Information For Music Majors – Fall 2020 – COVID-19 Response

As with all buildings on campus, masks will be required in the Green Center.  You can find the Community Mask Usage policy online here.

DePauw is providing each student with three reusable, washable, DePauw branded cloth masks at no charge. Additional DePauw branded masks can be purchased through Eli’s Bookstore. 

Additionally, the School of Music is looking into specialty masks for singers, brass players, and woodwind players.

Large ensembles will continue to meet this semester and will be available to in-person and remote learners.

Details about large ensembles can be found in the course listing below.

Audition information is available here.

Music students and faculty who are on campus will still have access to practice rooms; however, practicing in other spaces (e.g., classrooms, ensemble rooms, performance halls, etc.) is currently not permitted for students or faculty.

Practice sessions will be scheduled this fall, allowing for proper ventilation between student or faculty use. Additionally, we are working to provide supplies to keep shared equipment, furniture and instruments, such as pianos, sanitized.

Masks, bell covers, and instrument bags are required in all lessons, ensembles, classes and practice rooms. Masks for brass, woodwind, and voice are required indoors and outdoors until further notice.

Locker rentals will be available this semester for students who are on campus. We ask that you maintain proper physical distancing as you access your locker and avoid sharing your locker with other students.

You can request a locker now through this form. A staff member will respond to you before you return to campus. Please be patient as we need time to change the locks on the lockers before we can respond.

Piano proficiency exams will be administered via Zoom during the last two weeks of the fall term and finals week. Students will need to have the camera showing their hands and will need a screen available to view for the sight-reading portion. If that is not possible, students should alert Amanda Hopson (ahopson@depauw.edu) two weeks in advance to allow for materials to be sent via USPS mail.

James Stone will start tuning pianos for the 2020 fall semester on Monday, August 3, 2020. This allows him to tune for 3 weeks prior to classes starting. He will tune all studio pianos, practice rooms, performance hall pianos, and classroom/ensemble room pianos.

During the 2020 fall semester James will come in on Saturdays from 7am-12pm every other week to tune necessary pianos and complete unexpected repairs that are shared with him by Kate Grimm. Please send piano issues directly to Kate via email (kategrimm@depauw.edu).

James will clean pianos as he works on them using disinfectant and Wypall 05841 on all keyboards. He will also wear a mask during his entire visit, as mandatory by state and DePauw guidelines.

Any extensive repairs will be done at James' shop. If extensive repairs are needed, he will contact Kate before removing the piano parts. Kate will alert the main user(s) of the piano and work out a schedule that fits in with James' contracted time in the building.

James will alert Kate of which pianos he worked on each Saturday. Kate will alert the main user(s) of the piano so they know the piano has been touched and to disinfect prior to using again.

Additionally, at the beginning of the semester there will be a spray bottle of disinfectant and Wypall wipes in all studios and practice rooms, as well as details about how to clean the piano keyboard (as provided by Steinway). If cleaning supplies run low, please email Kate Grimm (kategrimm@depauw.edu) so supplies can be refilled. Additionally, each practice room will be equipped with a trash can for used cleaning wipes.

Yes. You can change your residency choice from "on-campus" or "commuting" to "remote," but you cannot change from "remote" to "commuting" or "on-campus." 

The deadline for submitting these changes is still to be determined. If you wish to make a change, email covid19@depauw.edu.

Meanwhile, please be aware that we continue to research ways to have applied lessons in person, including the use of masks that have been developed for singing and/or lessons in outdoor spaces. While we know you are eager to make final plans, please keep in mind that these new products/research may make it possible to have a more regular experience.

We have 28 practice rooms (not including percussion and harp) and there will likely be fewer music students on campus in the fall. At a maximum, 3-4 students would need to share each practice room, allowing for plenty of practice time.

We are committed to making sure students get the practice time needed to be successful. A full plan is forthcoming, but it is largely dependent on who returns to campus and individual schedules. 

We are working on further guidance regarding practice rooms in response to the Indiana State Mask Mandate.

As of right now classrooms and ensemble rooms are not an option for practicing due to the time needed between classes to sanitize and the needed sanitization in the evening. We are working on other possible rehearsal spaces. Additionally, it is possible that brass and wind players could practice outside, depending on weather.

Tascam Recorders and Headphones will be available this semester, but they may not be shared. Each device will go through a 5-7 day sanitization process after being returned at the end of the year.

The rental request process for in-person rentals has been updated, allowing for contactless rentals.

Tascam Recorder Check-out

The Production Staff will create sign-up times for students and faculty to pick up equipment. Faculty and students must complete an instrument/equipment rental agreement in advance. Details about sign-ups will be emailed when sign-up times are available.

