School of Music

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Marc Dicciani

Mission Statement

The School of Music at The University of the Arts prepares musicians for 21st century careers in the creative arts as performers, composers and educators. Jazz serves as the nucleus of the School’s curriculum with the belief that it nurtures creativity in young musicians. Faculty continue to reaffirm traditional techniques and methodologies in the instruction of music theory, performance, and history, while experimentation, improvisation and innovation inspired by the jazz curriculum drive the School’s overarching educational goals, pedagogy, and methodologies.

Overview

The School of Music is dedicated to the preparation and training of musicians for a career in music performance, composition, and music education. The student’s growth as a musician is the primary goal of the program.

The music program is distinguished by its emphasis on American music idioms, such as jazz and contemporary music, and includes study in European and world traditions. The School’s mission of training professional musicians and educators of the highest caliber is maintained through a conservatory atmosphere, which stresses individualized training, and a comprehensive curriculum that includes private lessons with master faculty, and an abundance and diversity of ensembles. Coursework for instrumental, vocal, and composition majors includes jazz improvisation, jazz theory and ear training, arranging, orchestration, basic piano and jazz piano, music and computer technology, MIDI, recording engineering, music business, music histories (classical, jazz, American, rock), and world music.

Performance opportunities play an important part in the student’s education by sharpening technical and improvisation skills, and increasing the student’s command of repertoire and styles. The School’s numerous performance ensembles represent a wide range of styles and categories of jazz, American, and world music. Students are involved in a rigorous schedule of performances, with over 150 concerts and recitals presented each year.

This contemporary curriculum is organized in three degree programs: the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies, which prepares students for careers as music professionals in vocal or instrumental performance, or composition; the Master of Arts in Teaching in Music Education, which prepares students for certification as music teachers for kindergarten through 12th grade; and the Master of Music in Jazz Studies, which is a finishing program for highly advanced students preparing for careers as performers or college-level instructors. A unique aspect of the undergraduate program allows students to select a Music Education minor or Jazz Master’s track that may enable them to earn both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in five years.

The School of Music faculty is made up of experienced and practicing professionals, many of whom have attained international stature as performing and recording artists. This professional faculty is supplemented by a long list of guest artists and a regular series of workshops, master classes, and performances with greats that has included Wynton Marsalis, Randy and Michael Brecker, Arturo Sandoval, Dave Weckl, Joshua Redman, Jack DeJohnette, Terence Blanchard, Danilo Perez, Bill Stewart, Peter Nero, Ernie Watts, Mike Stern, Chris Potter, Adam Nussbaum, Dave Liebman, Mike Mainieri, Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Dennis Rowland, Gregg Field, Grover Washington, Jr., Max Roach, Eddie Gomez, Phil Woods, Yo-Yo Ma, Ray Brown, Scott Henderson, John Fedchock, Pat Martino, Phil Ramone, Bill Watrous, Bob Mintzer, Billy Joel, Peter Erskine, Jon Faddis, James Moody, Marvin ‘Smitty’ Smith, Dave Samuels, Rob McConnell, Dennis Chambers, McCoy Tyner, Patti Austin, Kurt Elling, Nestor Torres, The Yellowjackets, and Joey DeFrancesco.

Founded in 1870 as the Philadelphia Musical Academy, which later merged with the Philadelphia Conservatory of Music, the School counts among its alumni some of the nation’s most accomplished musicians, including bassist Stanley Clarke, pianists Kenny Barron, Andre Watts, and Sumi Tonooka, vocalists Florence Quivar and Osceola Davis, drummer Gerry Brown, saxophonist Lew Tabackin, trombonist Robin Eubanks, composer Vincent Persichetti, and TV/film composers John Davis and Edd Kalehoff.

Facilities

The School of Music is located in the Merriam Theater building at 250 South Broad Street. Facilities include fully equipped music studios, practice rooms, a class piano laboratory, a digital drum lab, and classrooms. The school’s MARS (MIDI and Recording Studios) is a modern recording and music technology facility, with a complete 32-input recording studio, MIDI and computer labs, computer and synthesizer workstation labs, and an audio-for-video dubbing and editing lab. Most practice rooms are equipped with grand pianos. A suite of fully equipped percussion and drumset studios is available for student practice.

The University’s historic Merriam Theater, Gershman Building, and the Arts Bank are used for student and faculty performances. The music library, located in the Merriam building, contains books, manuscripts, journals, scores, records, tapes, and compact discs, as well as listening and viewing facilities, a music education information center, and online access to the Internet for students.

