PPC Goals and Requirements
Professional Performance Certificate
Goals
All Professional Performance Certificate (PPC) students should be engaged full-time (minimum of forty contact hours) for two semesters in performance-related study. Because the program is designed to meet each student’s individual performance goals, requirements will vary based on these goals. Common to all PPC programs will be ten hours of supervised study and a significant performance project related to the student’s goals.
Acceptance
Applicants shall have completed an undergraduate degree in music. In exceptional circumstances, demonstrated equivalent qualifications may be considered. Students will receive a formal letter of acceptance following a successful audition for placement in an applied studio and approval by the Chair of the Department of Music and Dance. In addition, PPC students will sign an agreement with the Department of Music and Dance prior to the beginning of fall semester that confirms the work required for completion of the certificate. Both letters will become part of the student’s academic record, to be filed in the Department’s main office.
The studio teacher, Department Chair, and PPC director will agree on the terms of the certificate according to the guidelines below (details of the agreement letter).
Click for the fillable Agreement Letter pdf form or Word form.
I. BASIC INFORMATION
Student's Name
Instrument
School Year (semester/year)
Submitted by (faculty member name)
Date submitted
II. PERFORMANCE PROJECT(S) (SUCH AS A RECITAL, MOCK ORCHESTRAL AUDITION, ETC.)
The agreement letter will indicate the nature of the final project and who will assess the project (such as a recital or jury committee) as well as any other performance expectations or optional activities (such as jury exams, performances during studio classes)
III. SUPERVISED PERFORMANCE ACTIVITIES (AT LEAST 10 HOURS WEEKLY)
The agreement letter will list all supervised activities, including the names (and if appropriate, descriptions) of the activities and the corresponding number of hours for each.
Note that a minimum of one hour of private lessons is required, per week.
Examples:
Private studio lessons (1 hour)
Studio class (min. of 1 hour)
Directed ensembles, opera, chamber music, accompanying (min. of 6 hours)
Supervised Study (2 hours, other)
Total Hours for Supervised Study
IV. INDIVIDUAL WORK
*Note that the number hours in this section, when combined with the number of Supervised Hours in section III, must equal a total of at least 40 hours weekly.
The agreement letter will list all individual activities, including the names (and if appropriate, descriptions) of the activities and the corresponding number of hours for each. You are not limited to the examples below.
Note that a minimum of 20 hours private practice time is required, per week.
Examples:
Practice (min. of 20 hours)
Repertory/library work (score study, listening)
Related projects such as lesson observations, readings, reed-making
Creative projects such as transcriptions or arrangements
Observations/attending classes or rehearsals (with permission of the instructor)
Total Hours for Individual Work
Grand Total of Hours for Section III and IV - * Must be a minimum of 40 hours
V. SIGNATURES
Signatures of student, studio teacher, department chair and PPC coordinator.
Click for the fillable Agreement Letter pdf form or Word form.
Assessment
At the end of fall semester, in lieu of grades, supervising faculty will complete an assessment of each student’s work relative to expectations (copies to the student and to the Department Chair), referring to the initial plan of study. A revised plan of study for spring semester may be developed and attached to the assessment form, if the supervising faculty and PPC student have decided that changes are appropriate. At the end of spring semester, supervising faculty will certify that the student has satisfactorily met program goals so that the student may be issued a performance certificate.