Instrument Return/Check-in

Faculty and students must return equipment by appointment with the Arts Administration Graduate Intern. Details will be available at the end of the academic year.

Remote Students

Faculty and students studying/working remotely should follow the same process as above, including mailing address. Equipment will be mailed and can be returned on campus at the end of the academic year.

We are currently ordering masks that are developed for playing brass and woodwind instruments. We are working to provide these to students and faculty.

Additionally, we have purchased bell covers for brass instruments and saxophones, as well as covers for clarinets and oboes, to reduce risk of transmission. All brass and woodwind students and faculty on campus will need to check out the appropriate cover, free of charge, in the same method that instruments are rented.

Voice

Students who have had no previous instruction in voice should register for MUS 905, Beginning Class Voice I, when it is offered. Students in the College of Liberal Arts who have studied voice privately in high school and wish to take individual lessons should record one song that best displays their vocal accomplishments. Performances with accompaniment tracks or live accompaniment are preferred, but a cappella performances will be accepted. Video is preferred and you may use whatever recording device you have available. Recordings should be emailed to Kerry Jennings at kerryjennings@depauw.edu on or before August 7. If the recording file is too large to send as an email attachment, please send via Google Drive. For more information, contact Dr. Jennings at the email provided above.

Piano

Piano lessons are available to all CLA students, from beginner level to advanced.  Contact Dr. Amanda Hopson (ahopson@depauw.edu) to be placed with an instructor. CLA majors wishing to explore music degree options (e.g., music minor, BA in music, double degree with music) or to transfer to the SOM are advised to contact Professor May Phang (mphang@depauw.edu) at their earliest convenience.

All music students will receive a Tascam Recorder which can function as an audio device for certain auditions. Our Audio Technician and Assistant Technical Director will be available to help students with questions. In addition, each senior and junior will be given the professional development grant so they can purchase all the necessary materials needed for these auditions.

There are many departments and disciplines within the institution that are facing this challenge of remote learning, therefore, the decision was made not to prioritize any one program over another in terms of who gets to be on campus. 

Yes, that is our current plan.

Students should email the School of Music, schoolofmusic@depauw.edu, where it can then be forwarded to the appropriate person. 

Yes. However, to mitigate risks, Music on the Square will not be open during the fall semester.

Building hours will likely change. More details will be available soon.

The community music program will be suspended in the Fall and will then be reevaluated to see what is possible in the Spring. 

This will depend on what is needed and what the professor has planned for the semester.

We hope to be able to have all students on campus in the Spring.  However, if sophomores have to learn remotely, the proficiency would be recorded like the semester juries where at the end of the Spring 2020 semester.

Students and employees will need to follow certain guidelines as it relates to Green Center. There will be a set time that the building will be open. The time will be long enough for students to attend class and practice.

All students and employees must wear a mask in the practice rooms and in the building. There will be customized masks given in order for students to be able to use the mask while practicing. 

On the FAQ you will find links to complete forms for instrument requests, including for the TASCAM Recorders.  

For the recorders, we would mail the equipment to you and you can return it once you are on campus at the end of the year.

For instruments, it will depend on the instrument and your location. We may be able to mail or deliver an instrument, or we may choose to look for a local retailer to rent an instrument for you as we did in the Spring.

We are acquiring electric portable keyboards for our accompanists. There are some various options for outdoor coachings. For example, if you were to rehearse on the patio of the Green Center or in Theta Gardens, 6 feet apart, you could remove masks – as long as both you and the accompanist are comfortable with this in an outdoor setting. We do suggest that brass and woodwind players still use the bell and instrument covers when possible, especially if the wind is blowing.

If you are closer than 6 feet apart, you have to wear a mask outside as mandated by the State of Indiana.

There are still options for indoor coachings, using larger spaces, and remaining masked. We are in the process of getting masks for instrumentalists to wear while playing, bell and instrument covers, and masks for singers. Indoor coachings have to be limited to 20 minutes, and both you and the accompanist would need to be comfortable being inside.

Since you are still working with an accompanist in some format, we have not decreased or increased the cost this year.

All areas have suggested that required recitals be held in the Spring semester. Details about recitals and juries, including elective recitals, are available on the FAQ if you’d like to look at your specific instrumental area.

The only face to face courses this fall are ROTC, Ceramics, Acting I, and some FYS courses. If you are a junior or senior enrolled in Ceramics or Acting I, you can indicate that on your form as part of your academic need to be on campus.