Performance Opportunities/Ensembles

Afro-Cuban Ensemble
Big Band
‘Blue Note’ Ensemble
Brass Ensemble
Brazilian Jazz Ensemble
Brazilian Percussion Ensemble
‘Brecker Brothers’ Ensemble
Chamber Singers
‘Charles Mingus’ Ensemble
Chorus
Drumset Ensemble
Faculty Recitals
Fusion Ensemble
Guest Artist Concerts
Handbell Choir
Inter-arts Ensemble
Jazz Guitar Ensemble
Jazz Lab Band
‘Jazz Messengers’ Ensemble
Jazz Singers
Jazz Trombone Ensemble
Latin Jazz Ensemble
‘Maynard Ferguson’ Ensemble
‘Miles Davis’ Ensemble
Musical Theater Ensemble
New Orleans Ensemble
Opera Scenes
Percussion Ensemble
Rick Kerber Tribute Big Band
‘Rumble’ (Bucket Drums)
Saxophone Ensemble
Small Jazz Ensemble Concerts
‘Steely Dan’ Ensemble
Student Recitals
Trombone Ensemble
World Music Ensemble
‘Yellowjackets’ Ensemble

Programs of Study

Major Areas of Concentration

Bass (Electric and/or Upright)
Cello
Clarinet
Composition
Drums
Flute
Guitar
Saxophone
Trombone
Trumpet
Tuba
Percussion
Piano
Violin
Voice
Woodwind Doubling

Undergraduate Programs

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in Composition

Students enrolled as majors in Composition take private lessons with our faculty who work professionally in contemporary classical, jazz, and commercial (radio, TV, film, industrial) and pop idioms. Monthly workshops featuring guest composers representing a variety of musical genres present students with an inside look at their creative processes and techniques. Additional courses include Jazz Ear Training, Jazz Theory, MIDI and Music Technology, Arranging, Orchestration, Music History, Business of Music, and ensembles. Student compositions are read or performed by our ensembles, and frequent performances of students’ music highlight the school’s concert schedule. Composition students can also elect an option to take additional study on an instrument or voice. The University’s creative environment encourages collaborations with film, animation, dance, theater, and multimedia students.

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in Instrumental Performance

The Jazz Studies instrumental curriculum provides a direct and pragmatic education for students interested in establishing a career as a performer or arranger in jazz and/or contemporary music. Students receive weekly, one-hour private lessons in their major area with renowned artist teachers. Performance opportunities are plentiful in the school’s award-winning jazz ensembles. Special courses include Jazz Improvisation, Jazz Theory, Jazz Ear-Training, Basic Piano, Jazz Piano, Jazz Arranging, History of Jazz, The Business of Music, MIDI Synthesis, Music Technology, Recording Engineering, Transcription and Analysis, Acoustics, Orchestration, World Music, 20th Century Music, Advanced Rhythmic Theory, and Advanced Improvisation.

Woodwind majors may elect to enroll in a woodwind specialist program that includes the study of various woodwind instruments.

Bachelor of Music in Jazz Studies in Vocal Performance

The Vocal Jazz Studies program in the School of Music is a unique curriculum that provides strong training in traditional vocal technique, and combines skills and knowledge in a range of vocal styles and literature including jazz/contemporary, and classical and musical theater. Students receive private instruction in voice, and take a core of courses in jazz ear training, jazz theory, jazz history, styles and diction, theory, basic piano, jazz piano, advanced piano, music technology, and careers in music. Additionally, Vocal majors select classes and ensembles that most accurately reflect performance and study interests, including jazz vocal ensembles, chorus and chamber singers, vocal workshops, and an ongoing series of master classes.

Diploma Program

This four-year program is designed primarily for students who wish to take the entire musical portion of the undergraduate curriculum without liberal arts courses. Students wishing to transfer from this program to the bachelor’s degree program may apply to do so in any year of their matriculation and will be required to obtain the approval of both the Director of the School of Music and the Director of Liberal Arts. The Diploma program is ideal for students who have already earned a degree in a field other than music, but who want the benefit of a complete undergraduate training and education in music.

The two-year Certificate in Music program consists of the musical studies normally taken during the first two years of the Bachelor of Music program. No liberal arts courses are required.

The Certificate in Music is awarded only to students who are in residence and are matriculated in the certificate program.

The minor in e-music offers students majoring in both Multimedia and Music an opportunity to create electronic and experimental music, to develop skills that allow them to produce, package, and distribute music by taking advantage of digital technology, and to design electronic instrumental interfaces. The minor prepares students for a variety of highly entrepreneurial careers ranging from entertainment and product development to creative and production work in the recording and musical fields. This minor is only available to students majoring in Multimedia or Music. Please note that this minor requires 17 credits for Music majors. Specific requirements for multimedia majors can be found in the CMAC section of this catalog.

