This course introduces the fundamental techniques that enable you to perform professionally in a public arena on your chosen instrument. These techniques will form the very foundation of your career as a performing musician and must therefore be thoroughly understood and practised. Your instrumental tutor/lecturer formulates a special course of study designed according to your specific proficiencies and requirements. The course is taught through individual lessons, group classes including individual instrumental/voice classes and Performance Hour, choir and orchestra participation, experience in public performing, and the opportunity to attend concerts of professional musicians. Your progress and level of preparation are monitored at lessons, instrumental classes, Performance Hour sessions, end-of-semester test and public performances. Experience in stage management and ushering is also part of the course. A satisfactory pass in this course gives you entry to the B semester course MUSIC120 Performance 1.

Lessons

50min weekly lesson times will be arranged with your individual tutor/lecture. Students will receive a maximum of 12 lessons per semester. In some cases teachers will give some of your lesson time in shared classes. You must attend these classes as well as your lessons. Note that some individual instrumental lessons may take place off campus.

Attendance and absence: You are expected to be warmed-up and ready for your lessons and classes at the allocated time. As this course involves a lecturer/student ratio of 1:1, attendance is mandatory. Any unexcused absences will affect your final grade and you must provide a medical certificate for all lessons missed due to any illness. The tutor/lecturer is under no obligation to allocate an alternative time for missed lessons.

Preparation: You are expected to arrive at your lessons and classes having fully prepared the material set by your tutor/lecturer. This requires self-discipline and thorough practice. You are welcome to utilise the practice facilities available in I Block ground floor, but you should also expect to practise at home. The upstairs dressing rooms at the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts cannot be used for practising while any staff member is engaged in a lesson in any of those rooms. Practice rooms in I Block may be booked for up to 2 hours at a time. A 10 minute break is allowed and advisable for a 2 hour practice session. However if you are not in the room you have booked for more than 10 minutes, your booking is forfeited, and another student may take over your booking. Please be considerate to each other in your use of the rooms. Booking charts can be found on the door of each room.

Instrumental/Voice Class

Students are required to attend these classes (Vocal students be prepared to perform) Voice, Piano, Violin, Cello and Wind class run at varying times over the week at the Academy of Performing Arts. Times will be arranged at the beginning of each semester. Please inquire with your instrumental/vocal lecturer if you are unsure of times and locations.

Compulsory Requirements

Choir and Orchestra participation

All students enrolled in the BMus performance programme must join the University Chamber Choir or the University Orchestra. Attendance at all rehearsals and performances by the orchestra or choir as appropriate is compulsory. Failure to fulfil this requirement will constitute a failure to complete the requirements of this course. A register of attendance will be kept by the choir and orchestra directors. Students can enrol in MUSIC227-XXY Performance Ensemble 1 to gain credit if they choose, but participation is required with or without the enrolment in MUSIC227.

Performance Hour

You are required to attend these sessions, contribute to the discussions, and perform regularly (a minimum of 2 times per trimester) as directed by your performance teacher. A register of attendance will be kept noting your presence at the beginning and end of performance hour and also a note of whether you contributed to the discussion. Failure to regularly attend performance hour will result in a deduction to your coursework mark.

All students are rostered to give a short performance at least once per trimester, and information on when you are required to do so is in the Google Calendar “Music Student Information Calendar”. Students can sign themselves up for further performances by using the ‘Friday Performance Class Booking calendar’. To have these calendars added to your account, please email either your university or a gmail email address to the Music administrator. Performance Hour guidelines will be handed out to you at Music’s Orientation meeting. Note that all students must have performed the work in their instrumental class before they can perform it in the Performance Hour.

NB For off-shore students affected by the COVID-19 situation the following arrangements are in place:

Lessons will be commenced when students arrive to Waikato, and a study plan will be set in place in order to help the student catch up on any work missed. Students should be in contact with their teacher, and Convener of the course to discuss how they may commence studies whilst away from the Waikato campus.

Progress Assessments (50%)

Assessments cover achievement in the following areas:

Class and lesson involvement and engagement

Preparation, memorisation of set work

Writing of programme notes when required

Engagement in, and preparation for Masterclasses

Learning of works, and preparation for one-on-one lessons

Organisational skills and time management in regards to coursework

Technical achievement

Punctuality, and attendance during class times

Ability to work with those around you

Ability to take onboard ideas given to you during one-on-one lessons, and groups classes

Management of self directed learning

Proactive approach to learning music given to you

Level of development across assessment periods

Participation in group classes

It is a requirement of your course that you also participate in ushering duties for the Lunchtime Recitals, and Performance Hour classes through out the year. This essential learning will contribute to your overall Progress Assessments, which includes absences and unreliability. You will given a roster for this at the beginning of each Trimester. If you have concerns, please contact the music administrator, music@waikato.ac.nz regarding this.

Final Recital (50%)

You must give a technical presentation (e.g. scales, arpeggios, studies, sight-reading etc.) and present a programme of works displaying the variety and extent of your techniques. The programme for the test will be set by your instrumental/vocal tutor. It is compulsory to include a New Zealand work in your repertoire. This piece can be performed as part of the programme for assessment in either the MUSIC218 or MUSIC220 exam. Your test should last a total of up to 20 minutes, including technical presentation and programme.

You will be graded on technical achievement and also musical understanding. The following qualities will be examined in order to ascertain technical achievement; posture, breath control, tone quality, rhythmic understanding, intonation, understanding and execution of technique as appropriate to the works being performed (ie appropriate bowing technique, shifting).

Final performance assessment content: Programme and length must be presented exactly as instructed and can only be changed by agreement with your tutor/lecturer.