Information about ensembles was posted on the FAQ on Wednesday, so you can read full details there. Each ensemble is handling this in a different way, but there are still opportunities for all students to participate and be part of performing in some way.

Students who are learning remotely will receive a $500 software grant. Juniors and seniors will receive a $500 professional development grant. Music students can check out Tascam Recorders and headsets; this will ensure higher quality recordings. 

We are still working to provide master classes and speaker opportunities, including the Green Guests in a virtual format. We are also looking at possible enhancements to the schedule through additional virtual masterclasses and speakers.

Our classes will contain the same rigor and level of personal contact, though done remotely.  

All students, whether they are learning on campus or remotely, will have the same access to campus resources. Some employees will continue to work from home so, in these cases, interactions with all students would be virtual.

The Music Library will work one-on-one with individuals to return items. For the time being, please keep the item. It will be automatically renewed.

Concert Attendance and School of Music Convocation will be presented virtually. 

Students will participate in 12 “event sessions” online in place of the typical in-person event requirements. These sessions will be selected by the music faculty and will be assigned to students through the SafeColleges portals. Students will receive an email when the course is available.

The first sessions on Health, Safety, and Campus Resources will need to be completed during the first two weeks of the Fall semester. All other sessions will have an assigned due date that will be posted in SafeColleges. These sessions will largely be videos of performances, allowing students to experience different types of music in an online setting.

To receive an “S” (Satisfactory), students must complete all sessions, including the required quizzes in the Health and Safety section.

MUS 121 (Musicianship I) will be offered remotely and asynchronously. Materials for instruction and practice, as well as assignments, will be posted to Moodle on average 2-3 times weekly, depending on course content at that point. The professor will be available for office hours or consultation via Zoom, Google Meet, etc. 

Course topics include the aural identification and performance (through singing and/or playing one’s instrument or the piano) of the following: intervals of up to an octave, major and minor scales, rhythmic patterns of increasing complexity, simple rhythmic and melodic improvisation, construction and identification of triads, and melodies or bass lines based on all of the above. Students will learn and be expected to perform fluently in treble and bass clefs. Singing is a critical part of class work; you will be asked to sight-sing and/or perform prepared melodies using movable-do solfege syllables, scale degree numbers, and/or letter names. Dictation (the transcription of a heard melody or bass line into written notation) will be stressed.

No texts are required for purchase, but the following materials are required (in addition to the computer and internet access necessary to access any online course):

• A way to record and submit audio and/or video recordings of assignments. This can be a cell phone or laptop computer with a microphone, and software may include any audio program that can make mp3 files and any video program that can make mp4 files. You will sometimes be required to play an audio file (for example, the piano accompaniment to a solfege exercise) while singing along to it, and send an audio or video file in which the professor can hear both the pre-recorded audio file and your live performance, so you will need something with speakers.

• A way to submit digital versions of notated work. This could be doing an assignment with a pencil on staff paper and taking a picture of it with your phone, or using a computer program like MuseScore (free) or Finale/Sibelius (not free), and sending a JPG or PDF of your work.

• Access to either an actual piano/keyboard instrument (or other instrument of your choice) or a virtual one (virtualpiano.com or similar), or to any app that you can use to find starting pitches for assigned melodies. 

University Band and Symphonic Band musicians who are participating remotely will also study and prepare the same music as the on-campus ensemble. Through synchronous and asynchronous Zoom meetings & rehearsals, personal video meetings with Professor Paré, and a variety of creative means of engagement, you will be able to experience as much music-making, learning, and creative performances as possible being away from the on-campus ensemble.

This course covers tone production and techniques, pedagogy, literature, procedures, materials, and philosophy appropriate to teaching all brass instruments (trumpet, French horn, trombone, euphonium, tuba) from beginners to high school students. By the completion of the course, the student will be able to produce a characteristic sound and demonstrate fundamental technical ability on a brass instrument(s) as well as have a working knowledge of the mechanics and pedagogical skills and resources pertinent to the instruments.

All students must purchase a portable music stand and wind clips.

The course will be offered as a mixed course, which will be available to in-person and remote learners.  

This remote course will be taught synchronously via Zoom, and each class will be recorded so that students who are unable to attend during the class hour will be supported with asynchronous participation opportunities. The course will mix participatory lecture and discussion activities. We will explore the lives and works of diverse traditional, popular, classical, and jazz musicians from 1800 to today, as well as the broad social shifts that shaped and were shaped by the music of their time. Textbook information will be sent in advance to enrolled students.

There will not be any Chamber Singers in Fall 2020. Instead, we will have University Chorus Group A (UCA) for those students who are on campus and University Chorus B (UCB) for those who are remote. Both groups are open to all DePauw students regardless of major!

