ASU
COMPOSITION AREA POLICIES
[est. November 20, 2001]
I.
LESSONS, SEMINAR, AND JURY.
Weekly Applied
Lesson Evaluations Musical composition consists of many diverse
components such as actual composition, score study, ear training, conducting,
etc. Each week, the student is expected to demonstrate research or study in
a area related to composition. Consult your teacher as to what is to be expected
of you.
Seminar
Composition Seminar is held weekly. Every composition major is required
to attend composition seminar. Composition seminar is an opportunity to discuss
diverse topics, receive thoughtful criticism from your colleagues, announce
upcoming performances, listen to new composers works, as well as just plain
hanging out together! Seminar has traditionally met on Thursdays at 11:00am
but may be arranged to meet at a time suitable for all. Each student should
make sure that this scheduled time slot is free on their schedule when registering
for classes. Your applied composition grade will include your attendance and
participation in seminar. Seminar assignments
will be determined as needed on a semester by semester basis. Only in extenuating
circumstances will a student be excused from seminar.
Composition
Jury The Composition Jury is an opportunity for the composition
faculty to evaluate each student. It is also an opportunity for the student
to receive additional feedback from the composition faculty regarding their
advancement in the study of composition. All majors are required to take a jury
unless their composition major professor excuses them. Excuses for jury will
only be given if the student has successfully completed a recent recital.
Electronic
Music Applied Lesson Students should work regularly in the ASU
Electronic Music Studio creating works for performance. Electronic music provides
an alternative method of composition that complements conventional methods of
composition. It also allows students to research and explore parameters of music,
such as texture, timbre, density, and spatialization, as primary building blocks
for a musical composition. Each composition majors senior recital will
include an electronic piece composed in the ASU Electronic Music Studio.
II.
REQUIRED RECITALS.
Junior Recital
The Junior recital is required, although no credit is received. The junior
recital should consist of works written during your first three years of study
at ASU. It should be roughly 20-25 minutes in length.
Senior Recital
- The Senior recital is required. The senior recital should consist of works
written during your study of composition at ASU. It should be approximately
45-50 minutes in length.
Yearly
Composition Recital
Composition students should have their work performed regularly. When
the composition student is not preparing for a junior or senior recital, it
is expected that he/she participate, that is have a work performed, in one of
the ASU composition recitals normally given towards the end of each academic
year.
III.
TOPICS CONCERNING REHEARSAL AND PERFORMANCE.
Acquiring Performers
Do not approach other ASU instrumental students for the playing of pieces.
All performers should be obtained through your composition teacher who will
personally contact other instrumental faculty. This way, we can be sure that
no one performer is being overburdened by the composition area. Once your composition
teacher establishes a list of performers, the composition student may then acquire
contact info for the performers through the Music Office and arrange rehearsal
times and places.
Rehearsals
- All rehearsals must be arranged by the composition student. Be sure to present
your players with a rehearsal schedule in writing as soon as possible. Its
a good idea to establish all subsequent rehearsals at the first rehearsal when
all your players are present. Make sure to ask everyone in the ensemble to bring
their schedules to the first rehearsal. Check with the Music Office for availability
of rooms for rehearsals.
Performer
Courtesy
Any composition major
who treats a performer harshly or improperly will be dealt with by the composition
faculty. All performers should be treated with the utmost respect. If problems
arise in the rehearsal of a piece, the composition student should report them
to their composition teacher. These problems include lateness, lack of practice,
personality conflicts, and other unfortunate occurrences that disrupt the rehearsal
of a piece. It is important that you do not take matters into your own hands.
Allow your composition teacher to deal with any problems concerning your performers
with their applied teacher.
The composition student must also
make sure that pieces are completed in readable form and delivered to their
performers in ample time. In most cases, the performers need to have the music
and performance info (date, time, and place) in at least a month in advance
of the concert. However, more difficult pieces should be delivered earlier.
Finally, make sure rehearsal dates, times, and places along with performance
information (date, time, place, and dress) are submitted to each of your players
IN WRITTEN FORM at the first or second rehearsal.
Percussion
Equipment Make
sure you clear the use of ALL percussion equipment with the percussion teacher
before you use it. You may want to disclose your intentions to use certain equipment
to the percussion teacher prior to actually composing the music. Therefore,
any problems regarding access to percussion equipment may be avoided.
Prepared Piano
Be certain to clear any prepared piano piece with an ASU piano faculty
member. When discussing the matter with the piano faculty member, be specific
as to what you will be doing to the piano and make sure you do not go beyond
those bounds in the writing of your piece. Composers are prohibited of placing
marbles or other loose objects inside the piano.
IV.
OTHER TOPICS.
Required Attendance
at all Student and Faculty Composition Recitals Composition students
should show their support for other composition students and faculty by attending
all ASU composition concerts. Students should also be in attendance of faculty/student
recitals that involve faculty or students who have recently assisted in performing
that student composers work.
CAI
(Computer Assisted Instruction) Lab
The CAI Lab is available for use by ASU student composers. In the lab
there are several Finale music notation stations, as well as several stations
for studying ear training. There is also a printer for printing even large format
scores.
Score Study
The ASU Main Library has a substantial collection of new music scores,
recordings, and videos. At the Composition Jury at the end of each semester,
the student should be able to demonstrate knowledge of literature studied over
the course of the semester and also articulate how that music influenced his
or her music.
Composition Message
Board
The Composition Message Board is located in front of FA206. Composition students
should check the Composition Message Board frequently, as notices of recitals,
performance possibilities, competitions, etc. will be posted. All composition
students are strongly encouraged to get their music played off-campus, and to
attend new music performances in the area.
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