![[PDF]](/HB/images/pdf.gif)
Search : Index : Faculty of Music
Prev 4. General information for students
Next 6. Practical examinations
Faculty of Music : Guide to courses
Soon after enrolment, all new students will be interviewed and will play their instrument for the Dean and a panel of senior staff. Students are generally allocated to a practical teacher at this time, and those who have a preference to study with a particular member of the practical staff should therefore make it known at this interview. Ensemble allocation is also considered at this interview.
For BMus students, practical tuition is arranged on the basis of a 45-minute individual lesson each week of semester one and two, plus attendance at the Thursday 1.5 hour Concert Class as well as attendance at the appropriate instrumental or vocal class. Group lessons and ensemble classes may also be involved to provide students with opportunities to perform before a group of their peers. Music Performance 1and 2 are taken by all students except those enrolling in Composition or the academic specialisation. Music Performance 3 and 4 are core subjects for students in the Music Performance specialisation, being restricted to those students displaying considerable promise as performers. Such students receive 1-hour weekly lessons and attend, in addition to Concert Class, a 2-hour Masterclass each Friday afternoon, at which distinguished visiting performers are often featured. A quota will be applied to limit admission to Music Performance 3 and entry will be by permission of the Dean. In all these subjects, no work may be presented for examination more than once, except at supplementary examinations.
Students have a responsibility to attend all of their allocated practical lessons. Students should inform teachers if they are unable to attend lessons and arrange alternative times if possible. Similarly, teachers are required to provide all of their allocated lessons to their students. Should any difficulties arise, please contact the Deputy Dean.
A student requesting a change of practical study instrument will be auditioned on the proposed new instrument in order to determine whether there is evidence of a sufficient level of ability on the proposed instrument to make such a change practicable, and at the appropriate level within the course at which study on the new instrument should commence.
Normally such students will be required to complete a minimum of two years on the new instrument or the remaining years of their course, whichever period is the greater. Other recommendations may be made by the audition panel, but under no circumstances will a period of less than one year's study on the new instrument be recommended.
Occasionally students feel the need to change practical teachers. This should be discussed with the current teacher, if possible, and with the instrumental co-ordinator first. A Change of Practical Teacher application form must be completed and submitted to the Front Office, which will then be considered by the Deputy Dean.
The quality of your practical work at the Faculty will depend to a great degree on how and where you practise. Before you commence the course, review the location of your music room: it is vitally important to ensure you have free, unlimited access to a quiet room with acoustics suitable for practise throughout the course. The quality of your instrument is another important matter; an instrument adequate for childhood music lessons will not necessarily serve well in pre-professional training. You should discuss both your instrument and practise arrangements with your practical teacher at the earliest opportunity.
How often and for how long you practise will depend on your teacher's policies, and you should also discuss this matter as soon as possible. How you organise each practise session is also vital: sometimes talented students have impaired their progress with repetition strain injuries and similar problems through ill-considered and unhealthy practise habits. The training of any muscles involves proper warm-ups, exercise and rest: in general, each practise session should be broken up into small segments separated by short rest breaks, each segment should begin with slow work and gradually warm-up towards rapid work. Good posture, the correct chair and sensible instrument supports should also be considered. At any time, the onset of muscular pains should immediately indicate a rest is required. Such pain is likely to mean possible injury unless care is taken.
Experience gained through participation in ensemble rehearsals and performances is considered important by the Faculty. All BMus students must take part in choral, orchestral, or other ensemble activities as directed by the Dean. Students enrol in Ensemble for four years (one for music education and two for music therapy students, who then undertake ensemble work as part of specialised subjects). Each ensemble is directed by a member of staff, and entails up to four hours rehearsal per week plus additional rehearsal time prior to major performances.
Satisfactory participation in Faculty ensembles earns a student 12.5 points per year; this is measured by full attendance and a test of knowledge of parts learned.
Membership of the Faculty Orchestra is competitive and it is expected that all students who play orchestral instruments will audition for places. The Faculty Choir gives at least two performances a year of major choral works. All students not in the Orchestra are expected to participate in the Choir for at least one year. There is a range of other Faculty Ensembles open to second and later year students. Chamber ensembles and accompanying are also available as electives for BMus students. For further information, see under the relevant headings in Music Subjects.
