Downloadable Graduate Studies Handbook PDF 1MB
Welcome to the Setnor School of Music! It is our hope that this handbook will facilitate a productive and enjoyable educational experience. The Setnor School of Music is a small community of faculty and student musicians whose passion is music. In order to ensure a positive experience for everyone, it is important that all members of the community interact with goodwill, generosity and awareness that individual actions have a great effect on the community. All community members should treat others with respect, free of racial, ethnic, religious, gender, or sexual orientation-based discrimination. In addition, respect for others is shown through basic courtesies such as punctuality, preparation, making expectations clear, and participation in those activities that strengthen the community.
Community members should be aware of the building and facilities, and realize that each member is responsible for their daily care and monitoring, including locking doors, closing windows, returning equipment, picking up after oneself, and normalizing rooms after use.
No food or drink is allowed in the auditorium, classrooms or practice rooms.
Director: Dr. John Warren - Room 302
Director: Dr. Bradley Ethington - Room 401
Director: Dr. James Tapia - Room 110
Co-Coordinators: Ida Trebicka - Room 210; Dr. Anne Laver - Room 122A
Coordinator: William Knuth - Room 405B
Coordinator: Janet Brown - Room 304A
Coordinator: Dr. Bradley Ethington - Room 401
Director: Dr. John Coggiola - Shaffer, Room 202C
Website
The SETNOR SCHOOL OF MUSIC WEBSITE includes a wealth of information that is regularly updated. The resources portion of the site, SETNOR RESOURCES, provides access to the Setnor Graduate Studies Handbook, Advising Check Sheets, and Student Recital Forms and links to other student services. Plan to use these resources often!
Setnor students are charged a music program fee that covers a variety of expenses such as guest artists, master classes, travel, classroom supplies, musical instruments, equipment, technology, lessons, and so forth (students holding full Assistantships are exempt from having to pay this fee). The music program fee covers lessons required by Setnor’s MM degree programs.
Any other elective lessons a student takes beyond those required for their degree program requires an additional lesson fee. Additional fees are also charged for courses requiring rental, replacement, or repair of instruments.
No alcohol is to be served at any Setnor School of Music reception, regardless of location, or any event held in Setnor Auditorium, or elsewhere in Crouse College. This prohibition is School of Music policy, and stands even when Campus Catering may be willing to provide alcohol. It is recognized that we share the building with the administrative offices of VPA, who may have different policies.
A series of diagnostic examinations are administered prior to the first day of classes of each fall semester to all students who are entering graduate school in music for the first time (including graduates of Syracuse University). The purpose of the examinations is to assist the student and advisor in planning an appropriate curriculum of studies. The examinations include basic areas of music skills covered in a typical four-year program of undergraduate music study: music theory, aural skills, and music history, including examination of scores and recognition of excerpts from major works in the Western music tradition, jazz and popular music, and world music.
Successful completion of the diagnostic theory examination or of the remedial theory course outlined below is required prior to enrollment in any graduate theory course. Those who are deficient in theory and/or aural skills will register for MTC 540 - Survey of Basic Theory. Course structure for each student will be based on weaknesses determined by the diagnostic examination.
The Music History Diagnostic Examination consists of five exams: Medieval/Renaissance, Baroque, Classic, 19th Century, and 20th Century.
Students who do not pass all five sections of the Music History Diagnostic Examination will be required to take MHL 600 – The History of Music. This can be taken for 1-3 (variable) credits dependent on how the student wishes to use the credits toward their degree program. Students who do pass the entire Music History Diagnostic can opt to take MHL 600 (again, for variable credit). MHL 600 for 3 credits can fulfill the MHL degree requirement necessary for all master’s degree programs in music.
Results of the examinations will be be sent to the student and each academic advisor. After students obtain the results, they should see their academic advisor to arrange a Program of Study for the degree.
