For Students

Juried Performances

Jury is a solo performance which occurs at the end of each semester of applied study. All students enrolled in applied study are required to perform a jury.

Learn About Juried Perfomances

Student Teaching

In addition to the successful completion and maintenance of all entrance requirements, Music Education majors must satisfy requirements prior to Student Teaching admission.

Student Teaching Requirements

Recitals

Members of the applied music faculty will hear a student perform selections from his/her recital program. The student must demonstrate a degree of technical and musical mastery of his/her program, sufficient to indicate to the faculty results in a successful recital.

Learn About Recitals

General Information

One locker each semester is:

Available for music majors (use the smallest locker you need)
Assigned at the beginning of each semester
Available on a first-come, first-served basis
Registered online*
The property of Buffalo State
Subject to search and seizure at any time (without notice)

Switching lockers

Notify the Music Department office or
Complete a new locker registration form

*Locks on lockers not on file with the Music Department office will also be removed and the contents seized.

Students who have graduated, are currently student teaching, have changed majors outside of music, or are no longer enrolled at Buffalo State must remove the lock and locker contents. Locks that remain will be removed and the contents seized.

Access to practice rooms is:

Granted only to music majors
Controlled by use of Student/Faculty ID Cards issued by Buffalo State

Loss of practice room access for a period determined by the Music Department Chair will be enacted for:

Students who abuse the privilege of practice room access by using the rooms for purposes other than those intended
Those who compromise security by lending their ID Card to an unauthorized person or propping the access door.

Student Email Account

All students are required to use their Buffalo State College e-mail account. Vital communications from the college, department and faculty will be sent via the student’s campus email.

Wi-Fi Printing in Rockwell Hall

Performance-Related Information

Collegium are general student recitals, held throughout the semester.

All music majors are required to attend all scheduled Collegia each semester.
See the Music Department Chair if you have an unavoidable conflict.
Unexcused absences will result in the lowering of your applied music grade by one whole letter grade for each missed Collegium.
Students must swipe their Buffalo State Student ID Card prior to the beginning of each Collegia and are encouraged to arrive early.

While all types of performances are welcome, all music majors are required to perform as a soloist on a Collegium at least once per academic year.

Students enrolled in MUS 371, 373, 471, 473 are required to perform during the Fall semester.
Students enrolled in MUS 171, 173, 271, 273 are required to perform during the Spring semester.
The collegium performance sign-up sheet is located in the music department office and spots will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Some applied studios may require more frequent Collegium performance participation.

Failure to perform as a soloist on at least one Collegium per academic year will result in a conference with your applied teacher and the Department Chairperson regarding your level of dedication to your craft, and may result in the lowering of your applied music grade.

? Collegium Request Form

Studio classes are informal performance and feedback sessions for students that are organized by instrument type.

All music majors are required to perform as part of a studio class at least once per semester.
Studio classes are offered multiple times each semester.
Music majors enrolled in MUS 171-473 are required to attend all scheduled studio classes each semester.
Students enrolled in MUS 112 lessons are invited to attend studio class and may be invited/required to perform at the discretion of the applied studio instructor.
See your applied music instructor or advisor if you have an unavoidable conflict.
Some applied studios may require more frequent studio class performance participation.

Unexcused absences

Unexcused absences may result in the lowering of your applied music grade by one quality point. Failure to perform on at least one studio class per semester may result in a conference with your applied teacher and the Department Chairperson regarding your level of dedication to your craft.

All instrumental and vocal students requiring piano accompaniment will be assigned a faculty or staff accompanist and must register for MUS 110 "Accompanist/Coach" under the assigned accompanist. The list of accompanist assignments and their respective CRN numbers will be posted outside of Rockwell Hall 104, and be distributed to all students and faculty at the beginning of the semester. Students are required to attend a half-hour rehearsal/coaching session each week in addition to their weekly applied lesson. Failure to attend these coaching sessions will result in a lowering of the student's grade for MUS 110 and may affect the student's applied lesson grade.

