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Student Policies

Students desiring a music major or minor must have the approval of the Department of Music. An audition is required before consent can be granted to students. Applicants should visit the Audition Information page of the Department of Music website to schedule an audition or to obtain permission to submit an audio or video recording (using Acceptd) in lieu of an on-campus audition.
Applicants are invited to enclose a brief statement of musical experience and education to date, along with the names and contact information of one or more music teachers who can provide information about the applicant’s musical competencies.
Majors in all degree programs receive one 60-minute applied lesson per week. Minors receive one 30-minute applied lesson per week. Non-major participants, who are Fine Arts Scholarship recipients, receive one 30-minute applied lesson per week.
Students will be assigned to a large ensemble by the ensemble director and the Department Chair. Student enrolled in the Bachelor of Arts in Music and Bachelor of Music in Performance programs are required to participate in one major ensemble (MUS 148: Band; MUS 149: Choir; MUS 150: Orchestra) during each semester of full-time enrollment. Students enrolled in the Bachelor of Music Education program are required to participate in one major ensemble (MUS 148: Band; MUS 149: Choir; MUS 150: Orchestra) during each semester of full-time enrollment until the eighth semester in the program. Prior to student teaching, Bachelor of Music Education students will participate in small chamber ensembles at least one semester during their years at Drake University. Certain Fine Arts Scholarship conditions may require students to participate in ensembles beyond the minimum degree requirements. Because of the educational and professional needs of the student and the Department of Music, a student may be required to participate in more than one ensemble during a given semester. Usually, the ensemble assignment is in the area of the student’s major or minor.
Private lessons missed by students may not be made up unless satisfactory arrangements are made in advance with the instructor.
Attendance at events listed under the MUS 021 Recital List (updated regularly) is required of music students in all degree programs for a total of eight semesters, except for Bachelor of Music Education majors, for whom the requirement is seven semesters. A list of approved programs is posted on Blackboard > MUS 021 > Course Information, and on the Current Student Resources webpage. Attendance requirement is 15 recitals each semester, with grades of incomplete to be made up the following semester. MUS 021 (Recital Attendance): MUS 021 is designed to experience and foster appreciation of a broad range of collegiate and professional musical performances including various performing media, solo, chamber, and large ensemble concerts.
Students in the Bachelor of Music in Performance and the Bachelor of Music Education programs must receive departmental approval before being classified as juniors or seniors within the Department of Music.
Students enrolled in Bachelor of Music in Performance and the Bachelor of Music Education programs must fulfill a four-semester applied minor requirement and demonstrate keyboard competency. Students in these programs, who have little or no keyboard skills, are required to enroll in the four-semester piano laboratory sequence (MUS 006: Piano Laboratory I; MUS 007: Piano Laboratory II; MUS 049: Piano Laboratory III, MUS 050: Piano Laboratory IV). Successful completion of the four semesters of this sequence will satisfy the applied minor requirement.
Students may be placed within the laboratory sequence based on a piano proficiency examination given during their first semester. Students who successfully complete portions of the piano proficiency will be a) placed appropriately in the laboratory sequence and b) be required to study other instrument(s) and/or voice for the remaining number of semesters. Upon completion of the piano sequence, students may combine a variety of instruments and/or voice in order to fulfill the remainder of the applied minor requirement.
Students who successfully complete all elements of the piano proficiency exam will be required to enroll in four semesters of lessons on piano, other instrument(s) and/or voice, in order to fulfill the applied minor requirement. Students may combine a variety of instruments and/or voice in order to fulfill this degree requirement.
- Transfer students must also meet the piano competency required by the Department of Music. Placement in the piano laboratory sequence for these students will be based on examination. All transfer students are required to meet the applied minor requirements as outlined above.