New Student Checklist
Ensemble Auditions
Every full-time graduate student must be in a large concert ensemble, and all students must audition at the start of each fall semester. (Piano majors may either audition for a choir or speak with the conductor of a large ensemble to accompany) The rehearsal times for the large ensembles are as follows:
19531 | ENI 510 | Wind Ensemble | MWF | 12:45 - 2:05 | Dr. Ethington | (Audition Required) |
19532 | ENI 540 | University Orchestra | MWF | 3:45 – 5:05 | Dr. Tapia | (Audition Required) |
19533 | ENV 510 | University Singers | MWF | 2:15 - 3:35 | Dr. Warren | (Audition Required) |
19534 | ENV 510 | Oratorio Society | M | 7:00 - 9:30 | Dr. Warren | (Audition Required) |
19535 | ENV 510 | Setnor Sonority | TTH | 3:30 - 4:50 | Dr. Calvar | (Voice Screening for Placement) |
20225 | ENV 510 | Crouse Chorale | TTH | 3:30 - 4:50 | Dr. Ridgley | (Voice Screening for Placement) |
Once you are placed in an ensemble, you must register online for it. THE DEADLINE FOR ADDING CLASSES ONLINE IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 2019. Graduate degrees require large ensembles be taken for 0 credit. The 5- digit numbers attached to these ensembles is for the 0-credit section. Please see the ensemble director for a Permission Number, which will be needed to complete your registration on MySlice.
Applied Music Lessons
All candidates for the Master of Music in Performance, Conducting, and Composition must be registered for an hour lesson on their principal instrument. DO NOT CHANGE OR ADJUST YOUR LESSON REGISTRATION!!! If you need adjustments see Megan Carlsen in the School of Music office, Room 208. You will need to set up your lesson time and location directly with your instructor.
Students needing schedule adjustments should see their advisor during opening weekend, or schedule an appointment with him/her during the first week of classes. You may drop/add classes on your own during the first week of classes. It is best to know and work with the 5-DIGIT CLASS number when doing this. The CLASS number is easy to remember because it has 5 digits (just like the word, class). THE DEADLINE FOR ADDING CLASSES ONLINE IS TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2023.
All Setnor School of Music students must register for Convocation (first year graduate students, MHL 671, 0 credit) each semester they are in residence. Convocation will occur on Thursday afternoons from 12:30-1:50 in Setnor Auditorium or in another designated location. Convocation is a time for student and faculty performances, guest artists, master classes, and studio classes. Everyone must attend the first Convocation on Thursday, August 31, where the semester Convocation schedule will be presented.
010. Don’t forget to attend!
Lockers are available for storage of music and instruments for music majors on their primary instrument. Students should check in the Operations Office, Crouse 301, for assignment of a locker. Space is extremely limited, so additional lockers, or lockers for non-music majors may not be available. Students can request to be placed on a waiting list at bwatso02@syr.edu. Please be reminded that the school is not responsible for lost or stolen items, including musical instruments.
Practice rooms are re-keyed each fall. In order to obtain a working practice room key, you must follow these steps:
Practice rooms are re-keyed each fall. In order to obtain a working practice room key, you must follow these steps:
Students should use their SUID for access to Crouse College when locked. New students’ SUID #s will be entered into the system, enabling the person to use the card reader at the south entrance of the building. If you have any problems, visit the Operations Office in 301 or e-mail mjtaylor@syr.edu.
Mail folders for graduate students are located in Room 301. Paychecks for TA’s can be picked up in your folder in Room 301. Please make arrangements for direct deposit online through MySlice.
For advising and class/schedule adjustment, please see your academic advisor during the week prior to class. If you are unsure of your advisor, please contact Dr. Jill Coggiola at jacoggio@syr.edu for information. FACULTY AND STAFF contact information can be found on the School of Music website.
