Music Program Information & Policies

Information and Policies

Department of Dance, Music and Theatre Office, TA Building, Room 22

The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm (closed for lunch from 12-1) (707) 826-3566.

All music department forms (including syllabi) are available in the DMT office and on the department’s google drive: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1CghDQ0OXfXSVilfrfZ0UqPTQ_lVJYdim  

Building Use

As needed, students in music classes will be given PIN codes to open the Music building  seven days a week from 7:00 AM until 12:00 AM.  The buildings are typically closed during vacations and holiday periods. A schedule is posted on the exterior doors of each building for reference. Use of Music Department facilities is generally restricted to current Cal Poly Humboldt students enrolled in music classes.

Please treat the facilities and fellow students with respect. It is important that our equipment and rooms are maintained in the best condition possible.

The Music Buildings are open a significant number of hours for student access. It is the policy of the Music Program that no other time will be permitted with the exception of special requests for use during extended holiday periods. Anyone using the building outside of the authorized hours will be escorted out by campus police.

 Use of Fulkerson Recital Hall

Only faculty may arrange for use of Fulkerson Recital Hall, which can be reserved via 25Live (Cal Poly Humboldt's room scheduling software used for viewing campus events and spaces, scheduling campus events, and assigning rooms to events) https://25live.collegenet.com/pro/humboldt#!/home/dash.  Students are welcome to practice and rehearse in Fulkerson at times when the recital hall is empty. 

No food or drinks are allowed in Fulkerson Recital Hall.

Practice, Practice Rooms, and Classrooms

Consistent daily practice is fundamental for success in any performance area. 

• Practice rooms are available to music students during the hours the building is officially open.
• Practice room use is on a "first-come, first-served" basis.
• Practice rooms are to remain locked at all times.
• Do not put food or drinks on the pianos. Close and cover pianos after each use.
• Do not put paper over the windows of the practice room doors. This is a significant safety hazard.
• Access is available for authorized students to classrooms when they are not in use for classes or rehearsals. Chamber ensembles and piano majors who need the use of a grand piano have first priority. 

Computer Lab Use

Use of the computer lab in the Music Building requires faculty authorization.  

• No food or beverages are allowed in the lab.
• No writing upon or posting of notes on the workstations is allowed.
• Only authorized students may use the lab. Any sharing of keys or allowing entrance into the lab without key authorization (opening the door for someone else) will result in loss of lab privileges.
• Users may not connect peripheral devices to studio hardware without permission. Changing connections, moving equipment, and tampering with security systems is not allowed.
• No installation or removal of applications, system software, or changing of default settings is allowed.
• File storage on workstations is limited to classroom folders. All other materials will be periodically erased.
• Lab work is an extension of Music class work.   All work in the lab should support class assignments. Printing papers for other classes, personal email, web surfing, etc. is prohibited.
• Problems with software or hardware should be logged in on the clipboard in the lab and/or reported to the Music Chair.

Music Library Room 131A

The Music Library contains chamber music and large ensemble music. Use of materials in the Music Library is by written faculty authorization only. Library checkout forms are available in the Ensemble Music Library. 

Pianos, Organs, Harpsichords

• Pianos (acoustic and electric), organs, and harpsichords are maintained on a periodic basis. It is important to report any problems with these instruments immediately to the Piano Technician in Room 145 or the DMT Office, Theatre Arts Room 22, if the technician is unavailable.
• Students taking Studio Piano lessons have first priority for the use of grand pianos.
• Our pianos are essentially physical infrastructure; vital pieces of equipment for a multitude of daily purposes throughout the curriculum, and the Music Program invests heavily in their regular upkeep so that you, the user, always find a piano that is properly regulated and in tune when you need one. There is a staff piano technician here all year, but please understand that YOU play a vital role in piano care by treating these expensive pieces of equipment with respect, and reporting problems without delay to the Piano Technician.
• Keep drinks—open or closed containers—OFF pianos entirely. A single spill landing in the right place can mean hundreds of dollars of damage.
• Piano covers play an important part in maintenance and are meant to be used. These accessories assist in protecting pianos from dirt and dust obviously, but they also protect piano interiors from sudden temperature changes or from drafts that can destabilize tunings. Please do not throw them on the floor—they collect dirt there and transfer it back to the piano. Place removed covers on a table or chair, and put them back correctly on the piano when you are finished.
• For the sake of yourself and everybody else, have clean hands before playing, especially after eating. You might be the next person who has to play a piano with keys covered in French fry grease—not a pleasant experience.

