Introduction
Recital Hour (MUSC 180) is required for all students taking lessons for credit. Recital Hour is an audience of approximately 100 students and music faculty gathered at 1:30 p.m. on several Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Calvin College Chapel. This is a time in which applied music students as well as others gain public performance skills. Occasionally, a guest artist may be invited to Recital Hour.
Studio classes are conducted by the applied music teachers for their own students. Students regularly perform before their peers. Studio class times and locations are available through your private lesson instructor.
Fall 2009 Schedule
| Day: | Date: | Applications due: | |
| Tuesday | September 8 | Recital Hour- Opening Session | n/a |
| Tuesday | September 15 | Music Faculty Showcase Recital | n/a |
| Tuesday | September 29 | Recital Hour - special presentation featuring the Philippine Madrigal Singers | n/a |
| Tuesday | October 13 | Recital Hour- first priority to Concerto contestants | Oct. 2 |
| Thursday | October 15 | Recital Hour- first priority to Concerto contestants | Oct. 5 |
| Tuesday | October 20 | Recital Hour- first priority to Concerto contestants | Oct. 9 |
| Thursday | October 22 | Recital Hour- first priority to Concerto contestants | Oct. 12 |
| Thursday | October 29 | Recital Hour | Oct. 19 |
| Tuesday | November 10 | Recital Hour | Oct. 30 |
| Tuesday | November 17 | Recital Hour | Nov. 6 |
| Thursday | November 19 | Recital Hour | Nov. 9 |
| Tuesday | November 24 | Recital Hour | Nov. 13 |
| Tuesday | December 1 | Recital Hour | Nov. 20 |
| Thursday | December 3 | Recital Hour | Nov. 23 |
Spring 2010 Schedule |
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| Tuesday | February 2 | Recital Hour - Opening Session | n/a |
| Tuesday | February 23 | Recital Hour | Feb. 12 |
| Tuesday | March 9 | Recital Hour | Feb. 26 |
| Thursday | March 11 | Recital Hour - special presentation by James Buswell | n/a |
| Thursday | April 1 | * Music Scholarship Award Ceremony | n/a |
| Tuesday | April 6 | Recital Hour | Mar. 26 |
| Thursday | April 8 | Recital Hour | Mar. 28 |
| Tuesday | April 13 | Recital Hour | Apr. 2 |
| Tuesday | April 20 | Recital Hour | Apr. 9 |
| Thursday | April 22 | Recital Hour | Apr. 12 |
| Thursday | April 29 | Recital Hour | Apr. 19 | Tuesday | May 4 | Recital Hour | Apr. 23 |
| Thursday | May 6 | Recital Hour | Apr. 26 |
* the scholarship award ceremony does NOT count for Recital Hour attendance |
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Attendance Requirements/Grading
Recital Hour is a pass/fail course (CR/NC). Students must meet all six required attendances or concert reports to pass the course. Failure to meet this requirement will result in a grade of NC for Musc 180A. No music major will be allowed to graduate without receiving credit for Music 180 each semester of enrollment as a major. The grade of NC for Musc 180A will not affect the grade given for private music lessons.
Incompletes: A student may fill out an Incomplete Contract Form to receive an “I” (incomplete) instead of the grade of NC if they are unable to complete the requirements for Musc 180A by the deadline. An incomplete is a privilege given to allow the student extra time to fulfill the requirements of Musc 180A. Incompletes will not be routinely given for not completing the Recital Hour requirements, but reserved for serious circumstances such as a death in the family or a serious illness. Students may apply for an incomplete by submitting the Incomplete Contract Form to Dr. Polman for approval before the end of the semester. The contract form should include the reason that an incomplete is requested, along with a plan on how the course work will be completed. (Check the college catalog for the deadline for removing incompletes.) Students whose incomplete form contracts are granted will received the grade of “I.” When the incomplete is fulfilled, the grade will change to ICR. If the incomplete is not fulfilled by the deadline, the grade changes to NC. Students may not use Recital Hour attendances from the current semester to fulfill incompletes from a past semester--once the semester has ended, a concert report must be used to fulfill the past semesters incomplete. Concert reports used for incompletes must still be turned in within one week of the concert attended. Contract application forms for incompletes are available in the Music Office or online.
Concert Reports
If you are absent from a Recital Hour (regardless of the reason) you must attend a concert or recital and fill out a concert report form (available in the music office or on the music department Web site.) To receive credit for concert attendance, the student must complete and submit the online Concert Report Form within one week of the concert.
To receive credit a student must attend Recital Hours and/or concerts equaling the following:
(a) attending six Recital Hours -OR-
(b) attending six department-sponsored or -approved concerts -OR-
(c) attending a combination of six concerts and/or Recital Hours.
Student teachers are excused from Recital Hour requirements.
Acceptable Concerts for Concert Reports
Concerts that DO fulfill concert report requirements :
| 1. Classical Concerts | ||
| 2. Symphony Concert (examples) | - Grand Rapids Symphony | - West Shore Symphony |
| - Chicago Symphony | ||
| 3. Classical Choral Concert (examples) | - Calvin Alumni Choir | - Bach Chorale |
| 4. Music Department Ensemble Concerts | - Calvin Band |
- Knollcrest Band |
| - Calvin Orchestra | - Women's Chorale | |
| - Capella | - Campus Choir | |
| - Handbell Ensemble | - Jazz Band | |
| - Oratorio Society | ||
| - Student or faculty recitals | ||
| - Other music department sponsored events or recitals | ||
| 5. Ensemble concerts from neighboring colleges such as Hope, Grand Valley, Aquinas, Kuyper, and Grand Rapids Community College. | ||
| 6. Other types of classical concerts (examples) | - Opera Grand Rapids | - Broadway musicals |
| - Calvin College Artist Series | - Embellish Handbell Ensemble | |
| - high school or college concerts | ||
| - Church choral/instrumental concerts (not a church service) | ||
Concerts that DO NOT fulfill concert report requirements :
1. Rock concerts
2. Christian rock concerts
3. Church services
4. Middle school or elementary school concerts
If you are unsure if a concert will fulfill the requirement, please contact the Music Department.
Performing in Recital Hour
To be allowed to perform, students must fill out a Recital Hour Performance Application online. After the information is entirely and accurately completed, it should be submitted via the online form by 12:00 p.m. on the due date (see schedule above) Late applications will not be accepted.
Performances are scheduled according to the order in which the application forms are received. It is wise to schedule performance dates well in advance.
Information for Recital Hour Performers
Performance Day:
The day you are to perform, you should meet in the hallway near FAC 101 by 1:15 pm (unless you have a class right before them.) When you arrive, please check to be sure the stage requirements are set up and inform the stage manager of any special arrangements. All performers should sit backstage until it is their turn to perform and will return backstage after the performance.
Dress Code:
Women: skirt or dress pants, nice shirt/sweater. No spaghetti straps, flip-flops or jeans are allowed.
Men: Nice pants and shirt/sweater. No jeans or t-shirts (with words) are allowed.
Performance Etiquette:
All performers should walk on and off stage in a professional manner. Performers should acknowledge applause, bow appropriately and acknowledge accompanist (if applicable.) Proper performance etiquette will be discussed at a Recital Hour early in the semester.