Musician Health and Wellness
The university provides a number of services to support student health and wellness. It is also important to note that musicians should be aware of particular health concerns that can be a part of the study, performance, listening, teaching, and other areas of music education and the industry. These concerns can include vocal, hearing, repetitive strain injuries and musculoskeletal issues, respiratory issues, along with mental health issues. Preventative care, such as ear protection and proper practice techniques and self-care can be of great help. For more information, talk with your applied teacher, department chairs, or the music school director. Although many of these issues may be discussed in lessons, classes, and ensembles, it is important to seek medical or counseling advice for any concerns. For resources, including assistance regarding mental health, substance abuse, and sexual assault and relationship violence-related services visit Setnor Musician Health and Wellness.
Web: http://vpa.syr.edu/current-students/undergraduate-students/advising-support/career-development/
Email: jflor103@syr.edu; pabevans@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.2517
Where: 200 Crouse College
Career development and professional practices are integral to curricula throughout the College of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as such special opportunities as workshops, lectures, internships, and study abroad. In addition, the college belongs to the Career Services Network at Syracuse University and works in partnership with SU’s Career Services to meet the needs of VPA students. To make an appointment with your assigned Career Advisor, please visit Handshake, Syracuse University's newest career development tool. Contact the VPA’s Office of Student Success for assistance, and watch for career and professional development opportunities on the VPA undergraduate listserv (emailed to all VPA UG students via syr.edu).
Office of Disability Services (ODS) Web: disabilityservices.syr.edu Email: disabilityservices@syr.edu Phone: 315.443.4498
Where: 804 University Ave. - Suite 303
The Office of Disability Service’s (ODS) mission is to engage the University Community to empower students, enhance equity and provide a platform for innovation and inclusion. We achieve this by mitigating competitive disadvantages and environmental barriers that impact learning; by supporting faculty in the classroom and our colleagues across the university to strive for universal design and full inclusion. We provide individual academic adjustments when environmental barriers cannot be eliminated and assistive technology that fosters independent, self-determined learners.
Web: class.syr.edu
Email: CLASS@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.2005
Where: Bird Library - Room 014
The Center for Learning and Student Success (CLASS) provides and facilitates academic support services for SU students, including one-on-one tutoring, small-group tutoring and workshops, and academic integrity education and training. Through collaboration with academic departments and offices, the Center coordinates programs and disseminates information about campus-wide academic resources available to students.
Web: wc.syr.edu
Email: wc@syr.edu
Phone: 315.443.5289
Where: H.B. Crouse Hall - Room 101
The primary aim of the Writing Center is to help you become a stronger, more accomplished writer. No matter which form of support you choose, writing consultants will work with you at any stage of your writing process.
General Information
Academic Information
Academic information is available in a variety of publications. Consult the appropriate one based on the question you wish to answer.
Every student in the Setnor School of Music is required to register for Weekly Student Convocation each semester in residence. Convocation meets each Thursday from 12:30-1:50 pm. Specific requirements will be stated in the course syllabus, to be handed out at the first class meeting. Students wishing to perform on convocation should complete a request form, which will require a faculty sponsor signature and brief program notes.
Registration
All candidates for the MM in Performance and MM in Voice Pedagogy must register for an hour lesson on their principal instrument each semester. Likewise, MM Composition candidates must register for an hour lesson in composition and MM Conducting candidates must register for an hour lesson in conducting. Students wishing to take additional elective lessons are welcome to do so for an additional fee.
Elective Instrument Registration
Students are always welcome to take additional elective lessons; however, should note that there will always be a fee charged for elective or non-required secondary lessons. THE DEADLINE FOR REGISTRATION IS TUESDAY, SEPT. 5, 2023.
Should you wish to take either required or elective lessons, you would need to go to the Setnor School of Music website and DIGITALLY complete and SUBMIT ONLINE a PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION REGISTRATION FORM. Once the
form has been submitted, a copy will come to the School of Music and you will be assigned an instructor and registered for your lesson(s). If there are any issues with your form, someone from the School of Music will contact you.
