Recital Guidelines & Terminal Requirements for Degree

The B. Mus. in Performance and B.F.A. in Musical Theatre terminal degree requirements include a whole senior recital/showcase (40-50 minutes of music) and a junior recital/showcase is required. The B.A. in Music and B. Mus. in Music Education terminal requirements include a whole senior recital (40-50 minutes of music) or two from the following (subject to approval by Music Department faculty):

• Half Recital (Minimum 20 - 25 minutes of music)
• Thesis (30 pages or more)
• Comprehensive exam (2 hours)
• Independent Senior Project with substantial research exemplified 
• Interdisciplinary Senior Project with substantial research exemplified 
• Publication – substantive article published in state or national periodical/journal

Junior Recital/Showcase

All students pursuing the B. Mus. Performance degree and B.F.A. in Musical Theatre are required to perform a Junior Recital/Showcase and should follow the guidelines for the senior recital listed under “Terminal Requirements for Degree”. This recital/showcase should demonstrate the readiness for a student’s final year of study. A hearing is required for allrecitals and repertoire must be approved by the student’s applied instructor and advisor. All sophomore recitals must have both applied instructor and advisor approval of repertoire.

Guidelines for Recital Preparation

Students in their third and fourth year of study, depending on degree program, fulfill their recital requirements through a half (25 minutes) or whole (40-50 minutes) solo recital. These recitals can be held in one of our on-campus performance locations, or off-campus in a faculty approved location. Students should ask their applied instructor for approval who will then bring the request to the Music Department faculty. 

Student obligations that must be completed:

By the Last Day of Classes the Semester Prior to the Recital Semester:

• Select a recital time on the given performance dates on the Music Department Calendar

• If using an on-campus location, excluding RPAC, students must reserve the space through the Faculty Assistant. This includes the performance date and at least one rehearsal. In addition students should reserve Darbeth Lobby if needed for a reception.

• If using RPAC, students must reserve the space through the Director of Camps and Conferences, Jessica Falk.  

At the Beginning of a Student’s Recital Semester:

• With the help of your applied instructor select a program.
• Decide on whether you wish to have a reception; it is optional. If you desire one, make arrangements.
• Contact an accompanist in the first two weeks of the semester per the accompanying guidelines on page 13 of this handbook. Contact other instrumentalists as needed.
• Schedule a recital hearing. The hearing is required to be at least two weeks prior to the performance date. Select this date with the aid of your applied instructor, and he/she will then notify the faculty. All faculties need not be at every hearing, but the date/time should allow there to be two or three faculty present at each hearing.
• For a CD recording of your recital, turn in your request form in the Performing Arts Office. The fee is $30.00 which includes set up and one CD.  Additional copies are $12.00 for CDs.

Three weeks before the Student’s Recital:

• Send reminder email of your recital hearing to the faculty members on your recital hearing committee.
• With the help of your applied instructor, create your recital program. Pick up a model program from the Faculty Assistant and use this model in typing your program (or see Forms under the departmental website). Submit your program in finished form to the Faculty Assistantat least two days prior to your hearing.The Faculty Assistant and Faculty are available to help with questions you have regarding the program, but it is your responsibility to edit and format it correctly using the model program as a guide.
• Fill out the RPAC Request Form needed to arrange for various lighting and staging needs. Make these arrangements at least two weeks before your performance date.
• For publicity, give recital information to the Performing Arts Office two/three weeks prior to your performance. Include a headshot or arrange to have one taken. You may want to make posters advertising the event. Posters need to be approved in certain locations before they can be placed on campus, when in doubt ask your advisor. Be certain to include the following information: (1) your name and voice classification or instrument, (2) name of accompanist, and (3) date, time, and location. Contact the News Bureau Coordinator in the Public Relations Office ext. 6343.
• Write a press release for the recital to turn into Charles Osen at Charles.Osen@sckans.edu. 
• Contact the ToneBuilder President to arrange for potential volunteers to usher and stage manage the recital. Recommended personnel may include a stage manager, a minimum of four ushers, and reception assistants.
• Submit any and all work orders to Sodexo, i.e. tables for reception. 

      The Week of Student’s Recital:

• Check on all recital needs.
• Write an announcement for the recital to be placed in the JinxTale to inform on-campus students, faculty, and staff of the recital at Jinxtale@sckans.edu.
• Send full recital details and program to the volunteer staff, which includes the stage manager, ushers, and reception assistants. 
• Meet with RPAC events management to finalize all details related to reservation request previously submitted.
• Submit any and all work orders to Sodexo.

Senior Project Proposals

Timeline: In the academic year preceding the project presentation:

• Choose faculty/project advisor by September 15.
• Meet and discuss your proposal ideas with your advisor before November 15.
• Choose topic by January 15.
• Submit six copies of the proposal outlining project by March 15 to the Music Faculty.  
• After submission the student will be asked to present a synopsis of the project proposal at a Music Department Meeting and answer any Faculty questions.

Criteria:  The project must demonstrate:

• Culmination of student’s education at Southwestern College.
• Challenge the student to the next level of studies.
• Bridge student’s Southwestern College education with professional goals.
• Include goals, objectives, and assessment instruments.
• Include resource needs and the means to fund the project, if necessary.
• Substantial bibliography of source materials for literature review.

Proposal:  

The proposal should be double spaced and utilize times new roman 12 pt font. The document should showcase a concise project idea with detailed understanding of the project, and should include the following elements:

• Title Page
• Introduction/Purpose/Statement of the Problem or Need
• Project (research) objectives
• Proposal & Bibliography of Source Material must be in Turabian or APA style formatting
• Overview of project & Methods, including how you will collect your information and analyze the outcome of the project (assessment).
• Timeline
• Budget & Personnel
• Summary Conclusion