• Please report any issues with pianos as soon as you are able to the technicians in room 145. These include not just the basic playability issues that pianos can develop, but wobbly benches, broken strings, broken key tops, odd noises, pencils and pens falling inside, etc. The sooner these can be addressed by the technician, the faster they can be resolved.
• Only students with faculty authorization may check out the piano key for use of the grand piano in Fulkerson Recital Hall. Use of this piano is restricted to students preparing for performances and may not be used for general practice.
• Students wishing to use grand pianos during summer and winter breaks must have faculty authorization and pay a use fee.

Instrument Policy and Check-Out Procedures

Rules and Restrictions for Cal Poly Humboldt Instrument Privileges

• Instruments normally may only be checked out to Cal Poly Humboldt Students enrolled in a music course which requires the instrument. 
• Do not leave instruments unattended at any time (e.g. in practice rooms, vehicles, etc.).
• Instruments are not to leave Humboldt County without prior written permission of the Department Chair. Instruments may only leave Humboldt County if proof of insurance for the full replacement value is presented to the Music Program Chair prior to departure.
• Only the person to whom the instrument is checked out may play the instrument.
• Instruments may not be used for performances outside of school use.
• Instruments are not to be used for parade, street, or pep bands.
• Summer and intersession use guidelines are the same as listed above.
• Instruments traveling by air must be inside the passenger cabin of the aircraft either as a carry-on or with an assigned seat.

Check-Out Procedures

• Obtain an Instrument Checkout form from the Instrument Shop, Music B, Room 145.
• Fill out the student portion of the form and have it signed by the appropriate faculty member.
• Go to room 145 and check out the instrument from the Instrument Technician. 
• Upon receiving the instrument and signing the check-out form, the student accepts full responsibility for replacing the instrument if it is lost or stolen and the cost of repairs if it is damaged by negligence or improper use. 
• The student may not have the instrument repaired or adjusted by any off campus repair technician without prior authorization of the Music Program Chair.
• All instruments must be returned by the last day of Finals Week each semester. Failure to do so will result in a hold being placed both upon student grades and registration for subsequent semesters.
• Summer and Winter break use of instruments requires authorization from both faculty and the Music Program Chair and there is a $20 use fee.

Lockers

• Lockers are provided for music students. Majors have first priority.
• Authorized students may check out a locker for the semester by contacting the Instrument Technician in the Instrument Shop.
• No student supplied locks may be used. Any unauthorized lock will be destroyed and the contents of the locker discarded.
• Cal Poly Humboldt assumes neither responsibility nor liability for loss or damage of anything stored in music lockers.
• Lockers must be emptied by the end of Finals Week each semester. After that time, lockers will be emptied by the Instrument Technician and the contents discarded.

Key Cards/Access to the Practice Rooms

Music students will be issued key cards allowing access to practice rooms, classrooms, and labs based upon faculty authorizations. Forms are available in the Department of Dance, Music and Theatre Office (Theatre Arts 022) beginning the first day of classes. Once your authorization has been approved, you may pick up your key card from the DMT Office (Theatre Arts 022).  Key cards must be returned at the end of the semester or academic year for which it was effective. New key cards are issued each academic year. 

Access to Percussion Studio

• Only students who are registered for percussion studio lessons or who have received official key card authorization by the percussion instructors may use these rooms and equipment.
• Students wishing to use the percussion facilities and equipment during summer and winter breaks must pay a use fee and obtain authorization by the percussion faculty.
• Equipment may not be moved into or out of the percussion modules without the permission of the percussion instructors.  
• No unauthorized usage of the percussion modules will be permitted.

