Syllabus-Applied Cello
Instructor-Lawrence Leviton
Fall 2008

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Office: 312 Noel Fine Arts Building
UW-Stevens Point
Phone (715)346-4555
e-mail: lleviton@uwsp.edu
Office Hours:TBA

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OBJECTIVES

To develop into a well-rounded cellist and musician. You will achieve these goals in an integrated curriculum that will include the following: the study of technique-this might involve scales, etudes, and other exercises that will help make you a more flexible and efficient player; the study of the standard repertoire; development of your performing and musicianship skills in studio class and recitals. The skill levels you must attain are listed in the SILENT ADVISOR. Remember that the stated levels are a minimum and should serve as just a jumping off point in your continuing development as a cellist.

REQUIREMENTS

Each student will attend one lesson per week and studio classes. Studio class will meet at 3PM every Wednesday in Room 201-Fine Arts.  Each student will play a Performance Assessment at the end of the semester that will reflect the student's work during the semester. This might include scales, etudes, and solo pieces. You will also keep a  journal  in D2L which will include your recital attendance log and writing assignments throughout the semester.  We will discuss e-mail, D2L Assignments and nifty cello links on the web during the first studio class.

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Attendance at lessons and performance class is required. If the student provides a 24 hour notice, the lesson can be made up. Lessons can be made up in the case of illness or family emergency. Any other misses will be made up at the discretion of the teacher (I forgot; My alarm didn't go off; My ride leaves early etc. are not valid reasons). Three unexcused lessons over the course of the semester will result in a final grade of F.

EXPECTATIONS

Students should arrive at the lessons with instruments tuned and warmed up. Students are expected to bring a notebook and a pencil. Feel free to interrupt me at the lesson if there's important information that you need to write down. Also, I will be videotaping your lessons and recording them to DVD. Please purchase DVD-Rs for this purpose. This will provide you with a permanent record of your lessons that you can consult throughout the week and the semester.

SUGGESTED PRACTICE

Performance Majors-4 hours a day
Mus. Ed.-2 hours a day
Non-Major-one hour a day

MATERIALS

Each student is expected to purchase technical studies and solos that are required for their studies. One good resource for music is SHAR PRODUCTS. 1-800-248-SHAR.

GRADING

Grades will be based on the following: WEEKLY lesson grade, participation in studio/performance class, regular journal submissions and final performance assessment. There will be several journal assignments over the course of the semester. These will account for 10% of you final grade. This performance assessment, traditionally referred to as a jury, is presented during exam week for each students applied teacher and respective faculty.  Twenty five (25%) percent of the semester grade for the applied study is determined by the performance assessment for all music majors. The progress of the student over the course of the semester makes up a significant part of the grade. At midterm, there will be a conference with the teacher to chart progress.  

Grading Breakdown:

Lessons-65%
Performance Assessment-25%
D2L Journal-10%-There will be a minimum of one per month-TBA

Journal Requirement

 I will also be giving 5 or 6 assignments throughout the semester that you will enter in the journal. This might be an interesting article about cello playing, concert, or a composer that I would like you to write about. Also, this is the place for you to log your recital attendance.  The requirement as stated in the Silent Advisor is: 15 concerts-5 of which must be colloquia.  You are required to attend any concert in which any member of the studio is performing as a soloist or collaborative artist. I would also strongly encourage you to attend any concert which involves strings.

RECITAL ATTENDANCE

There is an expectation that majors attend 15 concerts-5 of which must be colloquia. A  synopsis of each event will be entered into your journal. In your synopsis which should be several paragraphs in length you should cover the following at a minimum: stage presence, musicality, interpretation, what you liked about a specific composer. Recital attendance is to be completed by the time of your Performance Assessment.  Failure to meet this expectation will result in an incomplete for the course.

Fall Cello Events

Applied Degree Requirements for UWSP String Area

Cello Links

Need Help Studying? Here are some useful links.

University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

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