In areas with multiple instructors (e.g. flute, piano, voice, etc.), a student’s request for a specific instructor will be considered based on that instructor’s availability. The request for a specific instructor should only be made to the appropriate Area Coordinator. Changes are generally only approved between semesters. In unusual cases where a student seeks a change of studio instructor during the course of a semester, these steps should be taken, in the following order:
A semester of applied study consists of fourteen private lessons. Hour lessons may be given in two weekly half-hour lessons at the discretion of the instructor, but regularly combining lessons from different weeks may only be done by petition. Missed lessons must be made up prior to the end-of-semester jury; lessons missed by the instructor should be made up, and lessons missed by the student may be made up at the discretion of the instructor. If an instructor feels that student has accumulated an excess of absences by the end of the semester, the student may:
Jury Examinations
All Music Majors enrolled in applied music will be required to perform a formal jury examination at the end of each semester as scheduled on their principal instrument, regardless of the number of credits for which they are enrolled. Jury exams are not required in secondary performance areas, if lessons are taken as an elective, or of students who are not music majors, but may be taken at the discretion of the instructor. The smallest allowable jury consists of the instructor and two other faculty members.
The combined (average) grade of the jury counts for 25% of the final grade. Repertoire requirements vary from area to area and can be obtained from the area coordinator. Students may be required to present a score of the piece or pieces played/sung at the jury; check with the area coordinator concerning these possible requirements. The student is given written evaluations of the performance by each juror following the jury. No late or make-up juries are given. If illness forces the cancellation of a jury, it must be documented by a medical practitioner; the instructor’s semester grade then stands as the final grade. If a student misses a jury for any other reason, the jury grade will be 0, and that 0 counted as 25% of the final grade. It is to be noted that receiving a grade of less than 70 automatically places the student on academic probation by the Setnor School of Music for the following semester.
Each primary lesson instructor will submit (as requested) end-of-semester grade forms for each of their primary instrument/voice students that includes a grade for each of the following areas: one for lesson work, one for the jury, and a composite grade of the two, weighted 75% lesson work and 25% jury. While only the composite appears on the grade report, all three remain on record in the student’s permanent file. All grades are numerical, and converted to a letter grade. While there is no lower limit to grades assigned for either lesson work or juries graduate students cannot receive a grade of D on their transcript. Students must achieve a grade of 70 in both lesson and jury each semester after the first semester of study. Any student falling below that grade is put on academic probation by the School of Music. Students who fail to meet this standard after one semester of probation will be referred to the Director for advisement and may be required to leave the School of Music. This standard applies to all music students, regardless of major. The following chart shows the conversion of numbers to letters for graduate students:
Numeric Grade 93-100 | Letter Grade A | Numeric Grade 77-79 | Letter Grade C+ |
90-92 | A- | 73-76 | C |
87-89 | B+ | 70-72 | C- |
83-86 | B | 0-69 | F |
80-82 | B- |
*MM Performance and Conducting students will perform two recitals consisting of 50-60 minutes of actual music. MM Composition students prepare works for one recital that takes place in the last semester of their degree program. MM Voice Pedagogy students present a lecture recital during their final semester of study.
MM P erformance and MM Conducting students must register for recitals for one credit as follows: Recital #1 is PER 994 and Recital #2 is PER 995 (or if doing a lecture recital, PER 996). The recital grade appears on the transcript under whichever PER course the student is currently enrolled in.
MM Composition students must register for PER 994 for one credit during their final semester of study. MM Voice Pedagogy students must register for PER 996 when completing their lecture recital.
Some students may opt to do an ‘Elective’ (non-required) recital. This type of recital does not receive a grade, however must be approved via the same faculty pre-recital jury process as all other required recitals.
All recitals will take place in Setnor Auditorium. Requests for recitals to take place in locations other than Setnor Auditorium must be made in the form of a petition. Students presenting a lecture recital may wish to do so in a classroom. Recital forms, information, and program templates are located located at SETNOR RESOURCES. See Scheduling a Student Recital, page 20.
The Graduate Student Handbook states that all MM Performance Majors will perform 2 recitals of 50-60 minutes of actual music.
