The Recital
All non-voice degree recitals at ODU are adjudicated pass/fail by a representative group of faculty. Voice students receive a pass/fail for their recital approval and receive a letter grade for their recital. Recitals are not given for credit but are required for graduation in the BM in Performance, BM in Composition, and Bachelor of Music with a Major in PreK-12 Instrumental or Vocal Music Education. The full duration of degree recitals must be performed on the student's principal instrument.
- During the Applied Music semester MUSA 441/MUSA 442 and prior to the Teacher Candidate Internship (student teaching), Bachelor of Music with a Major in PreK-12 Instrumental or Vocal Music Education students are required to perform a satisfactory half-hour, public, solo recital (25 minutes of music).
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In rare instances where a student exhibits severe performance anxiety or another debilitating condition that is exacerbated by public performance, the faculty may authorize a private recital as an accommodation. This policy applies specifically to Bachelor of Music with a Major in PreK-12 Instrumental or Vocal Music Education students. The student must still meet all performance requirements as outlined in their degree program. This accommodation is only granted after faculty members, through prior assessments and consultations, have determined that the student’s condition significantly impacts their ability to perform in a public setting. Private recitals are considered an exception and will be used only when necessary to support student success. All other recital policies, including the Recital Approval Hearing, apply to these performances.
- For BM Performance Wind/Brass/Percussion/String instruments, all degree recitals must include one piece or one movement of a larger work that is performed from memory. The memory requirement is waived for these instruments in all other programs. Keyboard Performance Majors must memorize all solo work. Keyboard education majors must memorize a minimum of 30% of the program. Specific questions should be referred to the keyboard area head.
- During the Applied Music 252 semester, non-voice BM Performance students are required to perform a satisfactory half-hour, public, solo recital (25 minutes of music). The faculty will review the progress and potential of each performance major prior to and following the sophomore recital. Results of these reviews determine acceptability for continuance in the program.
- Voice BM performance students are required to perform a sophomore barrier in their 4th semester (MUSA 252), at which time the faculty will review the progress and potential of each performance major to determine continuation in the program. The BM performance major will perform half-hour, public, solo recital (25 minutes of music) in their 5th semester (MUSA 351) as part of their degree program requirements.
- During the Applied Music 452 semester, All BM Performance students are required to perform a satisfactory full-hour, public, solo recital (50 minutes of music).
- In no case will a half-hour sophomore performance recital be accepted in lieu of a half-hour senior BM in Music Education recital. Students in both programs are expected to study Applied Music for the number of semesters required in the program.
- Students are required to be enrolled in Applied Music during the semester the recital is given. Only students performing during the first two (2) weeks of the semester are exempt from this requirement.
- If you are a music major, and voice is your major instrument, you will perform an extended jury at the end of your fourth semester of study, 242 or 252. The purpose of this jury is to assess and project the ability of the student to successfully complete the pursued degree program. This decision will be based upon your attendance record, attitude, grades in all classes, musicianship, past jury grades, progress, technique, and the recommendation of your studio teacher. If a student does not pass their sophomore barrier the first time, they do have the opportunity to attempt it later at the discretion of their applied teacher and the area director. If it is deemed that you are not making the necessary improvement to successfully complete the pursued program, you will be advised to change majors.
- During the Applied Music 351 or 352 semester, BM Voice majors are required to perform a satisfactory half-hour, public, solo recital (25 minutes of music). Three of the following four periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th/21st century as well as three of the four languages (English, French, German, and Italian) must be represented.
- During the Applied Music 452 semester, BM Voice majors are required to perform a satisfactory full-hour, public, solo recital (50 minutes of music). All four of the following four periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, and 20th/21st century as well as all four of the four languages (English, French, German, and Italian) must be represented. During the Applied Music semester 441 or 442 and prior to student teaching, BME Voice majors are required to perform a satisfactory half-hour, public, solo recital (25 minutes of music). On rare occasions, it is possible to present this senior recital in the first week of the following semester coinciding with student teaching.
- With the permission of the applied instructor, students may also sing musical theatre, commercial music, and/or jazz on their recitals.
- BM Sound Recording Technology Majors and Music Minors are not required to perform extended juries or recitals.
BM composition majors are expected to fulfill the following recital requirements:
- MUSA 331: at least one 10-minute lecture-performance on a SPH or equivalent program.
- MUSA 332: at least one 10-minute lecture-performance on a SPH or equivalent program.
- MUSA 431: one or more lecture-performances on SPHs or equivalents totaling 15 minutes.
- MUSA 432: a half-hour lecture-recital of original works.
Recital Approval Hearings
All students presenting recitals, including non-degree recitals, must first pass a Recital Approval Hearing. To apply for a Recital Approval Hearing click here.
- Hearing Duration:
- Instrumental and vocal recital approval hearings are 15 minutes long.
- Composition recital hearings are 30 minutes. Faculty will select portions of the program to be heard at their discretion and will always request to hear the memorized piece if applicable. Once a recital program is approved, changes cannot be made without faculty consent.
- Time Requirements for Recitals:
- Half-hour recitals must include a minimum of 25 minutes of music.
- Full-hour recitals must include a minimum of 50 minutes of music.
- BM Performance Majors: Performance majors are required to perform one piece from memory on their senior recital. This memory requirement is waived for all other applied music students.
