Music Department

1. To provide an opportunity for all of the students of this liberal arts institution to develop a better understanding of the musical arts.
2. To provide training in music, leading to its associate careers.
3. To provide artistic leadership, outreach, and musical performances for the enrichment of the cultural aspects of the college, community, and area schools.

1. In General Education, the music department should serve a large portion of the student population both in courses that require previous musical experience and courses designed for the neophyte.

2. Musical performances should offer a wide variety of literature and styles in live concerts by both student and professional musicians. The college and the community should be actively involved in these programs, with the music faculty acting as a catalyst in all areas.

3. Graduating seniors in music should:

a. demonstrate an understanding of the formal, harmonic and melodic structure of standard musical literature;

b. demonstrate practical knowledge of keyboard skills;

c. demonstrate performance competency in at least one area of applied music;

d. demonstrate an understanding of music in its historical and cultural context;

e. where applicable (music education option), be qualified for teacher certification by the Colorado State Department of Education.

The Music Department offers three courses of study, each leading to a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music. These liberal arts concentrations include:

• General Music Studies
• Music Performance
• Music K-12 Teaching Option
• Jazz Studies
• Music Business

Consult with an advisor to determine the option that best suits your background and future aspirations. You will be required to pass an entrance audition as well as take a music theory placement exam.  Auditions must be completed by the end of the first term of residency.  If a student is admitted on a provisional basis, he or she must re-audition each term until acceptance.

 

All music majors must enroll in the courses listed under “Special Departmental Requirements” in the College catalog. Included every term are Applied Music, the Major Ensemble assigned by your private teacher, and Concert Attendance/Music Literature. See the catalog and departmental checklists for specific requirements for each music concentration. Every Music K-12 Teaching Option must also apply to the Department of Teacher Education once he/she has completed 30 semester hours

All music majors must enroll in Applied Music every semester of residency. Specific practice and performance standards are set individually by each professor, and many music faculty also require attendance at a studio class or symposium as part of the applied music course. Performance majors should enroll in 2 credits per term; K-12 Teaching Option and General Music Studies majors, 1 credit per term.

All music majors are required to perform on one student recital per semester. These monthly recitals are held in Roshong Recital Hall on Thursdays at 12:20 PM.  Your musical selection may be no longer than 6 minutes and you must fill out the “Online Student Recital Form” to be considered for inclusion. (http://www.fortlewis.edu/music/StudentForms.aspx).  This form is due on the Monday before the recital date, however, you may complete the form as early as you’d like since all dates for the term will be available for selection.

Students performing either a junior or a senior recital do not need to perform on a student recital during the same term.

Performance on the Student Honors Recital will fulfill your student recital requirement for the Winter term.

All music majors must participate in the appropriate major ensemble (band, concert choir, or orchestra) every semester of residency. There are no exceptions. Appropriate major ensembles:  wind and percussion- concert band, voice- choir, strings- chamber orchestra/Durango Youth Symphony, guitar- band or choir, and piano-orchestra, band, or choir.

Attendance at scheduled recitals, concerts, and master classes is required each semester of residency. Specific requirements will be posted each term, and concert attendance will be considered part of individual applied music grades.

Attendance at scheduled recitals, concerts, and master classes is required each semester of residency for all students enrolled in applied lessons.

Music majors must attend at least 15 recitals per term and music minors and non-majors must attend at least 10 recitals per term. 

Failure to meet these requirements will result in your applied grade being lowered as follows:

You MUST follow these guidelines to obtain recital credit:

For all events held in Roshong Recital Hall you must pick up your recital attendance card from the box and take it into the recital hall with you.  At the end of the event you must give your card to the event coordinator or faculty member collecting them.  Your card will be punched for the event attended and put back in the box.  If you come into an event late you must see the person collecting attendance cards at the end to determine whether or not you were there long enough to obtain credit.  This is the ONLY way to receive credit for Roshong Recital Hall events.