• MMDI 101 Visual Communications Studio 3.0 cr.
• MMDI 111 Introduction to Interface Design 3.0
• MUSC 353 History of Rock & Experimental Music 3.0
• MUSC 461 Recording 2.0
• MMDI 330 E-Music Thesis Project 3.0

• MMDI 202 Web Design Studio or 3.0
• MMDI 212 Game Design Studio

The Music Education minor complements the degree studies of all music majors, with two courses counting towards the liberal arts core of the student’s bachelor’s degree. Coursework includes instruction in each of the instrument families, pedagogy of private instruction and improvisation, conducting, rehearsing jazz ensembles, the psychology of teaching and learning music, and the needs of special learners. Field experiences include working with ensembles in public and private schools.

Music Education minors will be able to complete the Master of Arts in Teaching degree (MAT) and receive teacher certification in one additional academic year. This ‘4 +1’ option allows students to earn a MUED minor, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and teacher certification in only five years.

The Master of Arts in Teaching Music Education is a 36-credit program designed for students who have completed bachelor’s degrees in applied music, music theory/composition, music history/literature, or other non-education, music-related curricula. The MAT can be completed in one academic year provided corequisite requirements have been met and placement testing does not indicate the need for supplementary studies. Undergraduate students in music at the University may take the Music Education Minor, which satisfies all corequisites. The MAT in Music Education leads to teaching certification in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The Master of Music in Jazz Studies is a 32-credit program designed for students who have completed a bachelor’s degree in jazz performance or other applied music with significant experience in jazz/contemporary music studies. The MM can be completed in a oneyear, two-semester schedule, providing that all prerequisite skills are satisfied prior to beginning the program. The entrance requirements include advanced technical and stylistic facility on the major instrument or voice, and skills in improvisation, jazz theory and ear training, and jazz history. The MM program is intended to dramatically increase the student’s performance abilities, as well as provide a diversity of other professional-level competencies, preparing the student for a career as a music professional or college-level teacher.

Special Regulations/Requirements

Attendance

The number of hours of ‘Unexcused Absences’ permitted per semester in the School of Music may not exceed the number of credits per course, i.e., in a three-credit course, no more than three hours of unexcused absences are permitted; in a two-credit course, no more that two hours of unexcused absences are permitted, etc.Attendance at Lessons

Students must attend all private lessons as scheduled except in the case of illness or emergency. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the teacher if he/she is unable to keep the appointment time. Failure to give at least 24 hours prior notice may result in forfeiture of the lesson. A maximum of three lessons per semester will be made up in the case of excused absences.

Lessons missed because of unexcused absences will not be made up.

Lessons missed due to the teacher’s absence will be rescheduled and made up by the teacher, or his/her designee.

Unless circumstances render it impossible, ‘make-up’ lessons for the Fall semester are to be completed prior to the Spring semester; ‘makeup’ lessons for the Spring must be completed by June 15.

Normally, students are entitled to 28 one-hour lessons during the academic year (14 per semester).

Change of Major Teacher

Students who wish to petition for a change of major teacher must:

1. Secure a ‘Request for Change of Major Teacher’ form from the Director of the School of Music.
2. State reasons for requesting a change of teacher.
3. Obtain the signed approval of the present and the requested teacher.
4. Obtain the signed approval of the department chair.
5. Obtain the signed approval of the Director of the School of Music.

Such changes are not usually effected in mid-semester. If the change is approved during the semester, in addition to the process stated above, the student must also complete a Drop/Add form to correct the current major teacher designation. The Drop/Add form must be signed by the Director of the School of Music and submitted by the student to the Office of the Registrar.

The school requires that every student must change applied major teachers following the fourth semester of study with a particular teacher. Students are given the option of requesting a specific teacher, or the Department Chair or Director can appoint one. This policy reaffirms the high quality of instruction in every applied area, and guarantees a diversity of teaching and learning perspectives in the major.

Faculty Advisors

All students are assigned to a faculty advisor. Lists are posted in the Merriam Lobby during the first week of the academic year. Students should feel free to see their advisor at any time concerning problems that they may encounter.

Appointments can be made at the mutual convenience of the student and the faculty advisor.

Jury Examinations

All first-, second-, and third-year music majors must take a jury examination in their applied area upon the completion of the second, fourth, and sixth semesters of applied study. This usually occurs in May during the week of or immediately following classroom examinations. However, students who began their matriculation in midyear, transferred from another institution, or have failed their jury in a prior year may be scheduled to take the examination in December.

Students are evaluated in comparison to the Minimum Applied Jury Requirements in their major. A list of these requirements is given to each student by his/her major teacher at the beginning of each year. The jury consists of at least two faculty members in addition to the major teacher (who may be present but may not grade). The jury examination is graded ‘Pass/Fail,’ but also includes areas of optional letter grading evaluation.