In light of changing standards in the industry, the Keyboard Faculty has adopted the following updates and clarifications to this requirement for pianists pursuing the (solo) performance track:
The faculty may revisit these requirements from time to time and update them.
During the second or third week of classes there will be a recital lottery held during Convocation (Thursdays 12:30, Setnor Auditorium), wherein all students needing a date for a required recital will choose a number and go in numerical order to reserve a time in the Auditorium for a recital. Second-year graduate students are given first choice, followed by first-year graduate students, seniors, etc. Those students who will be off campus in the spring may be contacted in advance of the lottery to arrange for fall dates. Be in communication with your lesson instructor and pianist as to a recital date. Moving the date for any reason, other than emergency or cancelation may not be possible within the same semester.
Recital Repertoire
Recital repertoire selections typically should represent what the student studies in lessons on their primary instrument (i.e. classical repertoire for students who take traditional lessons and jazz/commercial repertoire for students who take jazz/commercial lessons). Students who want to be assured that their recital repertoire is appropriate are welcome and encouraged to bring their planned repertoire list to their Area Coordinator for review. Students who arrive to the PRJ with performance material deemed unsuitable by the faculty jury will risk having the works in question eliminated from the recital and replaced.
Lecture Recitals are an option for MM/MS degree programs and serve as a requirement for the MM Voice Pedagogy degree. While the Lecture Recital for the MM Voice Pedagogy degree (AMC 799) has its own stand-alone syllabus and requirements, the standard lecture recital for all other degrees typically includes three elements:
In all majors except for Voice Pedagogy, the lecture recital may substitute for the final oral comprehensive examination.
It is important that students work with their private instructor in order to establish target deadlines regarding the progression of the research paper and Power Point presentation.
Recital Jury Panels and Recital Responsibilities
Recital Jury Panels are required for all undergraduate and graduate degree-required and elective recitals. The only exception to this is the music education graduate lecture recital, which requires no jury panel.
A minimum of 3 faculty members are required for a recital jury panel. This includes the student’s primary instructor, an instructor from their immediate area, and a third instructor either from, or outside of their area. Faculty members chosen for a student’s recital jury must be present at the student’s Pre-Recital Jury (PRJ) and should agree to be present at the recital. Typically, Pre- Recital Juries should not last more than one hour.
Students giving a recital must complete a PRJ form. PRJ forms are located at the following link: PRJ FORM. In order to provide the Setnor Operations Office adequate time to prepare for the needs of each recital, PRJ Forms must be completed and submitted online no later than 2 months prior to the PRJ date.
The completed PRJ FORM will need to be printed by the student and brought to the pre-recital jury. All faculty jurors will need to sign the PRJ form following the successful completion of the jury. As soon as the PRJ is passed, the student should be prepared to visit 301 Crouse in order to arrange for the recital dress rehearsal date and time.
Pre-Recital Juries are held approximately 3 weeks prior to the date of the student’s recital in order to allow adequate time for incorporation of suggestions, or if necessary, a second jury for material that did not pass. Students will be given an approximate PRJ date once they have chosen their recital date. The actual PRJ date should fall within 3 days before or after this date. If this date falls during a vacation, then plans should be made to do the PRJ prior to the vacation time. If a chamber group is planned for the recital and all performers cannot attend the PRJ, then at minimum, a recorded performance must be submitted prior to the scheduled PRJ date for faculty evaluation.
Students should consider the PRJ as the date in which their recital is as close to performance ready as possible.
Recital Jury Waiver
If a graduate student has played a recital in the second half of the semester (thus leaving inadequate time to prepare new repertoire) they may have the jury waived for that semester. In this case the instructor’s semester lesson average will stand for the final lesson grade. A student who has played a recital in the first half of the semester must play a jury
The Setnor School of Music offers Master of Music degrees in composition, conducting, music education (via the School of Education; M.S. also offered), performance, and voice pedagogy, as well as the Master of Arts degree in Audio Arts (in conjunction with the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications).