Scholarships 

The Music Program offers a variety of yearly scholarships to new and returning students. Scholarship deadlines are posted on the Financial Aid website and generally open on November 15th  and close on January 31st.

Scholarship students must meet the following criteria:

• Must enroll as a full-time student with a minimum of 12 units.
• Must participate in at least two Music Program performance ensembles per semester, one of which will be assigned by the department through consultation with the advisor and ensemble directors.  Students with irreconcilable work or class time conflicts with the assigned ensemble meeting time may petition for a one-semester revision to the ensemble assignment. 
• Must receive instruction in your primary applied area by a member of the Cal Poly Humboldt Music Faculty.
• Must maintain satisfactory performance in studio lessons and ensembles.

Employment Opportunities

The Music Program hires students to work as Stage Managers, Ushers, Recorders, Lab Monitor, and Ensemble set-up. Check with the Music Department Office for further details. To work on campus, students must be registered in a minimum of 6 units per semester.
 

Advising, Academics, Attendance 

Advising

Be sure you read the university catalog. It is the primary contract between you and the university. Know the specific requirements for your degree concentration! The responsibility for graduating belongs to you. If you have questions, check with your advisor.

Advisors are assigned to all new majors and minors during the Humboldt Orientation Program (HOP). Students should meet with their advisor in order to plan their class schedule,, to receive guidance regarding both music and general education programs, and to address other concerns about school, career, or basic needs.  

Information about Cal Poly Humboldt Policies, Procedures, and Resources (such as the Add/Drop Policy, information about resources for disabled students, the Attendance Policy, and Counseling and Psychological services)isavailableat http://www2.humboldt.edu/academicprograms/syllabus-addendum-campus-reso…

Advisors

Advisors are assigned according to areas of study. For the name and office number of the faculty member advising in each area, contact the Music Program Chair.

Academic Standards

Music students are expected to maintain high academic standards as well as a high level of performance proficiency. A minimum of a "C" average is required in your music major courses.  

Attendance

Class attendance is a vital part of your music education. While attendance policies vary between instructors, it is expected that music majors will attend all meetings of their classes and lessons within the music major.

Attendance at all rehearsals and performances of ensembles is absolutely mandatory. Each member of the ensemble contributes to the overall experience of the group. Unexcused absences are unacceptable.
 

Studio Instruction

All students with a major in music are required to declare a principal performance medium (voice, piano, orchestral instrument, guitar or composition) upon entering the program. They will receive studio instruction in their major performing area based upon their degree Concentration (5-8 semesters). The standard lesson length is 25 minutes. Upper division lessons for Performance, Music Teacher Preparation, and Composition concentrations are 50 minutes long.

Lesson times are arranged with individual instructors. All music majors must receive their studio lessons with a Cal Poly Humboldt music faculty member. No student may register for studio instruction only. Students taking lessons are required to be concurrently enrolled in at least one Cal Poly Humboldt performance ensemble and enrolled for a minimum of 6 units. A minimum grade of B- is required to continue lessons in future semesters. A lower grade will result in probationary status in the studio. Additional criteria may apply in some studios. 

Students enrolled in studio lessons are expected to attend each scheduled lesson. If it is necessary to miss a scheduled lesson due to illness or other valid circumstance, the instructor must be notified in advance.

Missed lessons may be made up at the discretion of the instructor. Studio Lessons are an important and expensive (due to the one-on-one nature of instruction) component of your musical education.  Missed lessons will adversely affect both progress and overall performance. Therefore, grades may be lowered in the event of excessive absences.

Jury Examinations

All music majors enrolled in studio lessons will be evaluated by a faculty committee each semester. This panel, called a ‘Jury’, consists of faculty in each area or other music faculty as needed, and will determine whether students are making consistent progress and have met the requirements for the level of lessons in which they are enrolled. Jury exams are normally held during finals week each semester. Students should sign up for a jury time through their studio instructor during the last week of classes. Procedures and content of juries vary among different areas so check with your studio instructor at least one month before the end of the semester to review and prepare material for the jury.

