This course follows on from the 3rd year introduction course, MUSIC318 and continues to cover 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 studio 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-trimester test and public performances. Experience in stage management and ushering is also part of the course, as is preparation of programme notes, email correspondence, and other tasks involved with performance preparation.

A successful pass (B+ or above) in this course enables entry into the Music Honours programme for the following year, in the area that has been studied.

Lessons: 50min weekly lesson times will be arranged with your individual tutor/lecture. Students will receive a maximum of 12 lessons per trimester. 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 the weekly group classes. (Voice 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 MUSIC327 Performance Ensemble 1 to gain credit if they choose, but participation is required with or without the enrolment in MUSIC327.

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 semester, 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.

CONCERT ATTENDANCE

Students studying music are reminded of the importance of attending concerts. In particular, all music students are expected to attend:

• Wednesday Lunchtime Recital Series in the Concert Chamber
• Hamilton Chamber Music Society programme
• New Zealand Symphony Orchestra
• All other Conservatorium of Music events, seminars, masterclasses and concerts

Radio NZ Concert provides a wide repertoire of recorded Western music as well as many interesting talks on musical matters (91.4MHz)

Required readings for this course will include works that the lecturer, or instrument teacher provides to the student, either individually or as a group.

This will include music that is studied for the various examinations, and any research materials suggested by the lecturer or instrumental teacher that pertains directly to the works studied.

GENERAL

Listening: Extensive and intelligent listening is one of the primary tools for developing an understanding and appreciation of the variety and extent of techniques possible on your chosen instrument. Critical listening is required at the Performance Hour sessions, instrumental classes and at the Wednesday Lunchtime Recital Series as well as other public concerts offered locally and further afield. Students are also encouraged to attend all NZSO, Opus Orchestra and NZ Chamber Music concerts. You should also attend all performances available to you given by your teachers as this is how you will come to understand the communication skills they are working to help you develop. Please make an effort to utilise all listening resources available to you, including the CD and video collections in the University Library and Hamilton Public Libraries.

Concerts: All Conservatorium of Music concerts are free to all music students. Details of the B Trimester concert schedule can be found in the Concert Programme. The google calendar ‘Music Student Information Calendar’ also contains all concert information. Email a university or gmail address to the Music Administrator to have this calendar added to your account if you do not already have access. Students are expected to study this, diary the events and attend all concerts offered. The Wednesday Lunchtime Recital Series are held on Wednesdays 1-2pm throughout the semester.

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.

Concert Duties Roster: By a roster system, students take turns at stage managing and ushering for the Performance Hour and Lunchtime concerts. The students who are on ushering or stage managing duties in the Wednesday Lunchtime concert of any given week, are required to do the stage managing for the Friday Performance Hour in the same week. The roster, along with a description of these assignments, is held by the Music Administrator and can also be viewed on the google ‘Music Student Information Calendar’. This component will constitute 10% of your grade, alongside attendance and contribution. Training will have been given during the first Performance Hour session of A Trimester.

Public Student Concert Opportunities: There are many performing opportunities for students both in Hamilton and regionally. The Museum Series is the most frequent, taking place every fortnight. Students may book a performance time in the Museum series, by emailing full work title, duration, and date of performance to an administrator. Museum concert bookings can be viewed on the ‘Music Student Information’ google calendar. Off campus and LTR performance lists can also be viewed on the ‘Music Student Information” calendar. Any Retirement Village/Rest home performances organised by the university can be booked by students, by making an entry in the ‘Friday Performance Hour/Rest home booking’ google calendar. Please check the bookings for the date that you wish to perform to ensure that the concert isn’t already full. There are also opportunities in the University lunchtime series as well as out of town concerts for the students to perform. Students must perform their concert piece at least once in the Friday Performance Hour before any public concert. It is advisable to perform several times before any public performance.