Failure in any single ‘Pass/Fail’ aspect of the jury examination constitutes an ‘F’ (Failure) in the entire jury examination. A student who fails the jury fails the entire semester in the applied major; the examination may not be retaken until the following semester. A grade of ‘F’ will appear on the student’s transcript for both the major lessons and the jury exam, and the student will receive no credit for the semester’s work in major lessons. The student must repeat the failed semester of applied study and retake the jury examination at the completion of the next semester. A student who fails the same semester jury examination more than once, or who fails a total of more than one jury examination during his/her matriculation at the University will be recommended for dismissal.

The requirements that are tested in the jury examination are those that have been established, by a departmental faculty committee, to be the minimum set of skills and knowledge necessary for successful completion of applied study. Requirements are established for each year of study and are considered cumulative: e.g., a jury examination of a second-year student may include requirements from the first year.

It is possible for a student to pass the jury examination and yet receive a failing grade in the major, due to the different grading and evaluation criteria for each. However, a student who fails the jury will receive a failure in the major.

Senior or Graduate Recital/Senior Showcase

All fourth-year students are required to present a solo or group performance during a designated period in the spring semester. This ‘Senior Showcase’ is the official recital required for graduation. The showcase is graded pass/fail and will appear on the student’s transcript. Recital grading is decided by a majority vote of a faculty committee. Grading criteria include many different aspects, including duration, preparation, performance, and presentation. A sample evaluation form is distributed at the beginning of the semester to all students who are scheduled to present a senior showcase.

All performances are audio- and videotaped by the School for archival and grading purposes only; they are not meant to be professional-quality productions or student demos. Due to federal copyright laws, duplication by the School or the student is expressly prohibited. All performances are staffed (sound, light and video) by University personnel, and the official programs must be printed by the School.

A series of workshops titled ‘Senior Showcase Forum’ is offered during the fall semester prior to the scheduling of recitals, during which faculty and staff outline the requirements such as the selection of material, ensemble personnel, performance date, set-up, stage presentation, etc. Attendance at the forum is mandatory for all students who will be presenting a showcase, and is factored into the final recital grade. Each student’s major teacher and department chair must approve the recital program. Approval must be received in writing, at least three weeks prior to the recital.

Students failing the senior showcase may be given one more opportunity to present a successful one prior to the end of the semester. If that attempt fails, the student must wait until the following semester. A student who has not presented a satisfactory showcase cannot graduate.

Students who have met the requirements of presenting a satisfactory showcase are free to use the School facilities at any other time during the year to present a concert or recital of their choosing.

The forum, the preparation, and the showcase are intended to provide a valuable educational and professional experience for the student.

Academic Censure

In addition to the criteria listed under ‘Academic Censure’ in the Academic Policies section of this catalog, a grade below ‘B-’ (2.67) in Major Lessons is considered to be criteria for Academic Censure.

F

irst Wednesday

The first Wednesday of each month is devoted to a concert of select student performances.

Music majors may not schedule other commitments during the time designated as First Wednesday and attendance is required. In addition, all music students are encouraged to attend student and professional performances on a regular basis.

Professional Standards and Behavior

Students are required to maintain high standards of professionalism in studio, classroom, rehearsal, and performance commitments. Failure to follow directions, and absence from or lateness to rehearsals, performances, and related activities may result in Academic Censure, including lowering of grades, course failure, removal from the class, or suspension.

Applied Workshops

Workshops in each applied major/department are scheduled at least four times each semester. Faculty and guests teach an array of topics that are supplemental and supportive to the major lesson. Attendance and participation are required as part of the grade in the major.

Graduation Requirements

In addition to the general CPA requirements for graduation, the following must be fulfilled:

Undergraduate Requirements

1. Performance majors must present a satisfactory graduation recital before the public (‘satisfactory’ performance to be determined by majority vote of a faculty jury).
2. Composition majors must submit a satisfactory substantial work in the senior year, to be publicly performed, adjudicated by the Composition faculty.
3. The recital must include musical selections as stipulated by the faculty, and must conform to School of Music recital requirements.

Exit Requirements for the MAT in Music Education

Successful completion of all course and related requirements shall lead to the granting of the Master of Arts in Teaching with a major in Music Education, provided that an overall GPA of 3.0 or higher is maintained. However, approval of the MAT in Music Education Committee is required for recommendation for teacher certification. It should be noted also that the initial Instructional I Certificate cannot be issued by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Education unless PDE testing requirements have been met.

Exit Requirements for the Master of Music in Jazz Studies

All MM students must complete a satisfactory graduate project and a graduate recital in order to meet the degree requirements for completion of the Master of Music.

The recital must include musical selections as stipulated by the major teacher and department, and must conform to the guidelines as stated in the school policy governing recitals and senior recitals.

All MM candidates are required to maintain a cumulative GPA of at least a 3.0.

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