String Area

Course Offerings:

The String Area of the School of Music offers Bachelor of Music, Master of Music, and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Performance for all instruments of the Area. In addition, Bachelor and Master’s degrees are offered in String Music Education through the newly established Institute for String Music Education, directed by Don Hamann. Below are links to each studio’s syllabi and studio policies on acceptance and audition. If you have any questions concerning scholarship or entrance requirements for any of the studios which are not given here, please contact the major professor of that studio. String Forum and special guest artist visits are normal additions to the studio curriculum.

String Area Chamber Music Course:

String (or mixed ensembles with strings) Chamber Music Course, 201, 401, 501, 601. String chamber music (small, coached ensembles which involve strings in any capacity) requires a minimum size of three musicians (a trio) organized as follows:

Within the first week of the semester, students will be assigned by their major professors or will organize their own group and repertory (with recommendations from the coach) then will obtain a “Coach Assignment Form” from the Area Coordinator or major professor. The ensemble will then bring this form as a group to the intended string faculty coach to assign a coaching time and to see whether the faculty coach is available (if he/she is not available, he/she will suggest another coach). After the coach has signed the form, it shall be taken to the Area Coordinator for registration acknowledgment of each individual in the ensemble. Any student registered in the normal manner, for 201, 401, 501, or 601, will receive credit for their participation in this course at one (1) unit per ensemble in which they participate. Those not registered for the course, in general cannot be accommodated.

For this course, you are required to rehearse and/or be in a coaching session for a minimum of three hours per week. The String Faculty require a minimum of 4 hours of practice to receive a coaching, for a minimum of five hours of course-time per week. Leniency of this policy is granted to ensembles of non-majors and music education majors, but not to performance majors, and never below the minimum time required by the University unit definition.

You can receive a one hour coaching (or more by the discretion of the faculty) per week, and coachings will be scheduled in accordance with your and your coach’s schedules. Rehearsal times are to be scheduled by you and the other members of the ensemble, every week. ALL students will participate in a formal performance of their piece(s), by ATTENDING THE CONCERT, both as an audience member and as a performer. You will not receive a passing grade for this course without ensemble performance participation. Grades will reflect the participation and attendance at coachings of every member of the ensemble. You will NOT be graded solely on individual performance. The actions or inactions of the entire ensemble will be reflected in your individual grade. Those not being coached by the third week of the semester, may be dropped from the course, or may receive a failing grade. A minimum of eight coachings in the semester is required to receive a passing grade.

There may be special “Master Class” days provided to you as part of this course, coached by the faculty and/or guest artists. You are required to attend all of them. They will be announced to you by your coach(es), and there will be an announcement posted on the String Area and Orchestra boards.

Questions or comments should be directed to Patrick Neher, String Area Coordinator. ph: 520-621-5822