- Composition Majors: Composition majors must pass a Recital Approval Hearing. Live performances of acoustic works are strongly recommended for approval. If logistical challenges arise, a rehearsal recording may be accepted. In emergency cases, a MIDI realization will be considered, though it is a last resort. The student is expected to discuss their work in a lecture-recital format. Recordings of acoustic works are not acceptable for the recital itself.
Additional Guidelines
- 30-minute recitals may be paired to include two students who would perform for a full hour, 30 minutes of performance per student (including opportunities for chamber music collaborations between the two students). The students must declare intent to pair for a recital and receive faculty permission prior to booking rehearsal and performance spaces.
- Faculty members on a student’s recital committee should also participate in the approval hearing.
- If students cannot assemble a committee of faculty within their area, it is preferable to reschedule the recital rather than involving faculty from outside the area.
- Degree recitals should be scheduled well in advance of midterm to ensure faculty availability for grading.
- The recital committee is responsible for submitting signed programs documenting individual pass/fail votes for both the approval hearing and the actual recital. These documents must be delivered to the music office manager for inclusion in the student's record.
Scheduling the Recital
Each student is responsible for reserving rehearsal and performance dates in Chandler Recital Hall, both of which must be done prior to the approval hearing. Use the Student Degree Recitals page to direct the whole process of producing your recital.
Half-hour recitals are presented Monday and Friday afternoons; exceptions to this scheduling policy are not permitted without committee approval. Full-hour recitals are preferably presented on weekday evenings but may also be scheduled on Sunday afternoons. The Music Office will prepare the recital program based on what you submit for the Recital Approval Hearing and will duplicate printed programs for your recital. Both the student and Applied Teacher should proof-read the program copy before it is duplicated. A sound production lead and/or assistant will be backstage to assist with logistics and will record the recital.
BME students must perform their degree recital prior to student teaching. Exceptions to this policy will only be granted under the most extraordinary circumstances.
Piano Proficiency Exam
All BM Voice Performance majors and BME Voice, Keyboard, and Guitar majors are required to pass the Piano Proficiency Examination. BME majors are expected to pass the examination prior to student teaching. A sign-up sheet is posted in the Diehn School of Music prior to final exam week each semester for those who are ready to take the exam. The Piano Proficiency Examination is separate from piano class examinations. This exam will test the following skills:
- Major keys of C, G, D, A, E, F, B-flat, E-flat, A-flat, and D-flat.
- Minor keys of c, g, d, a, e, f, and b. (harmonic minor)
- Scales: 1, 2, and 3 octaves in quarters, eighths, and triplets, respectively. Hands together, parallel motion. MM quarter = 60.
- Arpeggios: Root position tonic triads, hands together in parallel motion, 2 octaves in quarters and eighths. Also, dominant seventh and diminished seventh arpeggios on the same roots, 5-note arpeggios played one octave up and down. MM quarter = 60.
- Triads: Tonic triads block style with inversions: 1 octave in quarters and 2 octaves in eighths, ascending and descending, hands together. M.M. quarter = 60.
- Resolutions: Dominant 7th and diminished 7th chords on the same roots. 4-note block chords in root position resolving to tonic. See the Resolutions example at this link.
- Cadences: Authentic cadences and Plagal cadences played in piano style resolving to tonic.
- See information about the required progression to be played at this link.
Harmonization and Improvisation:
- Play by ear familiar melodies such as Happy Birthday and America while providing a simple chordal accompaniment in the left hand.
- Harmonization with the I, IV, and V chords is minimum, using inversions as needed.
- Transpose melodies to other keys.
- Folk melody with traditional harmonic accompaniment. Solo literature in homophonic texture.
- An approved solo such as those found in Alfred's Group Piano for Adults Book 2, or Easy Classics to Moderns, and easier Clementi Sonatinas. Copies of the solo must be provided for the examiners.
- Patriotic piece: One patriotic song, using pre-approved music for Star Spangled Banner, America, or America the Beautiful.
- A prepared accompaniment to a vocal or instrumental composition, to be performed with a vocalist or instrumentalist. Copies of the accompaniment must be provided for the examiners.
Vocal/Choral Proficiency
All BME Voice, Keyboard, and Guitar majors are required to pass the Voice Proficiency Examination prior to student teaching. Students are expected to pass all sections of the examination before the Diehn School of Music will approve them for graduation. A sign-up sheet is posted in the Diehn School of Music prior to final exam week each semester for those who are ready to take the exam. The Voice Proficiency Examination is separate from voice class examinations. This exam tests the following skills:
- Sing the solo audition piece using proper technique
- Articulate why you believe this piece was chosen by VCDA (i.e. what makes this worthy of being an Honor’s Choir audition piece?)
- Explain how this piece would be taught to students auditioning for All-State
- Teach the lab choir a section of a 3-part choral piece of music appropriate for a Middle School students
- This piece must be chosen from a list of recommended scores (see Dr. Raschdorf)
- The section you will teach will be decided upon by the faculty (i.e. you must be prepared to teach any portion of the piece)
- Sing the melody and play accompaniment (no block chords used) of a song of your choice from an elementary music series. Your song choice must be approved by Dr. Raschdorf.
- You must use proper vocal and piano technique.
Evaluation will be based on discussion from a panel of faculty of vocal technique; vocal quality (is it pleasing?); ability to direct (conduct, assess, and accompany) a lab choir; appropriateness of material selected for sections one and two; correct musical style, tempo, and mood; and ability to sing and play in section three.