Juries
Recitals
Ensembles & Workshops
JCM BM Degree in Double Majors
Policies
Summer Study
Residence and Continuous Registration
Graduation Eligibility

 

Applied Music Study for JCM Majors
The Eastman jazz studies and contemporary media degree programs promote a balance of jazz and classical applied private instruction. Applied music instruction for JCM bachelor of music students is usually with an assigned classical teacher during the freshman and sophomore years. Applied music during the junior and senior years will be with assigned JCM faculty.

 

Juries

Classical Jury
JCM majors will perform 15-minute classical juries during all semesters in which they take private classical instruction.

Jazz Jury
JCM freshman, sophomores, juniors, and first-year graduate students will perform 15- minute jazz juries in April.

Jazz Jury Goals:

• To supply students with a culminating task-oriented performance focus each year, as preparation for the experience of auditions and graduation recitals
• To allow JCM faculty to present students with meaningful verbal and written commentary
• To determine "good standing in the major" as required by Eastman policy

Repertoire and Formats:
JCM performance majors should prepare at least three (3) selections with emphasis on improvisation, from which the jury will choose a minimum of two for performance. These are to be performed by memory and should be drawn from materials assigned in applied jazz studio lessons; tunes studied in JPWs; and student compositions or arrangements, per consent of JCM faculty. Students will perform as soloists in duo, trio, or quartet formats, as discussed with private teacher, advisor, and/or JPW instructor. Each student soloist must coordinate and rehearse accompanying musicians, preferably using other JCM majors. JCM writing skills majors are required to bring scores and tapes of works from the current year. Jury times will be posted two weeks prior to the jury date(s).

"Pass/Fail/Jury Probation" only, see student handbook; no letter or number grades. Failure of two consecutive juries will result in automatic dismissal from the JCM degree program. Students who fail the freshman or sophomore jury will typically be advised to consider alternative Eastman degree programs or transfer to another institution. On occasion, a pass "with conditions" may be given, particularly for students in their junior year or first MM year. The conditions imposed must be met before the student undertakes preparation for the degree recital.

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Recitals

JCM Recitals
Each undergraduate (BM) major will present a full (60-minute) recital during the senior year. Each graduate (MM) major will present a full (60-minute) recital during final resident year.

PLEASE NOTE:

All JCM recitals in Kilbourn Hall will be on assigned dates. There are no excused absences from ensemble rehearsals or classes due to recital preparation. The student is responsible for all coordination of recital rehearsal preparation.

Students should contact Sheryle Charles for the scheduling of rehearsal times in Room 624A. During the final rehearsal week, the student should contact the concert office to request a dress rehearsal time in Room 120.

Recital: Performance Majors
JCM BM and MM and DMA performance recitals must demonstrate advanced abilities in a variety of jazz performance formats. The student will be evaluated by the JCM faculty and given a pass or fail grade. Repertoire for the recital will be selected with the respective jazz faculty advisor and/or applied jazz studio instructor in the preceding semester and submitted to the JCM faculty for review. Students may include their own compositions and arrangements, but these should showcase the recitalist's improvisational abilities. Faculty may choose to cancel a recital that is not adequately prepared.

Recital: Writing Skills Majors
JCM BM and MM writing skills recitals must demonstrate a diverse collection of compositional and arranging styles and varied ensemble formats. All selections must be composed or arranged (emphasis upon original material) by the student specifically for the recital occasion. The recital repertoire will largely be generated during the fall semester of the final year under the guidance of the faculty advisor in JCM 281 (undergraduates) or JCM 481 (MM candidates). Advanced Projects sessions. Students may include works created in both jazz and non-jazz compositional studies. Film scoring and multimedia projects may also be incorporated.

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Ensembles & Workshops

Jazz Ensembles
All JCM majors are required to register for a large jazz ensemble and a Jazz Performance Workshop during each resident semester. Large ensemble personnel are selected during auditions in fall semester (River Campus Jazz Ensemble auditions are held separately). Students entering the program in spring semester will be auditioned separately. Large jazz ensemble rehearsals do not conflict with Jazz Performance Workshops or other ESM large ensembles.

Large Jazz Ensembles

Eastman Jazz Ensemble (EJE)
Bill Dobbins, director
12:35-2:15 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday (120).

Eastman New Jazz Ensemble (NJE)
Dave Rivello, director
6:30-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday (120)

Eastman Jazz Lab Band (JLB)
Rich Thompson, director
6:30-8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday (514)

Eastman Studio Orchestra (SO)
Bill Dobbins, director
Combines Jazz Ensemble with strings, woodwinds, brass, harp, and percussion from either Philharmonia or Symphony Orchestra (alternating years).
Meets at PHIL or ESSO rehearsal times during 3-week period in spring.