After the results of the entrance diagnostic examinations are obtained, students should meet with their advisor for assistance in designing a Program of Study and completing a class schedule for the first semester and each semester thereafter. In addition, the advisor assists the student in completing arrangements for the final written and oral examinations.
Large Ensemble Participation Requirement
Students in the *M.M. degrees in the School of Music are expected to participate in a large concert ensemble for 0-credit as per their degree requirements. They must participate in the ensembles to which they are assigned. The large concert ensembles include the following: University Orchestra, Wind Ensemble, University Singers, Oratorio Society, Crouse Chorale, and Setnor Sonority. Most large ensembles require auditions. Students may elect to participate in other large or small ensembles as their time permits.
- Beginning Spring 2018, ensemble participation for GRADUATE KEYBOARD and GUITAR STUDENTS can be fulfilled by either large or small ensembles.
- Until such a time when the degree requirements have been successfully modified through the curriculum process, petitions will need to be filed by students in order to have the VPA Office of Student Success adjust a student’s Degree Works page to move completed small ensemble classes into the large ensemble degree requirements.
After the completion of all necessary diagnostic examinations, MM Performance, Composition, Conducting and Voice Pedagogy students should draft a tentative Program of Study Form in consultation with their advisor. Please use the Course Rotation document to help with planning so that you are assured to get the courses you need during the semester when they are offered.
The Program of Study serves two functions:
As a matriculated graduate student, you are admitted to a specific graduate degree program that is registered with the New York State Department of Education. Although graduate degree requirements allow for a certain degree of flexibility, such as the specific courses you will take and the choice of different completion requirements such as a thesis, faculty guided research project, or a final presentation, you will need to complete certain specific requirements for your degree. Discuss closely with your advisor, your Area Coordinator, or the Chair of your department, the program of study you will need to follow to fulfill your degree requirements.
Graduate students in Music Education must complete a master's program of study form with the Office of Academic and Student
Services. You, your faculty advisor and program area chairperson must sign the form. The master's program of study form should be filed before the completion of 18 credit hours of study. The program of study must be filed prior to the completion of 12 credit hours of study if it contains transfer credit. An approved program of study must match courses listed on your official transcript. After it is approved by the senior assistant dean, you and your faculty advisor will each receive a copy via e-mail. The original copy remains on file in the Office of Academic and Student Services to be monitored as you proceed with your program. To change your program of study once it has been approved, you must refile an updated program of study form or submit a petition to the faculty form, signed by your advisor and your program area chairperson, to the Office of Academic and Student Services.
To be a graduate student in good standing, students must comply with the Graduate Grading Standards, which consider passing grades as A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, and C-. The D grade is not an option for graduate students. The minimum GPA for graduate work is 2.8 in the first 30 credits. Certification for an advanced degree requires a minimum average of 3.0 for work comprising the program for the degree and a 2.8 average for all credits earned.
Specific programs in VPA can require the passing of additional reviews, examinations, and assessments of graduate work for a graduate student to be considered in good standing. Such reviews and assessments can result in continuation without reservations, continuation during a probationary period or termination of student status.
Graduate Students may retake a course in which he/she earned a grade of C+, C, C- or F, with the approval of his/her department/college and the Graduate School. Graduate courses may be retaken only once. A repeated course replaces the original course on the student’s degree program of study, but both the original course and the repeated course will appear on the student’s transcript and both courses will calculate, unless the original course is flagged.
For additional information on grading and other academic procedures please visit the Academic Rules found in the Syracuse University Course Catalog.
A student may audit courses with instructor approval. A student must submit the audit option by the grading option deadline, and cannot rescind the option after the deadline. Audited courses are non-credit, do not meet any degree requirements, and are not counted toward enrollment status. Instructors may record a grading symbol of NA instead of AU if the student never attends the class. The student may have limited access to Syracuse University library resources if he or she is auditing a class and is not registered for any credit classes for the term. Courses that require a Proposal for Independent Study, studio art or applied music courses offered by the College of Visual and Performing Arts cannot be audited. Additionally, these types of courses taken through Syracuse Abroad cannot be audited: Signature Seminars and courses required for a Syracuse Abroad program (exceptions may be made for graduate students) and courses taken through partner universities abroad.
