Student Examinations
During each semester of a student’s matriculation, students are required to complete a number of assessments. Final exam/jury week runs on a different schedule from the regular lesson/lecture schedule and is determined and posted in advance by the Registrar.
Midterm Exams: 7th - 8th week of the semester. According to the regular class schedule.
10-Minute Concerts: 4th week of the semester. According to the raffle schedule set at the beginning of the semester.
Final Exams: 16th week of the semester. According to the schedule set by the Registrar.
Final Projects: Varies depending on the course syllabus.
Final Juries: 16th week of the semester. According to the schedule set by the Registrar.
Solo Recitals: 10th-15th week of the semester. According to the raffle schedule set at the beginning of the semester.
*For information regarding repertoire submission deadlines for all important student examinations, please see the Recital & Jury Repertoire Submissions page.
I. Midterm Exams
All courses will administer midterm examinations within the 7th to 8th week of the semester according to the regular lesson/lecture schedule, making grades available to students by no later than the end of the 9th week.
II. 10-Minute Concerts
Students will perform an excerpt of their recital program according to the day and time scheduled by the Registrar. These begin 4 weeks into the semester and the order and schedule are determined by raffle. The concert must be 10-minutes in length. Students may choose any piece(s) from their recital program to perform. The 10-minute recital will be performed before their peers. Students will receive comments and feedback on their progress from the Associate VPAA and their peers but will not receive a letter grade. This is a pass/fail component of the recital.
III. Final Exams & Projects
Final exams are taken during the 16th and final week of the semester after all lessons and classes have concluded. The day, time, and location of a course’s final exam may differ from that course’s regular lesson/lecture schedule. Students should check the finals schedule in advance to know when and where their exams will be taken.
Some courses may alternatively require a project, presentation, or paper in place of an examination. The starting and due dates of such assignments may vary and it is the student’s responsibility to check their course syllabus to be aware of all requirements.
IV. Final Juries
Students take a final jury at the end of each semester of their program during the 16th and final week of the semester. Repertoire for the jury exam will be decided through consultation between the student and their private lesson instructor and must fall within the rules and parameters established in the Repertoire Requirements according to the student’s year in the program. The Jury will be evaluated by the student’s private instructor, Chair, the Associate VP of Academic Affairs, and another member of the faculty. More detailed information on the final jury can be found in the Private Lesson syllabus.
V. Solo Recitals
Solo recitals are scheduled to begin from the 10th week of the semester and are held until the 15th week, prior to final exams. Repertoire for the recital will be decided through consultation between the student and their private lesson instructor and must fall within the rules and parameters established in the Repertoire Requirements according to the student’s year in the program. Recitals will be performed before the student’s peers and the evaluators. At the start of the semester, the Registrar will assign days and times by a raffle to determine the order of instruments and then the order of students by instrument. A student may switch dates and times with another student due to schedule conflicts or unavoidable circumstances with the permission of the Office of Academic Affairs. Recitals are evaluated by the same panel as the final jury. More detailed information on the solo recital can be found in the Recital syllabus.
Examinations Policies
I. Exams Missed due to Emergencies or Illness
In the event that a student must miss an exam due to an unforeseen emergency or illness, the student must provide documentation in advance or at the earliest possible time for an excused absence. The instructor of the course(s) where the exam was missed may then arrange for an alternative date for the student to make up the missed exam.
II. Exams Missed due to an Unexcused Absence
In the event that a student fails to show up for an exam and does not provide documentation to receive an excused absence either before or after the exam date has passed, the student forfeits their right to make up the missed exam and will receive an F for the exam grade.
III. Missed Juries or Recitals
Should a student be unable to perform their final jury or solo recital on the date/time they are scheduled for, the student may have their performance rescheduled for a later date as long as they are able to provide documentation granting an excused absence (unavoidable emergency, illness, etc.). In the case of recitals, a student may have their performance pushed back towards the end of the recital period, or to within the first month of the following semester. A missed jury will need to be rescheduled to take place within the first month of the following semester. The student will receive an “I” for Incomplete on their academic record until the jury or recital is made up.
If the student is unable to perform due to a physical injury or other long-term circumstance, the Incomplete grade and makeup date may be extended with the permission of the Vice President of Academic Affairs. The student cannot take the next level of lessons or recital until the incomplete ones are made up.
IV. Jury and Recital Re-Evaluations
In the event that a student receives a failing grade for his or her jury or recital, the private instructor, with the approval of the VP of Academic Affairs, may give the student the option to make up for the failing grade by performing all or certain portions of the jury or recital for a re-evaluation. An exact date must be decided by the scheduler, but can be no later than one month into the following semester. All evaluators must re-evaluate the recital. A student’s transcript will indicate an “I” for Incomplete if a re-evaluation has been scheduled. Only one re-evaluation may be allowed. If the student fails to improve their grade after the re-evaluation, they must take a failing grade and repeat the recital course.
Questions?
Office of Academic Affairs
Room 114a