All students enrolled in studio lessons are required to pass a jury exam each semester. Failure to pass these examinations will result in probation or possible dismissal from the program.

 Upper Division Lessons (MUS 420-438)

Required Upper Division Lessons will be 1 hour long.

The only students who may take upper division lessons will be those who have applied and been accepted into the Performance, Music Teacher Preparation, or Composition Concentrations. Upper Division lessons are available only on the student’s primary instrument for Applied Music or Music Teacher Preparation students.  

Students may take only FOUR semesters of Upper Division lessons. Normally, they will take them during their 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th semesters at Cal Poly Humboldt (for native Cal Poly Humboldt students), or beginning no later than their second semester at Cal Poly Humboldt (for upper-division transfer students) or beginning in their second semester as a Music Major (for native Cal Poly Humboldt students who change majors after completing four semesters at Cal Poly Humboldt). Students who are not able to graduate after completing their four semesters of upper division lessons may continue with lower division lessons as needed. 

For transfer students (who may not have an opportunity to audition into programs that include upper division lessons), faculty may waive one semester of upper division lessons in order to permit the student to graduate after four semesters at Cal Poly Humboldt. Students who started college at Cal Poly Humboldt must complete all four semesters of Upper Division lessons.  

Ensembles 

All Music Majors are required to participate in one ensemble each semester. Ensembles are listed below. For information about ensemble auditions, consult individual ensemble directors (listed in the class schedule).

Link Ensemble Requirements Page

MUS 106/406B:  University Singers – Study and performance of choral literature from many periods and styles.  

MUS 106/406E:  Opera Workshop – Traditional and contemporary musical theater repertoire: opera of all styles and Broadway musicals. Students prepare individual roles, ensembles, and scenes culminating in public performance.  

MUS 106/406F:  Mad River Transit – Select vocal jazz ensemble.

MUS 106/406H:  Wind Ensemble – The Wind Ensemble plays the highest quality wind literature. Organized on a "pool of players" concept, instrumentation expands and contracts from 10-50 players depending upon the repertoire. 

MUS 106/406J:  AM Jazz Band – This ensemble is designed for intermediate players, students learning a "double,” and students new to the jazz idiom. Emphasis is on style, literature, and improvisation. (NO audition required.)

MUS 106/406K:  Jazz Orchestra – Music composed or arranged for large Jazz Ensemble, this group explores the best literature available with emphasis on stylistic interpretation, improvisation, and ensemble playing.  

MUS 106/406N: Humboldt Chorale – Study and performance of choral music of all periods. (NO audition required.)

MUS 106/406O:  Humboldt Symphony – This full symphony orchestra plays the great works of the symphonic literature from all eras.  

MUS 107/407:  Chamber Music – Trios, quartets, quintets, etc. for brass, guitar, piano, strings, and woodwinds.

MUS 107/407C: Calypso Band – Steel drum tradition of Trinidad and Tobago is explored in this select ensemble. Students perform both on and off campus.  

MUS 107H/407H: Mariachi de Humboldt – Study and performance of Mariachi Music.  This group often performs for community functions and with the Mexican Folklorico Dance Ensemble.

MUS 107/407I:  Intermediate Orchestra – This group is designed for the intermediate level player, students who are learning "doubles,” picking up their instruments after a layoff, or who have completed the beginning instrument classes at Cal Poly Humboldt. Open to all symphonic instrumentalists including saxophone. (NO audition required.)

MUS 107/407J:  Jazz Combos – Various combos perform jazz compositions with emphasis on improvisation.

MUS 107/407P: Percussion Ensemble – The whole range of percussion literature is explored in this select ensemble. 

MUS 107/407Q: World Percussion Ensemble – Percussion music styles from around the world, focusing on a different region (Africa, the Caribbean, etc.) each semester.
 