To audit a course, do the following:
Independent study/experience credit is available to students who wish to explore a special problem or area of study for which a formal course does not exist.
Independent study is usually a research project or academic work guided by a faculty sponsor.
Experience credit is associated with fieldwork or other work experience in your program of study.
The following guidelines apply:
Experience credit and independent study courses may be elected for one to six credits, depending on individual arrangements with the participating faculty member. In selected topics courses, students may earn one to three credits. Students are advised to check carefully with their faculty advisors and the dean of their school or college before registering for an All-University course to be sure that the course will be accepted toward the completion of their degree requirements.
To apply for independent study/experience credit, you need to submit a proposal:
Pianists play an essential role in facilitating performance at music schools. Their skills and services are required for playing in orchestra and wind ensemble concerts; chamber music; special events, and approved instrumental and vocal degree recitals.
Given the dual constraints of an expanding non-pianist student population coupled with severely limited resources for maintaining a collaborative keyboard staff, the School has set priorities for facilitating repertoire preparation at the highest level for upper-division and graduate students, in juries and in performance.
All vocal and instrumental students are responsible for procuring capable pianists for their lessons, juries, and any other performance events. It is advised that students be proactive and plan accordingly, in consultation with their applied teachers. Students are free to choose whomever they wish to engage and all terms should be established upfront with their pianist. Some collaborations may arise with fellow students who may or may not be piano majors. An updated list of recommended SU and Syracuse area pianists will be maintained with the Office Coordinator in Room 301 and on the Keyboard Department’s bulletin board outside of Room 310.
The only exception to the above guidelines is that the Setnor School provides support for qualifying upper-division and graduate degree recitals. Graduate performance majors are awarded this support when they are accepted to the school. Undergraduates must pass their performance or performance honors jury (normally at the end of the sophomore year). Collaborative support for this group of students is provided mainly in two ways, as described below.
Required Graduate and Senior Instrumental Recitals (Performance and Performance Honors)
*Required Junior Instrumental Recitals (Performance and Performance Honors)
Non-Degree Recitals
For Required Junior, Senior, and Graduate Vocal Recitals (Performance and Performance Honors):
Other Accompanying
Non-Degree Recitals
Teaching assistantship guidelines are established by Syracuse University and call for a maximum workload of 10 hours per week for a half TA, or 20 hours for a full TA. With this in mind, the following allotments have been established for piano TAs, who will also have some responsibilities supporting the Keyboard area by assisting with piano classes, tests, and other administrative duties:
Full Assistantship
Summary
24- Hour Access to Crouse College
Students should use their SUID for access to Crouse College when locked. New students’ SUID #s will be entered into the system, enabling the person to use the card reader at the south entrance of the building. For any problems, visit the Operations Office in 301 or e-mail mjtaylor@syr.edu.
Non-music Majors
Music Majors pay a fee for the use of practice rooms which is used for instrument purchase, tuning, and maintenance. Practice rooms are for the exclusive use of music majors, students taking private lessons, and students participating in ensembles or classes within the School of Music. A list of students participating in each major ensemble or class will be provided by the conductor/professor of that ensemble/class to the Assistant Director of Operations by the end of the second week of the semester.
The following procedures are to be followed by all students performing recitals – updated information is available on the website:
NOTE: You may have more than three jurors. All the jurors MUST be able to attend the recital.
Agreement for Building and Auditorium Use
*If stage set up requires any of the following, you as the performer will be responsible for the set up and tear down
For information on requirements for MM degree programs in Composition, Conducting, Performance, Voice Pedagogy, and the MA Audio Arts please visit the College of Visual and Performing Arts page on the Graduate Course Catalog website. Once you have arrived to this page, scroll all the way to the bottom in order to locate the links for each of the Setnor School of Music masters degrees.
