Klarinet Archive - Posting 001272.txt from 2000/10

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] A curricular issue
Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2000 18:05:21 -0400

--- rgarrett@-----.edu wrote:

> Are there ever circumstances when a student at a university who is majoring
> in music should be allowed to elect an ensemble to satisfy their ensemble
> requirement for which they do not participate in the ensemble on their
> major instrument?

If the student is not at a level where they are granted admission into at
least one of the major instrumental ensembles (at least wind band), this
calls into question whether they are technically ready to major in music.
Some remedial work on their instrument may be indicated before they are
officially granted "music major" status and allowed to advance through
coursework which counts toward their performance degree. Remedial work
will, of course, prolong their degree program, but that's the way it goes
sometimes. Even candidates accepted into the Master's performance pro-
grams at Eastman and Juilliard must satisfy certain other criteria be-
fore they are allowed to advance in their degree programs (e.g.; minimum
aural skills, theory, and music history proficiency). If a Master's can-
didate at one of these top-tier conservatories is unable to demonstrate
proficiency in any of the fundamental subjects, they are required to take
and pass remedial coursework -- without any of those credits being applied
to their degree requirements. If they are unable to pass those remedial
classes within the first year of their program, they may be ejected from
the program altogether.

The burden of the above situation is, intuitively, entirely upon the stu-
dent. If a different situation applies, i.e.; all of the available major
ensembles are simply full and the student is being denied the opportunity
to participate on that basis, then the burden for the problem falls upon
the school itself. For students who are near completion of their degree
programs, a waiver is sometimes granted for an academic class which is not
offered during the final quarter/semester of a given student's degree pro-
gram. Some schools make allowances for such cases by suggesting alterna-
tive courses to take, which they count in lieu of the curriculum-stipu-
lated course. If the school does not have enough ensembles to fulfill
the requirements of all of its instrumental music majors, it needs to
examine its admissions policies to ensure that the music major popula-
tion does not exceed available resources in the future. Meanwhile, stu-
dents should not penalized for being unable to fulfill the major ensemble
requirement in this case. Performing on a secondary instrument instead
is not ideal, but at least the student still gains ensemble experience
-- and all of the commensurate fundamental musicianship skills associat-
ed with ensemble playing (rhythm, intonation, balance, aural awareness,
etc.).

The short answer to your question? Yes.

-- Neil

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