It is the student's responsibility to provide and secure accompanists.
The student is responsible for scheduling rehearsals with their assigned accompanist during the first week of each semester.
Students must submit piano accompaniment parts to the accompanist at least four weeks prior to any performance date.
Students must rehearse with their accompanist a minimum of two times before any performance (Jury, Collegium, Studio Class).
Recital preparation and more difficult repertoire will require additional rehearsal time.
If a student does not schedule sufficient rehearsal time with their accompanist, the accompanist or applied instructor may cancel the performance.
Rehearsals may begin at any point in the semester, at the discretion of the applied instructor.
Accompanists may not be able to accommodate all student requests.

Buffalo State Wind Ensemble: March 3, 2021: 7:30pm

Buffalo State Jazz Ensembles: March 9, 2021: 7:30pm

Buffalo State College Philharmonia: March 16, 2021: 7:30pm

Buffalo State Choirs: March 18, 2021: 7:30pm

Buffalo State Percussion Ensemble: April 20, 2021: 7:30pm

Buffalo State Jazz Band: April 27, 2021: 7:30pm

Buffalo State Philharmonia: April 29, 2021: 7:30pm

Yamilla M. Tate (double bass), Junior Recital: May 1, 2021: 5:00pm

Buffalo State Wind Ensembles and Choirs: May 4, 2021: 7:30pm

Alison Cleary (mezzo-soprano) and Mason Battle (tenor): May 8, 2021: 5:00pm

Buffalo State Philharmonia: March 22, 2022: 7:30pm

Dress Rehearsal Booking (Ciminelli Recital Hall)

Mr. Andrew Borchik

Office Hours: Monday, noon-4:00 p.m.
Rockwell Hall 211

Email Mr. Andrew Borchik

Attendance and Requirements

Applied Instruction (4 credits B.A.; 7 credits B.Mus.; 8 credits B.A.Perf.)
Individual lessons in instrumental or vocal performance are required for no less than four semesters (BA), or no less than seven semesters (B.Mus.) and no less than 8 semesters (B.A.Perf). Applied music students are required to perform before a faculty jury for each semester of study. The faculty jury will provide critique and a grade of the performance. Bachelor of Arts in Music students must complete and pass the applied lesson sequence through the MUS 273 level by the end of the sixth semester of study, or they may be dismissed from the major. Bachelor of Arts students who wish to continue in the applied lesson sequence beyond the MUS 273 level will be accommodated based upon instructor availability and at the discretion of either the vocal or instrumental coordinator.

Bachelor of Music in Music Education students must complete MUS 471 prior to student teaching. Bachelor of Arts: Performance Concentration students music complete MUS 473 prior to graduation.

Non-Music Majors, B.A. in Arts & Letters students, or Music Majors focusing on a secondary instrument may enroll in MUS 112 (half-hour) lessons. MUS 112 lessons are only offered to students participating in Music Department ensemble and with the permission of the Music Department Chair. Students in MUS 112 lessons may not perform a recital, and are not required to perform a jury. Students may continue MUS 112 Applied Lessons for subsequent semesters at the discretion of the Area Coordinator and the Music Department Chair.

Applied Instruction Attendance

Applied music lessons are delivered weekly.
Full attendance is required.
Lessons missed as a result of an excused absence must be made-up in a timely fashion and at the convenience of the applied music instructor.
Students must call instructors a minimum of 24 hours in advance to ask for an excused absence.
Failure to notify an instructor in advance of missing a lesson constitutes an unexcused absence.
Unexcused absences will result in the lowering of the student’s grade by one quality point (A to A-) and a make-up lesson is solely at the discretion of the instructor.

Missed Lessons

As lessons occur only once weekly, missed lessons are a serious breach of continuity in the course of applied study. Therefore, weekly lesson attendance is imperative.
Since many lessons are delivered by part-time faculty who may have other commitments, it is extremely difficult for these faculty to make up missed lessons.
Do not schedule anything else during your assigned lesson time, no matter how important it may seem. Lessons should only be rescheduled in the event of an illness, an emergency, or a school concert conflict.