For information on requirements for MM and MS degree programs in Music Education please visit the School of Education page on the Graduate Course Catalog website. Once you have arrived to this page, scroll all the way to the bottom in order to locate the links for each of the Music Education masters degrees.
Master’s Thesis in Music Education
The content of the thesis should clearly state the following:
The format of the thesis must be consistent. One style manual should be used. Students writing an experimental or descriptive thesis will use the current edition of the publication manual of the American Psychological Association. Students, in consultation with their thesis advisor, should request other pertinent information from the Graduate School office before submitting a final draft.
The student is cautioned to work closely with their thesis advisor and program advisor in preparation of the thesis. It is advisable to seek help from the committee members when problems in style or content arise. At a time determined by the thesis advisor, a prospectus or rough draft of the thesis will be circulated to the student’s committee (three members of the faculty, including the program advisor). Committee suggestions for the final draft should be assimilated prior to the oral defense.
Final decisions regarding the content of the thesis are made by the thesis advisor.
Copies of the thesis should be provided for the thesis advisor and members of the thesis committee. Other copies may be required for the library and/or the Graduate School. The student should also make a copy for personal use.
Style Manuals
Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Sixth Edition. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association, Inc., 2009.
Turabian, Kate L. A Manual for Writers of Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 9th ed. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2018.
Oral Defense of Thesis: It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for the oral examination, after consultation with the advisor. The panel for the oral examination will be the student’s thesis committee. The student should prepare a thirty-minute presentation summarizing the content of the thesis. The presentation may be made as a public presentation. This presentation will be followed by an oral examination defense of the thesis with the committee only. Once consent has been reached by the committee members on the acceptance of the completed thesis, the Department Chair is responsible for filing the completion of thesis form and submitting it to the appropriate academic advisor in 270 Huntington Hall.
Master’s Degree Comprehensive Examination Guide For Music Education Students
Graduate music education students who do not write a thesis are required to complete written and oral comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive exams demonstrate to the faculty that the student has a scholarly and sophisticated understanding of the content of the degree program. The timeline is as follows:
Beginning of final semester of classes
One week before the written examination
The 3 weeks of the written examination
3 days after the written answers were submitted
The oral examination
The oral examination takes place at least five days after the written answers have been submitted and generally lasts about an hour. Questions for the oral examination are based upon the written answers and previous course work or experiences. After the oral examination, the committee may:
Master’s Degree Comprehensive Examinations – Student’s Guide For Composition, Conducting, Performance, and Voice Pedagogy Students
Graduate students who do not write a thesis are required to complete written and oral comprehensive examinations. The comprehensive exams demonstrate to the faculty that the student has a scholarly and sophisticated understanding of the content of the degree program. These exams can be very stressful. Faculty members who serve on examination committees must set aside the appropriate time so that these procedures are followed. The timeline is as follows:
Beginning of final semester of classes
One week before the written examination
The 3 days of the written examination
3 days after the written examination
The oral examination
The oral examination takes place at least five days after the written examination has been submitted, and generally lasts about an hour. Questions for the oral examination are based upon the written answers and previous course work. After the oral examination, the committee may:
Students should be sure to bring the correct Comprehensive Examination Form, which committee members will sign following the submission of a committee-approved final copy of the Comprehensive Examination responses. Upon unanimous consent, faculty assign a grade of pass or fail to the examination. A pdf of the final approved copy must be emailed to the Director of the Setnor School of Music. It is important that the correct form, available in the packet you will receive in early February regarding Comprehensive Exam requirements and at the link above, be signed by all committee members and filed with the Assistant Director for Academic Affairs, Dr. Jill Coggiola, Room 108B.
The Comprehensive Examination milestone (which is evidence that the procedure above was successfully completed) will not be entered into Degree Works without receipt of both the completed Comprehensive Examination Form and the digital version of the final approved copy. Failure to complete this degree-required milestone will delay graduation.