Concerts and Recitals

Student Recitals

Performance experience in a solo setting is an important part of the development of any musician. All music majors enrolled in studio lessons are expected to perform yearly in an approved recital venue. All recitals are open to the public. Students have a wide variety of solo performance opportunities, from the informal Friday@Noon Recitals, to senior recitals. The most common solo performance opportunities are listed below:

Friday@Noon Recital

Informal Friday Recitals are generally held every Friday during each semester at Noon in an appropriately-sized Music classroom on a space available basis. Sign-up sheets are available on the Bulletin Board across from Room 141.

Studio Recital 

A recital of students from a particular studio or area.

Honors Recital

This is an annual concert, participants are chosen by a juried audition. 

Concerto/Aria Competition

The Music Program holds an annual Concerto/Aria competition during the Fall Semester. The winner performs later that year with either the Humboldt Symphony or the Wind Ensemble. The audition is open to all Cal Poly Humboldt students registered in studio performance studies and taking a minimum of 6.0 (six) units during the semester of both the audition and the performance (if chosen). The student must be enrolled in lessons on the instrument/voice upon which they will perform in the competition or have the approval of the appropriate studio teacher and the Music Program Chair. Application forms and complete rules are available in the DMT Office in Theatre Arts 22 .  

Senior Recital (MUS 440)

Required for the applied music concentration. Students performing required Senior Recitals complete the Music Department Performance/Composition Degree Recital Record Form (available in the Department of Dance, Music and Theatre Office (TA 022) in order to receive a Permission number to register. The syllabus is also available in the DMT Office. In addition, students complete the Application for Student Recital form in order to schedule a recital date. Senior Recitals are full recitals consisting of 45 to 65 minutes of music with a running time of a maximum of 90 minutes (including intermission, talking, stage set-up, etc). Any Senior Recital performed by a student who is not in the performance or composition concentration is a non-curricular recital, which is subject to a fee.

Non-Curricular Recital

Any other public performances are considered non-curricular recitals. Students may schedule a non-curricular recital in Fulkerson Recital Hall on a space available basis. Both the studio teacher and the Music Program Chair must approve non-curricular recitals. Only students enrolled in studio lessons are eligible. Students assume all costs associated with the recital and must use concert staff approved by the Music Program (stage manager, recording technician, and usher). Non-curricular recitals are not to exceed a maximum running time of 90 minutes (including intermission, talking, stage set-up, etc) and may be shared with another student. To schedule a non-curricular recital, students complete the Application for Student Recital form (available in the Dance, Music and Theatre office (TA022). Your studio teacher may require you to play a pre-recital jury as part of your preparation for a non-curricular recital.   

Accompanists

Student Accompanists

• By the third week of the semester, studio teachers will fill out and submit an accompanist request form for any student wishing to perform with a student accompanist.
• When assignment forms are returned, a copy is given to the student. It is the responsibility of the students (both performer and accompanist) to set rehearsal and coaching schedules. Supervision by both the studio teacher and the accompanying coordinator will facilitate a smooth process.
• Students taking the Accompanying course (MUS 353) for one unit will provide each student musician assigned to them an average of one half hour of rehearsal per week.
• Student Accompanists will also be available for coaching, lessons, performances, Master Classes and Juries as needed.
• Any additional time may be provided at the discretion of the accompanist.
• All students using student accompanists must meet with their accompanist and the instructor of the accompanying class for coaching. 
• All students and accompanists must come well prepared to the first rehearsal.
• Student accompanists must be notified of any performance at least 2 weeks in advance. Failure to do so will release the accompanist from the obligation to perform.

Staff Accompanists 

• Rehearsal time with the Staff Accompanist is available by signing up on the door of Room 149.
• Vocal students may sign up for a maximum of 10 minutes per week.
• In any given week, Instrumental students may sign up for no more than double the performance time of their piece.
• Students preparing for Senior Recitals should consult with their studio teachers about how much rehearsal time is needed.