APPLIED CLARINET LESSON GRADING POLICY AND PROCEDURES

Keith Lemmons
klemmons@unm.edu, 505-277-4905
Department of Music, The University of New Mexico, Room 2107

1. Attendance is required for all lessons and clarinet-related activities on campus, unless excused by the instructor. Check your e-mail frequently as you will get many messages concerning the clarinet studio from me.
   
   The only excused absence is in the case of personal or family emergency.  An unexcused absence will result in a lesson grade of an “F”, which will be averaged into the overall semester grade.

2.  Lessons will be made up only if:
   
   
   • Because of the number of majors in the clarinet studio, there may be times that it is impossible to make up your lesson, due to conflicts with my schedule. All attempts will be made to reschedule your lesson, however, it may not be possible. If you cannot make the time I have available, no makeup lesson will be given.
     
     
   • Lessons will not be made up for being kicked out of the lesson and/or for your not being prepared for a lesson, sickness, holiday or university closure. 
     
     
   • When master classes are given, these will also count toward the number of lessons you have throughout the semester. Group lessons may be used in order to make-up lessons, due to scheduling conflicts that may appear due to my many administrative and/or search committee duties or travelling.
     
     
3.  Lessons will focus on solo repertoire, chamber music, technique, etudes/excerpts, and pedagogical aspects. You must demonstrate good intonation and tone, technical mastery, excellent rhythm, color, dynamics, style and emotion. Also, the amount of assigned material covered in the lesson is extremely important. Practice Philosophy: a one credit lesson means a one hour a day minimum of practice time; two credit lessons means a two hour a day minimum of practice time; four credit lessons means a four hour a day minimum of practice time. Graduate students are expected and required to practice 4 hours a day.
   
   
4. Lesson Grades: must include the following:
   
   
• A = all assignments performed at an exceptional level of improvement and up to your ability, great attitude, all assigned material covered
  
  
• B = all assignments performed at a good level of improvement, good attitude, a lot of assigned material covered
  
  
• C = all assignments performed at an average level of improvement, average attitude, less than expected  assigned material covered
  
  
• D = all assignments performed at a poor level of improvement, poor attitude, poor assigned material covered
  
  
• F = unexcused or missed lesson,  weak preparation, nothing prepared, unacceptable attitude.
  
  
5. Required course materials:
   
   
• professional B-flat wood instrument-Buffet R-13, Leblanc Concerto, Selmer Rectal or signature. An A clarinet is required for all performance majors.
  
  
• University of  New Mexico Clarinet notebook
  
  
• “The Working Clarinetist” by Peter Hadcock, Roncorp ed.
  
  
• Assigned solo repertoire, chamber music, etudes, excerpts
  
  
• “Artistic Studies-Bk. 1” edited by David Hite, Southern ed.  for undergraduate students
  
  
• Jean Jean Etudes books for the graduate students
  
  
• Xeroxes and library copies will only be allowed until you have purchased an original copy
  
  
• “TipCode Clarinet Book” Leonard and Co. ed.
  
  
• Baermann Bk Three ,Fischer/Bettony  ed. for undergraduate students
  
  
• Jettel Book Two, Doblinger ed. for graduate students
  
  
• Klose, Complete method, Fischer/Bettony ed. for undergraduate students
  
  
6. All students must perform a ten minute jury for the woodwind faculty at the end of the semester except when you have performed a degree required recital. This jury performance will function as 25% of your final grade for applied lessons. It may also include the required memorized extended scales for the appropriate semester, including the chromatic scale and patterns. Music majors at the MUS 119 and MUS 101 level must pass all major scales or they will be retained at this level until passed, at the MUS 120 and MUS 102 level must pass all natural minor scales or they will be retained at this level until passed, at the MUS 219 and MUS 201 levels must pass all harmonic minor scales or they will be retained at this level, at the MUS 220 and MUS 202 levels must pass all melodic minor scales or they will be retained at this level until passed.  All graduate students must pass combined scale jury, which consists of all major, harmonic minor, natural minor and   melodic minor, before they can proceed to MUS 502. Music minors only have to pass the  major and chromatic scale requirement, you will be retained at MUS 119 until this requirement is passed. Undergraduate music majors are required to perform at least once (hopefully twice) on the Thursday afternoon Concert music. All students who have a degree required recital must pass a preview in front of a majority of the woodwind faculty at least two weeks before the scheduled performance. If the preview is failed the recital must be cancelled and another preview scheduled  before another recital  date may be rescheduled.
   
   
7. All students must perform in the traditional end of the semester Clarinet Marathon.   
   
   
8. Performing from a xerox copy will not be tolerated. You must own the original copy for lessons and performance, unless it is out of print. Using a copy from the fine arts library is considered short term until you buy the original. You will be kicked out of the lesson at an appropriate time until you have an original, and that lesson will be given an F grade.
   
   
9. Semester Grades and miscellaneous:
   
   
   • Progress and attitude – 25% of your semester grade.
     
     
   • Material covered – etudes, excerpts, solos, technique, chamber music- 25% of your semester grade.
     
     
   • Missing a jury will result in a failing grade for the entire semester. Unless you are deathly ill or there is a family emergency. 
                            
   • Attendance and/or performance at all clarinet events/lessons is mandatory. All the required events/concerts is sent by e mail at the beginning of the semester. Lessons are arranged. This includes concert music and clarinet marathon-25% of your semester grade.
     
     
   • Concert music performance for undergraduate BA, BME and BM, music minor students and ALL graduate students
     
     
   • Clarinet Marathon performance is required of all clarinet students.
     
     
   • Woodwind Night performance (When requested by me and appropriate- usually ensembles). Extra credit.
     
     
   • Degree required recital – 25% of the semester grade when this replaces a jury and the preview has been passed by a majority of the woodwind faculty
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   • Your jury grade is 25% of the semester grade.
     
     
   • You will get comments from the woodwind faculty after/concerning your jury performance.
     
     
   • You will receive a grade of INCOMPLETE if you do not pay your pianist for any accompanying by the jury. A grade change will not be done until payment in full is noted.  I will be checking with the accompanists.
     
     
   • You will receive a grade of INCOMPLETE for materials, recordings, music, instruments, or any clarinet equipment that belongs to me and has not been returned by the end of the semester. A grade change will not be done until it all has been returned.   
      
   • Scale tests: Pass or Fail. Freshman must pass all majors, with extensions before enrolling in any 200 level. Sophomores must pass all harmonic minors, with extensions before enrolling in any 300 level. Juniors must pass all melodic minors, with extensions before enrolling in any 400 level. Graduate students must pass all majors, harmonic minor and melodic minor-with extensions before enrolling in 502.