Performance Policies

The Cali School sponsors over 200 concerts and masterclasses by students, faculty and guest artists every year. You will be involved in many different kinds of performances over the course of your studies. A faculty concert committee plans each season's ensemble performances in Kasser and Leshowitz Recital Hall. The concert manager schedules individual recitals. 

Your advisor, the Concert Manager or Production Manager will be able to answer any questions you have about this information.

Chamber Music Policy

  • All students are required to register and complete all chamber music requirements listed in their respective curricular programs.
  • Students who have completed their required chamber music courses will be allowed to take additional chamber music ONLY if their cumulative GPA is 3.0 or above.
  • No student will be allowed to participate in any chamber music section if they are not registered.
  • Faculty who teach chamber music sections with unregistered students will NOT be compensated for the teaching of that section.
  • Students are not allowed to participate in more than one chamber ensemble during any given semester unless they receive permission by the Director of Music.
  • Any ensemble that has more than 50% who have already taken their required number of semesters for chamber music, will need approval by the Director of Music to proceed.

Recital requirements

Performance students—2 recitals (first before end of junior year, second in the senior year)
Music Education students—1 recital in the senior year. 
Theory/composition—1 recital of original compositions in the senior year.

Piano students are expected to accompany at a level of ability designated by their teachers and to participate actively in the musical life of the university and the community. 

All students are expected to perform during performance practicum at least once during each year of primary study.

Ensemble Requirements

Requirements vary with each concentration, but all students must perform in ensemble(s) for eight semesters in order to gain broad experience in ensemble repertoire. Students may be assigned by the school director to an ensemble in accordance with the needs of particular ensembles, regardless of the completion by the student of the minimum requirements. If a student's GPA falls below a 3.0, ensemble participation may be denied.

Performance Practicum Requirements: There are mid-day performances, masterclasses, and lecture/recitals by students, faculty, and guests every week. Every music major must register for MUPR 039, Performance Practicum (0 credit) or MUPR 040 Performance Practicum for Performance Majors (0.5 credit), for eight semesters or as outlined in their curriculum guides.

Accompanist Services

1. Professional staff accompanists and piano students are available for masterclasses, Wednesday mid-day and degree recitals, juries, and for voice lessons. At the beginning of each semester, you should discuss with your studio professor your accompanist needs for the entire semester. Your studio professor will take care of making arrangements for an accompanist.

2. Accompanist will NOT have all the necessary music. Music scores must be given to the pianist no later than eight weeks before any performance.

3. The university pays for a limited number of rehearsal hours for each kind of performance, as follows: 

  • Degree recital 8 hours* 
  • Wednesday mid-day recital 3 hours 
  • Masterclass performance 1 hour 
  • Juries 1 hour

*Clarification of these 8 hours: The School pays up to 8 hours of accompanist rehearsal time for a degree recital. The accompanist is also paid another 2 hours for the recital itself.

N.B. If you are a voice student, please note that these hours are outside of the regular weekly lesson time. 

4. There is a $200 recital fee that is added to your university tuition bill for the semester. This fee includes payment to the accompanist for 8 hours of rehearsal plus 2 hours for the actual performance. You may adjust these hours as long as the total does not exceed 10 (for example, 7+3).

Each staff accompanist is paid by the university for rehearsing with students, and playing for studio voice lessons, juries, masterclasses, and degree recitals. You should not pay any additional fees unless you use rehearsal time beyond the allotted number of hours. Students must pay accompanists privately for any time beyond the maximum number of rehearsal hours shown above.

5. You may make private arrangements with your accompanist for extracurricular events such as competitions or off-campus recitals and you must pay the accompanist to work with you. The university will not pay for accompanists for these events or for rehearsals for such events. Be professional and make all financial arrangements clear from the start. It is always a good idea to make a simple written contract with your accompanist stating hourly rate and number of hours planned. Make no assumptions when money is involved.

6. Guidelines for cancellations and lateness - If a student needs to cancel an appointment with the pianist, or if the pianist must cancel an appointment with the student, he or she must give at least twenty-four hours notice. If one of you is late, he or she cannot expect the other to wait beyond 12 minutes.