Certain other music events held on and off campus may be counted for credit.  This includes, but is not limited to: music events at the Community Concert Hall, Durango Choral Society concerts, St. Mark’s classical recital series, Unitarian Church classical recital series, Met Live at the Storyteller Theatre, San Juan Symphony concerts, etc.  To obtain credit for these events you must staple your ticket stub to your program, print your name on it, and place it in the folder outside the Event Coordinator’s office - Jones 222.  Programs lacking a ticket stub and name will not be counted. 

You will automatically receive credit for Music Department events in which you are performing and which are scheduled on the main Music Events list for each term. (Student Recitals, Band/Choir/Orchestra concerts, etc.) and will not need to pull your card or turn in a program/ticket stub.  If your ensemble performs somewhere other than Roshong Recital Hall or the Concert Hallz you may be able to receive some amount of credit depending upon the repertoire, length of performance, etc.  This type of credit is determined on a case-by-case basis.

All music majors must satisfy a proficiency requirement. Students with adequate skills may petition to take the examination from Dr. Campi. Those with less keyboard background should enroll in the Piano Class sequence (MU103, 104, 203, 204). Successful completion of these classes also satisfies the piano proficiency requirement.
The Piano Proficiency Exam consists of the following:

Scales and Technique:
a. All major and harmonic minor scales up to four sharps and flats - hands together, two octaves, quarter note=100 or faster
b. Chord progressions I-IV-V-I

Prepared Pieces:
Intermediate level pieces prepared with proper tempi, fingerings, and dynamics. Representative pieces include:

      
Accompanying Pieces:
A work form 24 Italian Songs and Arias or any choice of an instrumental work such as a Handel flute sonata. The quality of ensemble is very important.

Sight-Reading and Harmonization:
a. Following ten minutes to look at a simple piece of music, play through it without stopping.
b. Harmonize a simple melody.

A number of brass, woodwind, percussion, and string instruments are available at no additional fee for ensemble performance, applied lessons, and for class lessons. Consult the music department or your applied teacher if you need an instrument. Instruments may be checked out through your appropriate applied instructor. A faculty signature is required. Should the instrument you borrowed be damaged or lost, your student account will be billed for the repair/replacement costs and a hold will be placed on your account.

Practice rooms, most equipped with a piano, are available for individual or group practice sessions. The band room is available on a sign-up basis only for recital preparation and percussion practice.  At times some larger classrooms are available if unoccupied.  Permission slips are required to access the building after hours.

Lockers are available for instrument storage in the student lounge area at no extra cost. Departmental locks are required – See the Administrative Assistant to obtain a lock and locker number.

Concert attire (tuxedo jackets for men and long black dresses for women) are provided by the Music Department. Students must furnish their own black dress slacks, black shoes and black socks or hosiery. Band and orchestra members have the option of providing their own tuxedos or black dresses. Women’s attire must be plain black, floor length, and long-sleeved.

Junior Recitals are required of performance majors only. These may be half recitals given in conjunction with another student.

Senior Recitals are required of all music majors during their senior year. This also fulfills the Senior Seminar requirement.

Piano Proficiency Requirements must be completed prior to the senior recital.

When you are ready to schedule your recital, you must have approval from your applied teacher and the department chair. All recitals should include music from various time periods, including major works for your performance medium.. Music should not exceed one hour in length. Piano, strings, and voice recitals should be memorized where appropriate, and students must provide their own accompanists.

Recital programs are to be submitted electronically to the student’s applied teacher no later than 2 weeks prior to the performance.  Programs must be created using the online program template located at: http://www.fortlewis.edu/music/StudentForms.aspx

Programs not submitted in this manner will be returned to the student.  ALL information must be included; composer’s entire name, birth/death dates, numbers and names of all movements being performed, names of additional players/accompanist for each piece, etc.  Vocal students must also include translations for pieces not sung in English. Program notes are required for all Senior recitals as part of the senior seminar fulfillment.

Late program submissions may result in no printed program for your recital.

