Applied Music Auditions
Acceptance into the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music requires the successful completion of an audition. Anyone wishing to take Applied Music courses (private lessons) will also need to complete this audition, whether seeking a degree or not. Click here to learn more about auditioning for the F. Ludwig Diehn School of Music.
Applied Music courses:
- MUSA 151, 152, 251, etc., are for BM Performance majors: 3 credits; one full-hour lesson per week.
- MUSA 141, 142, 241, etc., are for BM Sound Recording Technology and BME majors: 2 credits; one full-hour lesson per week.
- MUSA 210, 211, 310, 311, 410, 411 are for music minors: 2 credits; one full-hour lesson per week.
- MUSA 139, 140, 239, etc., are for BA Majors in Music and are available to music majors studying a secondary instrument: 1 credit; one half-hour lesson per week. Students seeking to study a secondary instrument must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and complete the secondary instrument request form. Without this form and all requisite signatures, a student may not register for a lesson on a secondary instrument. Studying more than two instruments or taking more than two applied lessons with different teachers per week is not permitted.
- Students who would like to enroll in half-hour applied keyboard lessons, MUSA 139, must first complete or test out of MUSC 101 and MUSC 102.
- Vocal/Choral, Guitar, and Keyboard BM in Music Education students are required to take MUSC 130, Functional Piano Skills. Vocal/Choral and Guitar, BM in Music Education students are required to take MUSE 141, Music Education Applied Piano Lesson.
BM with an Emphasis in SRT
Majors studying in the Bachelor of Music with an Emphasis in Sound Recording Technology (SRT) may audition for applied lessons in either the Jazz or Classical area. If admitted to the Jazz applied area, students may be initially assigned to applied lessons in the Classical area to address basic technique, followed by semesters with an emphasis in Jazz style and repertoire. The applied performance jury will focus on the appropriate areas of study in any specific semester, as determined by the instructor. Those auditioning for the Jazz area should prepare the audition as directed by BA Jazz Emphasis guidelines.
Applied Lesson Absences
When a lesson must be missed, it is the student's responsibility to notify the teacher in advance. Students must take the initiative in arranging make-up lessons. If a teacher misses a lesson, the teacher will notify the student in advance and arrange a make-up lesson.
Each student is expected to keep off-campus commitments within a limit that will allow ample time for University work, particularly in the area of Applied Music. Consistent progress is expected in lessons and this requires consistent practice time.
Applied Lesson Teacher Assignments
Teacher assignments in Applied Music are made by the Area Director; student preference may be considered when possible. However, a change of teacher is not ordinarily made and must be approved by the Area Director upon the recommendation of the student's present teacher. The Vocal Studies area has separate policies regarding teacher changes, please see below. Students in the vocal area should speak with the Director of Vocal Studies directly if seeking a change of instructor.
Procedure for Changing Studios within Vocal Studies
Students may request a one-time switch per academic year from one vocal studio to another vocal studio before their junior year/fifth semester of vocal study, without question or comment. No judgement, bias, or negative ramifications towards either student or faculty member will be made or permitted for a SSWC request.
Any request for a vocal studio switch after reaching Junior year/fifth semester will require justification through the Problem-Based Studio Switch (PBSW).
Procedure for requesting a SSWC:
- Student must not have taken more than four (4) semesters of studio classes with current teacher. (Freshman/Sophomore) Students are advised to consider changes BEFORE the sophomore barrier.
- Students are advised to have sample lessons/discussions with other vocal faculty prior to making the decision to request a studio change.
- Notify the area Director in a written email of the intent to use the SSWC and identify the studio to which the switch will be made.
- Student and new teacher agree to work together. *Note: A switch can only be made if the new teacher has space in their studio.
- The area Director will notify the teacher of the student’s intent to use the SSWC.
If a student is having issues with their studio professor, it is incumbent upon the student to communicate their concerns directly to their professor. It is understandable that this may be a difficult first step for the student, however in the professional world, this is mandatory. Professors should create an atmosphere where their students feel empowered to have open communication. Frequently whatever problem(s) is discussed can be rectified, and continuation with the same studio teacher can continue in a very productive manner. Learning to talk truth to power is difficult, scary, but necessary and it is part of our responsibility as your teacher to create an atmosphere where you feel comfortable doing so.
If a student comes to talk to Dr. Nedvin (Director of Vocal Studies), prior to talking to their studio teacher, the student will be told to talk to their studio teacher first.
If, after speaking with the studio teacher, the problem cannot be rectified, the student must come talk to Dr. Brian Nedvin (bnedvin@odu.edu - 757-683-4069) in person. The email and/or phone number is available to set up an appointment.
Dr. Nedvin will discuss the situation and determine if there is another studio to which the student can transfer. No transfers can happen during the semester except in extenuating circumstances. If the solution is not amenable to the student, the student, after talking to the studio teacher, and Dr. Nedvin, is welcome talk to Dr. Nancy Klein, Director of the School of Music.
If you are a student of Dr. Nedvin, first you must talk to him. If, at that time, you feel the situation has not been rectified, you will talk to Dr. Nancy Klein, Director of the School of Music.
Placement Examinations in Music
Students with previous study in music theory, ear training, voice class, or piano must take placement examinations in those areas in which they wish to receive credit. The requirements for successful completion of placement examinations are listed below.
Music Theory Placement Exams
Notation of pitch and time, staff, clefs (including C clefs), note values, construction and spelling of scales, key signatures, relative key relationships, forms of the minor scale, meter and rhythm. Intervals: spelling, identification, consonant/dissonant, interval inversion. Triads: construction, spelling, qualities in keys. Part writing: 4 voices, root position only, primary triads.
Non-harmonic tones, harmonic analysis. Part writing: all triads, root position and inversions. Dominant seventh chords, introduction to other seventh chords.
Seventh chords, secondary dominants and secondary leading-tone chords, modulation to closely related keys, binary and ternary forms.
Borrowed chords, Neapolitan chords, augmented-sixth chords, modes, twelve-tone technique.
Ear Training Placement Exams
Major melodies, rhythm in simple and compound meters (simple divisions of the beat only), sight sing and notate major melodies in dictation with correct pitch and rhythm.
Minor mode, sing and spell any form of a minor scale, minor melodies, rhythm in simple and compound meters (subdivision of the beat),
sight sing and take down minor melodies in dictation with the correct pitch and rhythm.
Chromatic melodies and more difficult rhythms, both for singing and dictation, harmonic dictation exercises including primary and secondary triads and inversions.
Major melodies, rhythm in simple and compound meters (simple divisions of the beat only), sight sing and notate major melodies in dictation with correct pitch and rhythm.
Minor mode, sing and spell any form of a minor scale, minor melodies, rhythm in simple and compound meters (subdivision of the beat),
sight sing and take down minor melodies in dictation with the correct pitch and rhythm.
Chromatic melodies and more difficult rhythms, both for singing and dictation, harmonic dictation exercises including primary and secondary triads and inversions.
Voice Class Placement Exams
Students with a background in voice may test out of MUSC 107 Voice Class by audition. Make sure the audition committee is aware of your intention, as opposed to placement in Applied Music.
Piano Class Placement Exams
Piano placement examinations will only be heard during the first two weeks of each semester and during the week of final exams. Students interested in piano class placement should contact Professor Thomas Joseph for specific information. Those who pass Class Piano MUSC 102 qualify to take a half-hour, private keyboard lesson MUSA 139 without an audition.