All students taking applied lessons at the MUS 171 level or higher must:

Attend, as a listener, six performances per semester
Volunteer to work one music department performance
Students taking half-hour lessons (MUS 112) are exempt from this requirement but are strongly encouraged to attend

Proof of Attendance

A list of Music Department events is posted at the beginning of each semester and is available through on the Music Department website. When attending these events, students must obtain a stamp on their program from a music faculty representative immediately following the performance. In the unlikely event that no faculty representative is available to stamp your program or no stamp is available, student should have any music faculty or staff member sign their program.

Off-Campus Performances

Students may also choose to attend and receive credit for off-campus performances with prior approval from the Music Department Chair. Students must e-mail their request to the Music Department Chair no later than 24 hours before the performance. In all cases, these performances must take place during the current semester and must receive department chair approval. The Chair will respond with an email that states either, “APPROVED” or “NOT APPROVED”. If approved, the student must print the approval email and attach it to the off-campus performance program and ticket stub (if available). If the approval email is not attached, the program/ticket stub shall not count toward the seven required performances. Performances by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra do not require prior approval from the Music Department Chair.

Proof of Attendance

Every semester, students must submit SEVEN stamped or approved programs to the Music Department Office to receive full credit for concert attendance. Please do not forget to get a program from the concert at which you volunteer. It is the student’s responsibility to write their name on each stamped or email approved program/ticket stub and file it properly in the file located in the Music Department Office. Programs without a name or that are not properly filed will not receive concert attendance credit. The deadline for submission of concert attendance programs is 12:00 pm on the last day of classes prior to CEP Week.

Students are encouraged to submit their seven stamped or approved programs periodically, or as soon as they have fulfilled the requirement. In the event that the concert attendance requirement is not fulfilled, the student's applied music grade is lowered by one quality point (i.e., A to A-) for each missing performance. No Applied Lesson grade shall be lowered beyond C- due to missing concert attendance.

Primary Ensemble Requirement

B.A.: 6 credits
B.Mus.: 7 credits
B.A.Perf.: 8 credits

Primary Ensembles

Wind Ensemble
Philharmonia
Chorale
Chamber Choir

Music majors are required to participate in the appropriate primary ensemble during each semester they are enrolled in applied music instruction.:

B.A.: No less than six semesters
B.Mus.: No less than seven semesters
B.A.Perf.: No less than eight semesters
Pianists and guitarists: two semesters*

*The remainder of the degree requirement may be satisfied through enrollment in secondary ensembles, accompanying, or continued participation in the primary ensemble.

Failure to participate in a primary ensemble will result in a conference with your applied teacher and the Music Department Chairperson, and may result in the suspension of applied study.

Specific primary ensemble requirements for each applied area:

Brass: Wind Ensemble
Woodwinds: Wind Ensemble
Percussionists: Wind Ensemble
Strings: Philharmonia Orchestra
Vocalists: Chorale or Chamber Choir (by audition)
Pianists: Chorale**
Guitar: Chorale**

**Pianists and guitarists may substitute Wind Ensemble or Philharmonia if they play a symphonic string. wind, brass, or percussion instrument at a commensurate level.

Secondary Ensemble Assignments

All students must participate in a small ensemble or chamber music-making opportunity:

B.A. students: prior to graduation
Music Education majors: prior to student teaching

Performance Concentration students must participate in 2 semesters of small ensemble or chamber music (two or more instruments/voices simultaneously performing without a conductor), prior to graduation. A solo instrument/voice with accompaniment, keyboard or otherwise, does not constitute a secondary ensemble.

All secondary ensembles will be coached by a Music Department Faculty member.

The Music Forum presents guest speakers and student workshops throughout the semester. The forum explores career options and occupational pathways for students with a liberal arts degree in music.

B.A., Mus Students: Attendance at all assigned Music Fora is mandatory each semester.

B.Mus Students: Attendance is not required, although students are welcome to participate.

Unexcused absences will result in the lowering of your applied music grade by one whole letter grade for each missed forum.

Please arrive early and sign in prior to the beginning of each forum.

Juried Performances

Student Teaching

Recitals

General Information

Rockwell Hall Lockers

Practice Rooms

Technology

Performance-Related Information

Collegium

Studio Class

Accompanists

Concert Programs

Dress Rehearsals

Attendance and Requirements

Applied Instruction

Concert/Recital Attendance

Ensemble Requirements

Music Forum