Within these groups there will be differentiations that are going to be determined by audition and enrollment balance. It is also possible that both groups will work together on mutual projects.

By default, University Chorus A will meet T/W/F from 4:00-5:30pm. University Chorus B will meet M/T/R from 4:00-5:30pm. This means that every student enrolled in either choir can expect to meet three times a week. As you notice, all choir students will meet on Tuesdays (either in a hybrid or virtual format).

University Chorus A will meet in-person following University guidelines. In the beginning, rehearsals will be outside with a limited number of singers and masked. Frequently updated risk assessments in collaboration with the University, Hendricks Health, and the Putnam County Health Department will determine any possible change. University Chorus B will meet virtually.

If on-campus student needs to change to remote learning, it will be possible to switch from University Chorus A to University Chorus B.

The class will be held synchronously, whether the student takes the class remotely or in-person. The objectives, content and outcomes will be identical. The textbook (any edition) to be purchased for the twice-a-week 50-minute class period is found in the Schedule of Classes, and all additional information is available for the class via the Moodle site once the student is enrolled in the class.

This remote course will be taught synchronously via Zoom, and each class will be recorded so that students who are unable to attend during the class hour will be supported with asynchronous participation opportunities. The course will be a blend of participatory lecture and discussion activities. We will journey chronologically through a range of musical theater works from Show Boat and Carousel to Wicked, Hamilton, A Strange Loop, and many more. No textbooks required, but there will be some minor video rental fees. 

The class piano courses will be offered remotely this fall as the option with the least risk and to maintain the proper physical distance from one another and to limit the sharing of keyboards.

As part of your supplies and books for the course, you will need to purchase an electric keyboard. Below we have outlined the minimum requirements for this keyboard. You are welcome to purchase a higher quality or more advanced option, but that is not required. 

• 61 full-size key minimum
• Touch sensitivity/dynamics control
• Option to use a pedal
• Option to connect headphones

The following keyboard is recommended. You may purchase it online, or contact Kenny Bergle at Sweetwater for assistance. He may also be able to provide you with discounts if you choose to also buy a piano stand or pedal, though a keyboard stand would not be required if you have a table or desk of the appropriate height.

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CTS300--casio-casiotone-ct-s300

If necessary for financial reasons, the following keyboard without touch sensitivity/dynamics control would be acceptable. 

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/CTS200BK--casio-casiotone-ct-s200-black

To help mitigate costs for first-year students, we are working to coordinate contact with current students who are willing to sell you their used copy of the textbook for the class piano sequence at a lower rate than most places are listing it online. For more information on this, and for any questions about the keyboard, please contact Amanda Hopson at ahopson@depauw.edu.

Applied piano will be taught in a mixed format. The amount of remote instruction will depend on the instructor. Your instructor will indicate materials to purchase.

Applied piano lessons are available to both on-campus and off-campus students. Contact Amanda Hopson at ahopson@depauw.edu to be placed with a teacher.

Lessons for VOC C will be taught mixed.

Lessons schedules will be determined at the beginning of the semester.

Lessons must be scheduled in large spaces (with masks), outside (if appropriately distanced), or remotely to allow for proper physical distancing and ventilation. Indoor accompanied lessons must be masked and limited to 20 minutes.

Vocal coachings with accompanists may take place remotely or outside (if appropriately distanced) without a mask. Coachings may take place inside if masks are worn during singing, but must be scheduled in a large room and limited to 20 minutes. 

Studio class will be taught remotely. Day/time TBD. The class may be handled in two ways:

1. The class meets via videoconference; 4-5 students will work with the instructor, while the class makes comments and suggestions for further improvement.
2. Alternatively, students will send pre-recorded videos to a Google Drive folder and write comments about the colleagues' videos on a Google Doc.

Juries/Recitals for all students, whether studying on campus or remotely, will be submitted via video. Videos for the Brass area are due on Friday, November 20 at 5:00 p.m.

Required junior or senior recitals that must take place in the fall will also be submitted as a recording and have the same due date.

All required junior and senior recitals (.25 credit) should be scheduled for Spring 2021, instead of Fall 2020, if at all possible. Scheduling elective recitals at any time during the academic year is strongly discouraged, but allowed. Students must consult with their applied teacher for approval before attempting to enroll in a 30- or 60-minute elective recital.

Videos should be saved in a Google Drive folder named in the following format:

YourName_Instrument_Fall2020Jury
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020JuniorRecital
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020SeniorRecital

Google drive folders should be shared with musicmarketing@depauw.edu with full access. Videos will be archived and shared with the appropriate applied faculty members.

