School of Music

Accompanists

Students studying applied music are responsible for providing an accompanist for lessons and performances when needed. Applied faculty members may require students to arrange for an accompanist for some or all lessons during the semester. Students may request from the School of Music the services of one of the school’s staff accompanists. A fee will be charged to the student’s university account for the use of staff accompanists.

A student may also make private arrangements to use a student or independent professional accompanist. All such arrangements are subject to the approval of the applied teacher. If the applied teacher finds that the accompanist’s work is not at an acceptable level, the student must make other arrangements.

Priority of Staff Accompanist Assignments

Staff accompanists are available to all students studying applied music. First priority will be given to students requesting a staff accompanist for the entire semester. In cases in which there are more requests for staff accompanists than can be fulfilled, the following priority will be used in fulfilling requests:

1. School of Music students studying their major instrument who have a required performance (sophomore performance exam, junior recital, senior recital) in that semester.
2. School of Music students studying their major instrument
   a. vocal majors required by their teachers to have an accompanist at all lessons
   b. all other music majors
3. CLA students registered for .5 course credit (i.e., hour lessons)
   
4. School of Music and CLA students registered for .25 course credit

Using a Staff Accompanist for the Entire Semester

All students (other than piano, organ, and percussion majors) performing a sophomore performance exam, a junior recital, or a senior recital are expected to arrange to have an accompanist for the entire semester.
The fee for academic year 2005-2006 for the use of a staff accompanist for an entire semester is $250.00. This amount will be charged to the student’s account and will not be covered by scholarships or other DPU grants. The $250.00 fee entitles the student to

• 12-14 hours total accompanying at lessons and rehearsals (usually divided as 30 minutes of rehearsal per week plus 30 minutes at the student’s lesson)
  plus
• performances in the DePauw concerto competition preliminary and final rounds, if the student participates
• a recital or sophomore exam performance
• an end-of-semester jury

The $250.00 fee is all-inclusive: there is no additional charge if the student participates in the concerto competition, gives a recital, and has an end-of-semester jury. There is also no reduction in fee if a student does less than this, and uses the accompanist only for lessons, rehearsals, and an end-of-semester jury.

Using a Staff Accompanist for Part of the Semester

After all requests for the use of a staff accompanist for the entire semester have been fulfilled, requests for the use of a staff accompanist for part of a semester will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis. Instrumental students often do not need an accompanist for an entire semester yet do wish to be accompanied for an end-of-semester jury, a recital appearance, or the concerto competition.
The academic year 2005-2006 fee for partial semester use of a staff accompanist is $100.00. This fee entitles the student to

• 2-3 total hours of accompanying (divided between lessons and rehearsals)
  plus
  
• one recital performance or end-of-semester jury
  OR
• performances in the preliminary and final rounds of the DePauw concerto competition

Deadlines

Students who wish to use an accompanist for an entire semester
should fill out a request form and submit it to the School of Music office in the first two weeks of the semester. Later requests may not be able to be fulfilled.
Students who wish to engage an accompanist for only the end of the semester should also submit their forms as early as possible, since accompanists will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Assignment of Accompanists

Teachers and students should contact staff accompanists directly to make arrangements for students to be accompanied. The School of Music office does not specifically assign accompanists unless there are special circumstances. Staff accompanists will accept students on a first-come, first-served basis, so students and/or teachers wishing to work with a particular accompanist should contact the accompanist as soon as possible.

Student Responsibilities

1. Submit your course schedule to your applied teacher as soon as it is finalized (well before the first day of classes, if possible). You and your preferred accompanist should meet with your teacher as early as possible in the semester to arrange a lesson time.
2. Promptly purchase the music you are assigned and give it to your accompanist as soon as it is available.
3. Write down your rehearsal times and arrive promptly for them.
4. If you cannot attend a rehearsal due to illness, contact your accompanist as soon as possible.

Missed Rehearsals and Lessons

No refunds will be made for rehearsals or lessons missed by the student, nor are make-up sessions guaranteed. In most cases, staff accompanists will arrange to attend make-up lessons and rehearsals if adequate advance notice has been given; however, they are not required to do so.

Policy established by the School of Music faculty, April 2004