3.02 Graduate Recital Guidelines

Prerequisites and Eligibility
A degree recital is required of all candidates for the Master of Music in Jazz Studies degree. Once you have met the prerequisites, you may enroll in MUJS 5535 with the permission of the professor who supervises your track. If you are in the performance track, this is your applied lesson professor. For the composition track, this is the Professor of Jazz Composition and Arranging

  • In the composition track, students must pass the Graduate Arranging Proficiency Exam (a portfolio review supervised by the Professor of Jazz Composition and Arranging. MUJS 5535 consists of private lessons leading up to your recital of compositions and arrangements.
  • In the performance track, MUJS 5535 consists of private lessons leading up to your performance recital.

Since MUJS 5535 is a class, the primary policy document for it is your syllabus. This document should be considered a supplement to the syllabus.

Procedures
Once a candidate has met the prerequisites he or she may begin planning a recital.
The following steps are required:

  1. Register for MUJS 5535.
  2. Work with your professor to decide the content of the recital.
  3. Select a recital committee (see below).
  4. Schedule the recital in consultation with your major professor(s) and recital committee. Coordinate with your major professor(s) first, then the other two faculty members on your recital committee. This is not the same as your comprehensive oral exam panel; they are two separate entities. See section 3.19, Master's Comprehensive Exam, for more details regarding the comprehensive oral exam panel.
  5. Book your recital. Jazz degree recitals may only be presented Monday through Thursday at 8 p.m. in Lab West. Recitals cannot conflict with other Jazz Studies performances or other College of Music performances of a similar nature. Instructions to book a recital can be found at this link to ScheduleFM Scheduling and Room Reservation instructions.

Recital Committee
Master's students will arrange to have three faculty members on their recital committee. This will include their major professor(s) as well as two additional faculty members. It is important that they work with their major professor(s) first to agree on possible dates. Next, they should contact other faculty members who will agree to serve on their committee. This is committee is not the same as the comprehensive oral exam panel; they are two separate entities. See section 3.19, Master's Comprehensive Exam, for more details regarding this.

Program and Recital Performance
The responsibility to ensure that the recital is carried out within the guidelines of the Jazz Studies Division is shared by the student and their major professor(s). The recital content will be chosen in consultation with their major professor(s). For performance recitals, the program should reflect a variety of current and historical styles. For composition, consult with your major professor(s) about content. The notes must be reviewed by the professor before they are distributed.

The recital should last between 45 and 60 minutes. The performance area should be neat and attractive. Lab West must be left set up and ready for lab band rehearsal. You are encouraged to ask friends to help with setup and striking, which includes getting the room ready for lab band rehearsal.

Instrument
You must perform on your principal instrument, which is the one you use in your applied lessons and improvisation classes. If you wish to perform on an additional instrument, you must get written permission in advance from the Jazz Studies faculty member who teaches that instrument. The program selections on which you wish to perform on an additional instrument must be clearly indicated on your proposed program. Your recital advisor must approve of the performance on an additional instrument, and a faculty member who teaches that instrument must approve and sign the recital form to indicate the approval.

Memorization requirement
Candidates must perform from memory. Student performers other than the degree candidate may read from parts.

Faculty performance on recitals
Members of the faculty (current or former), including professors, lecturers, and adjunct instructors, may not perform on degree recitals.

Recording and sound reinforcement
A recording of the recital must be made, either by the UNT College of Music Recording Services or a service contracted by the students. The recording should be available for review by the committee on request. If Jazz Studies division sound reinforcement equipment is used, it must be used under the supervision of the major professor(s).

Programs
Recital programs are required. The College of Music provides digital programs. Your program information is due three weeks before the date of your recital. All programs (junior, senior, MM, DMA, GAC, guest artist, faculty, ensemble) are due to the College of Music Program Office (MU241) 3 weeks prior to the event and should be submitted to Linda.Strube@unt.edu. The program request PDF form is available here: https://music.unt.edu/sites/default/files/recitalProgramInformationSheet.pdf.  The form contains information designed to help you gather the required information for the program. You are responsible for researching dates of composers and compositions and proofreading the information for accuracy. Please include complete information on the performers and instruments. Recitals must have program notes written by the recitalist.

Information required: title of piece, year of composition, composer name, composer birth and/or death years (for each piece/composer) and, if applicable, movements to be performed. Completed digital programs can be retrieved at https://music.unt.edu/scheduling/program-archives.

Dress
Concert attire should meet professional expectations that are appropriate for a degree recital. Consult with your faculty advisors in advance on this matter.

If you have a question about your recital that is not answered here, please check with your major professor(s).