff accompanists must also adhere to the above requirements. Students are expected to attend all lessons and coaching sessions and to arrive on time, warmed up and ready to work.

If any member of the applied music faculty must miss a lesson, he or she will arrange a make-up lesson. Lessons missed by the students, without cause, cannot be rescheduled. In the case of severe illness, and with evidence of a doctor’s note, a make-up lesson may be arranged. Students are expected to contact the faculty member directly if he/she must miss a lesson or coaching.

Academic standards for the University are described in the NJCU Catalog. All music majors must adhere to the department standards, especially with regard to the core curriculum: Harmony, Ear-Training, Keyboard Methods, Music History, Applied Music, and all performing ensembles. In addition, all music majors are required to attend a minimum of four (4) concerts (in which they are NOT performing) per semester (two performances in Williams Theatre and two student recitals). Students who fail to meet these standards are subject to being dropped from the department. The MDT withdrawal, failure, probation and retention policies are outlined under “MDT/University Withdrawal, Failure, Probation and Retention Policies.”

Music Majors are required to give recitals. All student recitalists must be registered for Applied Music study during the semester that they present their recital. Students performing junior and/or senior recitals must follow the steps set forth below.

Performance Majors: During their 5^th or 6^thsemester and again during their 8^th semester of Applied Music study. Two full length, 90-minute recitals required.

Music (without specialization): During their 8^th semester of Applied Music study. At least 30-minutes of solo music required.

Musical Theatre: During their 8^th semester of Applied Music study. At least 30-minutes of solo music required.

Music Business Majors: Every semester of Applied Music study beyond the required 4 semesters. At least 30-minutes of solo music

1. Approval for the recital must be obtained from the Applied Lesson area committee at jury time in the semester prior to the projected recital.

2. Upon gaining this approval, the area coordinator should inform the department chairperson of the Applied Lesson area committee’s approval and his/her desire to schedule the recital.

3. The area coordinator is required to arrange for at least two faculty members to attend the recital and act as a jury. Of these two members, one must be the applied teacher and the second faculty member should be the area coordinator. If the applied teacher and area coordinator are the same person, the area coordinator is responsible for finding another faculty member to evaluate the performance.

4. The student should and area coordinator should then consult with the chairperson in order to find an available time in Ingalls Recital Hall that is acceptable for the two faculty members and all performers. Seminars cannot to be used for student recitals.

With respect to the required Academic Foundation courses, students may withdraw only once. They may not withdraw from these courses a second time, except for emergency situations as decided by the Dean of Arts & Sciences.

2. A student on probation (university or departmental) will be restricted to one applied, one large ensemble and one chamber ensemble during the semester of probation.

1. All scholarships are to be awarded per semester based on the level of performance and academic achievement , regardless of the major area of music concentration. Most scholarships are applied as a reduction in tuition expenses.

2. A student may be granted a scholarship for a period of no more than eight semesters.

3. General Scholarship awards do not generally exceed $600 per semester. In exceptional cases, awards of $700 or $800 may be offered with the approval of the scholarship committee, area coordinator and the department chair.

4. All scholarship students are to maintain a 3.0 average in music major coursework and a 2.75 overall cumulative average each semester.

5. All scholarship students must be enrolled in and then successfully complete a minimum of twelve semester credit hours each semester they receive an award. Anything below this minimum will result in automatic removal of a scholarship. Reinstatement requires reapplication, following successful completion of a twelve-credit semester of study that meets the academic standards listed above.

6. A student must be enrolled in academic courses, applied music and ensemble course requirements for his/her degree program each semester while on scholarship.

1. New Students: After the initial audition for acceptance into the Department by a first semester student, the Area Coordinator may recommend that student to the Department Chair for scholarship consideration at a specified amount. The Chair accepts, rejects or revises the Coordinator’s recommendation.

a. During each jury performance of a continuing scholarship recipient, all members of the adjudicating faculty are required to complete a Continuing Scholarship Renewal Form.

b. Continuing students who do not receive scholarships may be eligible for future awards based on their academic and music performance achievements. Their performance at juries may allow the area coordinator and adjudicating faculty to recommend a scholarship to the chairperson.

c. Once completed, the panel members will forward the assessments directly to the Department Chair as input for his/her decision.

d. The Department Chair will prepare and submit a list of recommendations for recipients of continuing scholarships to the Faculty Scholarships Committee for review.

e. The Committee will then determine if the recommended students have fulfilled their ensemble and academic responsibilities.

f. With academic, ensemble and performance assessments in hand, the Scholarship Committee will give the Chair their recommendations regarding who the continuing scholarship recipients are to be, including their financial awards. The Chair will then distribute the list of scholarship recipients to the MDT Faculty.

1. Send a personalized letter to the scholarship awardees advising them of their status (new, continuance, adjusted continuance) along with their academic and ensemble responsibilities.

Guidelines for Changing Applied Teachers

1. The student must initiate the request for a change of applied instructor before the beginning of the semester in which the change will take place. A student's request can be honored only if that student has completed Early Registration for the semester. The student can obtain the "Request for Applied Teacher Change" form in the MDT office.

2. The request of change of teacher should be decided between the student and the teachers involved and only ultimately involve the Coordinator and/or the Chair in the case of an appeal. Once both teachers approve the change, the area Coordinator serves as facilitator in order to expedite and manage the change.

If the current teacher does not approve the request, the student may appeal to the area Coordinator. The Coordinator may approve the request or not. If the Coordinator does not approve the request, the student may appeal to the MDT Chair, who will make the final decision. If the current teacher approves the request, but no other faculty member is willing or able to teach the student, the student must remain with the current teacher.

3. The teacher requested must already be a member of the Full, Part-time, or Adjunct Music faculty of Music, Dance & Theatre.

4. The area Coordinator is required to inform all incoming freshman and transfer students that they are free to request an applied music instructor from among the Music Department faculty members at New Jersey City University, which include Full, Part-time or Adjunct Music faculty members.

5. A continuing student requesting the change must complete a minimum of a semester of study and have at least four semesters remaining to complete his/her degree. Graduate students must have at least two semesters remaining of the three required for the degree.

6. Even in the case of serious grievances between the parties involved, the process of changing teachers should be conducted with civility. There should be no offensive or retaliatory behavior toward any of the participants in the process. Ultimately it is a goal of the Music, Dance &Theatre Department of New Jersey City University to provide a positive environment for study and work.

*To summarize, the student must discuss the change with his/her current teacher and have the existing teacher approve the change. The student must discuss the change with the potential teacher and have that teacher approve the change. The student will forward the signed form to the area Coordinator for approval.