Juries

At the end of each semester of study, all music majors in applied lessons perform individually before a faculty committee; the length of the jury may vary by concentration and the content is determined by the private instructor. The outcome of the jury is factored into the private lesson grade. Students playing degree recitals are exempt from a jury the semester of the recital performance.

Download the Wind and Percussion Jury Form, fill it out, save it, and bring 4 copies to your jury time.

Piano Proficiency Exam

All music majors except for piano majors must pass a piano proficiency exam before graduation (Music Education students must pass the exam before student teaching) Students should enroll in 4 courses: (Functional Piano I –IV) and any additional private piano lessons until the exam is passed. The exam is administered during finals week in both Fall and Spring semesters. If faculty is available, the exam may be given at the end of the 2nd summer semester (August).

Sophomore Mid-Level Proficiency Exam

  1. All freshmen music majors who entered the department during or after the fall of 2007 must take the Mid-level Proficiency Exam in Music Theory at end of the sophomore year, or upon completion of the 2000 level music theory courses. Transfer students entering at the junior level who are deemed unready for 3000 level theory courses must repeat the sophomore level theory courses and then take the Mid-Level Proficiency Exam.
  2. The exam will be administered after Spring Break and before the final exam period. To continue the degree plan without interruption, students must pass the exam with a grade of 80% or better.
  3. Students who have not passed the THEA may still take the Mid-Level Proficiency Exam in Music Theory. However, they must still fulfill THEA requirements before enrolling in 3000-level music theory courses.
  4. This exam covers the basic knowledge of theory, including aural skills as follows: a) scale recognition; b) interval recognition; c) chord recognition; d) error detection in melodic and rhythmic dictation. The written test will also include the following: a) terminology; b) knowledge of Major and minor key signatures; c) ability to write Major and minor scales in any key; d) construction of Major, minor, Augmented and diminished intervals; e) construction of triads, seventh chords, and their inversions in various keys; f) Roman numeral analysis; g) part-writing in three or four voices.
  5. Instructors must apprise all entering freshmen and transfer students of the exam requirements, standards, and the consequences for those who are not prepared.
  6. Instructors are required to prepare students for the Mid-Level Proficiency exam and to explain the requirements.
  7. The exam is Pass or Fail.
    1. Students who pass the exam will be allowed to advance to junior-level music theory courses in the fall.
    2. Students who fail the exam with grades in the range of 70-79% will be required to take a remedial summer course and then retake the exam in the beginning of the fall semester.
    3. Note: Students who fail the exam with grades below 70% should seriously consider other career alternatives.
  8. The theory faculty will send letters to students informing them of their Mid – Level Proficiency examination results by the end of the spring semester.

Mid-Level Proficiency in Music Theory

  1. All music majors must take the Mid-Level Proficiency Exam in Performance at the end of the sophomore year, or upon completion of the 2000 level applied music courses. Transfer students entering at the junior level who are deemed unready for 3000 level applied music courses must repeat the sophomore level applied music courses and then take the Mid-Level Proficiency Exam.
  2. This exam is a longer, more extensive jury exam to be held at the end of the semester during finals week. Students must pass the exam to the satisfaction of the jury panel and the applied lesson instructor.
  3. Instructors must apprise all entering freshmen and transfer students of the exam requirements, standards, and the consequences for those who are not prepared. If this meeting does not take place within the first month of the student’s first semester, students should inform the department head.
  4. Instructors are required to prepare students for the Proficiency exam, to explain the technical requirements, including scales and etudes, and to assign the appropriate literature that must be performed.
  5. The jury exam period will be 20 – 30 minutes depending on the applied area. Some exams consist of two parts requiring a second day to complete.
  6. Students who have not passed the THEA may still take the Mid-Level Proficiency Exam in Performance. However, they must still fulfill THEA requirements before enrolling in 3000-level applied music courses.
  7. The exam is Pass or Fail.
    1. Students who pass the exam will be given the appropriate grade for the semester, and they will be allowed to advance to junior-level applied music courses in the fall.
    2. Students who fail the exam will be given the grade of D for the spring semester. They will not be allowed to advance to junior-level courses. Beginning the following fall, they must retake the entire sequence of sophomore-level applied music courses. Then they must retake the Mid-Level Proficiency Performance Exam.
    3. Note: It is strongly suggested that those students who do not meet the specified standard have an alternate career plan.
  8. Following the examination, the applied teacher will discuss the jury and inform the student of the committee’s recommendations. The Department of Music and Drama will issue letters confirming the jury panel’s decision.
  9. All examinations are closed and no other parties aside from the student and the jury panel will be allowed in the examination room.

Mid-Level Proficiency in Performance

Music Seminar Policy

As both the listening and performing experience are integral to the development of young musicians, the Department of Music & Drama requires that all music majors attend first and foremost the weekly Seminar, as well as many of the live concerts given during the school year by students, faculty, ensembles, and guest artists and groups. Attendance at the weekly Seminar gives students the opportunity to hear a wide selection of repertoire, both vocal and instrumental, outside their individual spheres. In observing their peers, students gain insight into the aesthetic and technical aspects of performing. They learn about the importance and consequences of careful, intense preparation, and they develop audience etiquette.

Upon completion of the four-year degree plan, and by the time of the Senior Recital, music majors must have attendance credits for (a total of) 120 performances, which can include Seminars, recitals, or concerts, in order to 1) be permitted to perform the Senior Recital, or 2) graduate. Mr. Leon Turner will track the attendance.

To fulfill this requirement, it is recommended that Music Majors attend 15 performances per semester, for eight semesters. However, what matters is that the total number of concerts attended meets the Seminar Attendance Policy requirements by the time of the Senior Recital.

This policy will apply to incoming Freshman, Fall 2007, and all entering Freshman thereafter, as follows:

  • Freshmen – 8 semesters = 120 credit

This policy will apply to all current upperclassmen, beginning Fall 2007, as follows:

  • Sophomores – 6 semesters = 90 credits
  • Juniors – 4 semesters = 60 credits
  • Seniors – 2 semesters = 30 credits
  • Transfer students – 15 credits per semester at PVAMU

Current (2007-08) certification students are exempt.
Students performing the Senior Recital during Fall 2007 are also exempt.

If the student, nearing the Senior Recital, is in arrears, and there are not enough concerts taking place on campus, that student may make up the difference by attending concerts outside of campus, in Houston, Austin, or elsewhere. The student would then bring programs to Mr. Turner as proof of attendance.

Music Seminar Policy