General Rules Pertaining to All Diplomas

Minimum requirements for all Eastman Community Music School diplomas:

1. Continuous lesson enrollment: It is expected that while a student is a diploma candidate at Eastman, he/she will be taking private lessons with Eastman Community Music School faculty.  Private lessons are central to the development of a musician. *Note: For theory majors, the expected length of private study is shortened to allow time for additional theory courses.

2. Jury requirements: Annual juries are held within each department, and are used to determine a student’s level of achievement in his/her applied studies in an instrument or voice.  A jury must be taken for the study to be counted toward a diploma.

3. Recital requirements: Diploma candidates must perform regularly on ECMS recitals:

   • The Diploma: Perform solo on a minimum of 2 recitals during diploma study.

   • The Advanced Diploma: Perform solo on a minimum of 4 recitals during diploma study.

   • The Pre-Collegiate Diploma: Perform solo on a minimum of 6 recitals during diploma study.

4. Ensemble requirements: In general, all ensemble requirements must be fulfilled at Eastman. If a diploma candidate is performing at a lower level than required for an Eastman ensemble or if an appropriate ensemble is not available at Eastman, the ensemble requirements may be fulfilled though school or other community program.

5. Testing out of Piano Proficiency: Diploma candidates who are not keyboard majors, but have a background in piano may choose to test out of the piano proficiency class.  Please read the Piano Proficiency Requirements, If you feel qualified, please call the ECMS office for contact information for the piano department chairperson.  You must then schedule an appointment prior to the end of  the 11th grade.

6. Testing out of other classes: Diploma candidates wishing to test out of a course will be allowed to take a comprehensive final exam for that course. If the candidate receives a “B” or higher on the final exam of a course, he/she will receive exemption for that course.  A student may substitute AP Theory taken at their high school if a grade of 5 is achieved on the AP exam.

7. Standing in School Music Program: It is expected that diploma candidates will remain in good standing in the music program of his/her home school district.

8. Minimum Grade requirements: Diploma candidates must receive a “B” or higher in every class to be eligible for a diploma.

      See also Diplomas with Honors.

Last updated: April 23, 2008