River Campus Jazz Ensemble (RCJE)
Bill Tibero, director
9 -10 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday (Wilson Commons)

Jazz Performance Workshops
Jazz Performance Workshops take their inspiration from bassist/composer Charles Mingus's varied "workshop" ensembles. The goal is to provide Eastman JCM majors with an ongoing context in which formal classroom study is coordinated with a comprehensive core repertoire that defines traditions in the music as well as looks to its future. This two-credit, eight semester course meets twice weekly for two-hour periods. Generally the class size is between five to eight students, constituting the instrumentation of a typical small jazz group. Classes that explore the fundamental relationship of improvisation and repertoire make up about one-half of workshop time. Theory, analysis, aural training, writing skills, historic listening survey, and solo transcriptions are assigned as determined by the instructors. The remainder of class time is a faculty coached small ensemble rehearsal, with repertoire chosen by faculty and students, including the core JPW repertoire as well as original and transcribed material. Rehearsals and concerts are routinely recorded and critiqued by faculty coaches to accustom students to the process of using media to evaluate and enhance performances. JCM writing skills majors are expected to contribute original compositions and arrangements to the ensembles on a regular basis. Performance skills majors at every JPW level are encouraged to explore writing for their ensembles as well. Instructors may occasionally rotate during the school year so that each workshop receives different viewpoints on the materials and repertoire covered. Students may also rotate, as opportunities for experimenting with and augmenting the instrumentation of the ensembles arise. At various times throughout the year, guest performer/clinicians may work with the ensembles.

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JCM BM Degree in Double Majors
Students who wish to complete an undergraduate degree in more than one major field (e.g., jazz performance and music theory) or two undergraduate degrees (e.g. a bachelor of music degree in JCM and a bachelor of arts degree in philosophy) must meet all requirements for each major or both degrees and should expect to significantly augment the minimum number of courses for the single major or degree program.

Approval of a student's double-major program is given by the associate director for academic affairs only on the recommendation of the chairs of the major departments. The associate director for academic affairs and a representative of the dean's office of the College of Arts and Science must approve a proposed double-degree program.

Eastman students may establish a minor only in a non-music field in the College of Arts and Science. Courses constituting the minor must be approved by the department of the minor and by Eastman's associate director for academic affairs.

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Policies

Equipment Policy
Music stands will be provided in most classrooms and ensemble sites; students must supply their own stand for use in practice rooms. A drumset will be available in some classrooms and rehearsal spaces, but drummers must supply their own gear for large ensemble rehearsals/concerts and in the practice rooms. Bassists and guitarists should bring their own amps to all classes and rehearsal sites. A limited supply of double basses are available for student use, but priority is given to bass performance majors and music education methods classes. Equipment is stored in assigned locked practice rooms (drummers and bassists) or lockers.

Attendance Policy
Students are expected to attend all classes and are held responsible for any work missed because of absence. Absences may be excused only at the discretion of the individual faculty member. A faculty member need not excuse an absence for health reasons unless he or she receives a written verification of the student's illness from the University Health Service. Students on probation are required to attend all classes.

All jazz courses and ensembles follow this attendance rule: Two unexcused absences constitute the lowering of a student's final course grade by one full letter. If an absence from an applied music lesson is necessary, the teacher should be notified as far in advance as possible and arrangements should be made between student and instructor for a make-up lesson. Sending subs to rehearsals without prior instructor approval is not acceptable.

Concert Dress
Students performing in the large jazz ensembles and combos will typically dress informally for concerts. Eastman Jazz Ensemble and Studio Orchestra members may occasionally appear in formal evening dress (men in tuxedos and black bow tie, women in long black dresses).

Reserving Rooms
To reserve A624, contact Sheryle Charles, the JCM department secretary (274-1430). Students may reserve A624 after all JCM class meeting times and arranged rehearsals have been established. In the month preceding their recital date students may reserve available single blocks of no more than two hours per week.

To reserve a room other than A624, please refer to the Non-Instructional Classroom or Meeting Room Request Form.

To reserve the formal lounge of the Eastman Student Living Center, go to the dean of students' office in the Eastman Student Living Center.

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Summer Study
The majority of Eastman JCM courses are typically NOT offered during the summer sessions. Some graduate students choose to complete deficiencies in music history and theory courses (if available) during the summer to ease the academic load during the fall and spring semesters. It is JCM department policy that no degree recitals can be given during the summer session. Independent summer study with specific JCM faculty members can occasionally be arranged with prior approval from the instructor and the associate director for academic affairs. Such arrangements should be made no later than April 1st. Independent study will require special summer fees.

Eastman Summer Session

Residence and Continuous Registration
During the regular academic year, a semester of full-time enrollment comprises courses carrying 12 or more credits in total. It is expected that all JCM BM candidates, including double-major candidates, will complete their degrees through eight semesters of full-time study during the academic year. All JCM MM candidates are expected to complete their degrees in four semesters of full-time study. Graduate teaching assistants may elect to carry as few as nine credits of study per semester.

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Graduation Eligibility
To be eligible for graduation, JCM undergraduate students must:
1. Complete the prescribed degree program with a minimum grade-point average of 2.0;
2. Satisfy the major department and applied music jury;
3. Be recommended by the faculty for the degree; and
4. Have completed the equivalent of at least one year in residence (the final 30 semester hours).

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