Juries/Recitals for all students, whether studying on campus or remotely, will be submitted via video. Videos for the Percussion area are due on Friday, November 20 at 6 p.m Eastern.

Required junior or senior recitals that must take place in the fall will also be submitted as a recording and have the same due date.

All required junior and senior recitals (.25 credit) should be scheduled for Spring 2021, instead of Fall 2020, if at all possible. Scheduling elective recitals at any time during the academic year is strongly discouraged, but allowed. Students must consult with their applied teacher for approval before attempting to enroll in a 30- or 60-minute elective recital.

Videos should be saved in a Google Drive folder named in the following format:

YourName_Instrument_Fall2020Jury
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020JuniorRecital
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020SeniorRecital

Google drive folders should be shared with musicmarketing@depauw.edu with full access. Videos will be archived and shared with the appropriate applied faculty members.

Juries/Recitals for all students, whether studying on campus or remotely, will be submitted via video. Videos for the String area are due by 11:59 pm Eastern on the last day of classes, currently scheduled for Friday, December 11.

Students learning on-campus who are working with accompanists and who wish to pre-record works with accompaniment while still on campus may do so before the end of on-campus instruction on Friday, November 20. These recordings may be submitted right away or held and submitted with any other recordings by the December 11 deadline. (Students in this position are advised to check that there are no technology-related problems with these recordings before we leave campus, as there will not be the opportunity to "re-do" the recording after November 20.)

Required junior or senior recitals that must take place in the fall will also be submitted as a recording and have the same due date.

All required junior and senior recitals (.25 credit) should be scheduled for Spring 2021, instead of Fall 2020, if at all possible. Scheduling elective recitals at any time during the academic year is strongly discouraged, but allowed. Students must consult with their applied teacher for approval before attempting to enroll in a 30- or 60-minute elective recital.

Videos must begin with you clearly identifying the piece(s) to be performed, by composer, title, and movement.

Videos should be saved in a Google Drive folder named in the following format:

YourName_Instrument_Fall2020Jury
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020JuniorRecital
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020SeniorRecital

Google drive folders should be shared with musicmarketing@depauw.edu with full access. Videos will be archived and shared with the appropriate applied faculty members.

Juries/Recitals for all students, whether studying on campus or remotely, will be submitted via video. Videos for the Woodwind area are due on December 7 by 11:59 p.m.

Required junior or senior recitals that must take place in the fall will also be submitted as a recording and have the same due date.

All required junior and senior recitals (.25 credit) should be scheduled for Spring 2021, instead of Fall 2020, if at all possible. Scheduling elective recitals at any time during the academic year is strongly discouraged, but allowed. Students must consult with their applied teacher for approval before attempting to enroll in a 30- or 60-minute elective recital.

Videos should be saved in a Google Drive folder named in the following format:

YourName_Instrument_Fall2020Jury
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020JuniorRecital
YourName_Instrument_Fall2020SeniorRecital

Google drive folders should be shared with musicmarketing@depauw.edu with full access. Videos will be archived and shared with the appropriate applied faculty members.

We were able to secure enough Tascam Audio Recorder/Microphones so that all music majors and music faculty will be able to check out a "technology package" this fall in preparation for learning in whatever format is required for your courses.

The Tascam Recorders allow recording of high quality audio that can then be downloaded and shared. Additionally, the Tascam can be connected to a computer to be used as a high-quality external stereo microphone, helping with sound during Zoom/Google calls. 

In addition to the recorder, this "technology package" will include a set of high quality Tascam headphones. So, in all, you would check out the following:

• Tascam Audio Recorder
• SD memory card
• USB cable (to connect as and external microphone)
• Tascam Headphones

The checkout process will be emailed soon. We are also in-process of researching high quality speakers for use.

While you do not yet have the Tascam Recorders, we created a user guide that includes details on how to use it as a microphone and a recorder. The user guide is available here.

In addition to the Tascam Recorders, headphones, and memory cards, we have also prepared a user guide for CLEANFEED, a free online program to share high quality audio over the internet. While Zoom and Google Meet condense or clean audio, CleanFeed does not. In our tests, we were able to better hear overtones, background sounds, squeaks, etc. When combined with the Tascam Recorder, the audio quality is much better. CleanFeed is audio only, but you can use it in conjunction with Google Meet or Zoom by muting the sound in Google Meet/Zoom and only using the audio in CleanFeed. We did not experience any issues in the video from one program and the audio from another syncing.

The CleanFeed user guide with links is available here.