1. Students presenting senior and required junior recitals (performance majors only) will have first priority when choosing performance dates. 
2. Students should schedule all required recitals as early as possible each term.
3. Only after these recitals have been scheduled will dates be made available for non-required recitals.
4. Junior recitals are typically half recitals, and may be shared with another student.
5. The music department will not provide programs for optional recitals, and students are encouraged to schedule optional recitals off-campus.

All public performances at Fort Lewis College are audio recorded for archival purposes. Copies of these recordings are available upon request. Videotaping will not be provided by the Department; students may arrange to have this done independently.

Juried exams are held for all Applied Music students at the end of each trimester. Appearance before a faculty jury constitutes the final exam in the student’s applied area. Students performing a degree recital are exempt from a jury for that term.

Student Objectives:To experience a true performance situation; to gain musical insights from comments faculty members in addition to their applied teacher; to demonstrate skills acquired during the trimester’s study.

Faculty Objectives:To review and evaluate the musical and technical progress of individual students; to encourage the artistic growth of students through constructive comments; to provide an opportunity for faculty members to share ideas and suggestions regarding applied instruction and student performance.

An extended jury, or proficiency exam, will be held during the semester that each student is enrolled in MU229 (Theory and Musicianship IV). Most often this will occur during the second semester of the sophomore year. Students must pass this exam in order to continue as upper division music majors. The exam will include the following:

1. At least two contrasting pieces (solos, etudes, and/or orchestral excerpts)
2. All Major and minor scales
3. One sight-singing example
4. Additional requirements as determined by your applied instructor (transposition, arpeggios, etc.)
5. Faculty interviews

Due to Music Department staffing limitations, certain courses are scheduled on an alternate year plan. These may include Music History, Music Business, Jazz Studies, and various Music Education classes. It is the student’s responsibility to keep informed about alternate-year courses, so plan your schedule carefully. This course list will be posted on the campus web site.

The music faculty recommends that all music majors attempt to schedule 16-18 hours per trimester, making sure to allow for adequate practice and rehearsal time.

If you need to adjust your schedule by adding or dropping courses, make these changes as early in the term as possible. This will ultimately save you money and help to maintain your academic record.  Consult the FLC student handbook for general institutional policies regarding drop/add procedures.

In order to graduate you must fill out an 'Application to Graduate'.
The form, rules, and instructions can be found on the Registrar's webpage via a link on the left menu bar titled "Apply to Graduate"

Two semesters of foreign language study are strongly recommended for both the General Music Studies and Performance major.

As soon as possible in your college experience, arrange for a music faculty member to serve as your academic advisor. You can find a “Change of Advisor” form on the Registrar’s website: http://www.fortlewis.edu/registrar/Forms.aspx.  Most often, your advisor will also be your applied teacher. Music K-12 Teaching Option students are required to have an additional advisor in the Teacher Education Department. Keep in mind that the advisor’s role is to advise, and that the ultimate responsibility for meeting graduation criteria lies with the student.

The Music Department is in full compliance with federal copyright standards. Students are required to purchase their own music or if available, check it out from the library. Photocopying music is illegal. Do not expect to xerox your teacher’s music.

Regular class and rehearsal attendance is imperative for all music students. It is the student’s responsibility to inform his/her professor if classes or rehearsals will be missed due to illness.

Applications for music scholarships are accepted each spring, and scholarships are awarded to majors only, on the basis of performance ability and academic achievement. Descriptions of music scholarships are available from both the Fort Lewis College Foundation and Financial Aid offices. Additional service scholarships for majors and non-majors may be available on a limited basis to members of ensembles that require extra performance duties.  The application is an on-line form located at: http://www.fortlewis.edu/music/StudentForms.aspx

A course of study for a minor in music is also available. 19 credits in music are required, including 6 upper division. In most instances this minor is self-constructed after satisfying the following core curriculum:

  MU 128 Theory and Musicianship I     5 cr.
  MU 128 Theory and Musicianship II    5 cr.
  MU 331 or 332 Music History I or II      3 cr.
  MU 109, 209, and 309 Applied Music 6 cr. (Audition required)