Part of the assessment for ensemble is attending 10 approved concerts per year (five per semester).
To broaden the perspective of students by stimulating their learning experience and faculties of reflection and criticism in a variety of 'international standard' musical contexts.
Students must attend 5 concerts per semster (of concert length and substance) and provide brief, legible reports for each concert - including information on the date, venue, artists, repertoire performed and the quality of the performance.
More than 6 concerts held at, or organised by, the Faculty of Music or more than 2 concerts at a festival or event.
Ticket butts must be attached to the concert report form or otherwise a signature of one of the following: ensemble co-ordinator, academic or administrative staff, MSS Committee members, ushers at Faculty concerts.
Faculty Lunchtime Concert Series, excluding undergraduate performances (no more than 5 concerts); Myer Bowl Concerts by the Melbourne Symphony; concerts by international visitors to the faculty; Academy of Melbourne; Australian Chamber Soloists; Australian Pro Arte; Musica Viva; Astra Chamber Orchestra Society; Australian Opera or Victorian State Opera (or their dress rehearsals); ABC Concerts (or their dress rehearsals); Melbourne Symphony or State Orchestra of Victoria; approved events from the Melbourne International Festival; Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition; Melbourne International Festival of Organ and Harpsichord; concerts which specifically relate to a subject for which the student is enrolled eg. non-western music, jazz, early music, dance or ballet.
Other concerts will be approved from time to time by the Dean or Deputy Dean and details will be placed on the concert noticeboard. All Faculty concerts are free to Faculty of Music students on presentation of ID card.
Seven practice rooms in the music basement annexe are available for BMus student practice; these students are allowed 1 hour per room per day, and may book by signing the list on the practice room doors which is posted each Monday for the week. Students other than pianists may use the 15 practice rooms in the music education annexe where the system of hourly booking arrangements also applies.
These rooms are available Monday to Friday 8am to 5pm except for the times marked on the doors. Students enrolled in Music Performace subjects who believe they have good reason to practice after hours in the basement annexe may apply to obtain a practice room passcard. If their application is approved, a practice room passcard can be collected from the Front Office on payment of a $40 deposit.
Special arrangements are made for practice by international piano students who have no access to a piano: such students should enquire with the Co-ordinator of Practical Studies (Dr Ian Holtham). In the Conservatorium Building, the Faculty has one of the most comprehensive collections of Steinway pianos (models B, C and D) of any music school in the world. As these instruments are of immense value and primarily intended for teaching and examination, they are not available for unsupervised practice. The only exceptions are Room 206, which is available when not booked for teaching, and the Heinze room Steinway, which is available 8am to 9am Monday to Friday, except on days when performance examinations have been scheduled.
The Faculty of Music has a selection of musical instruments including strings, woodwinds, brass and early keyboard instruments which are available for loan to current students. This is subject to the recommendation of your teacher and the approval of the responsible academic staff member or the Dean. Where a loan has been approved, most instruments are available for use within the building during the day by leaving your student card at the front office or on a fortnightly basis by completing the loan form and paying a deposit of $50. Certain valuable instruments require a deposit of $200 and a loan fee of $20 and are lent on a yearly basis. Once the responsible staff member has approved a loan you should contact Peter Liddelow, the Technical Manager, to arrange collection of the instrument.
As a part of Music Performance and Practical Study - all students are to attend concert class in Melba Hall on Thursdays. In 1999 it will be co-ordinated by Mr Trevor Barnard. Concert class will run in the following way in 1999:
First Thursday of the month - All students to attend
Second Thursday of the month - only 1st years to attend
Third Thursday of the month - only 2nd years to attend
Fourth Thursday of the month - only 3rd & 4th years to attend
Students may have their final practical examination mark reduced by 5% if they fail to attend at least 80% of concert class throughout the year.
Students enrolled in the following subjects are required to attend:
Music Performance 1, 2, 3 and 4
Practical Study 3, 3E & 4
Music Performance 1D, 2D & 3D
Minor Practical Study 1 & 2
Search : Index : Faculty of Music
Prev 4. General information for students
Next 6. Practical examinations
Status: Official 1999 Last Modified: Tuesday October 20 11:52 SGML to HTML Conversion: Information Technology Services Authorised by: Academic Registrar Email Enquiries: Course_Information@registrar.unimelb.edu.au