Diploma with Honors

 

All of our performance diplomas may be awarded with honors; only the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory may be awarded with honros. A diploma with honors is an accolade reserved for those who have achieved the highest level of musical artistry and proven themselves to be fine scholars. Many of our diploma students are truly excellent performers, far above their peers both academically and musically. The honors diploma recognizes the very highest level of achievement within this already select group.

Honors Requirements in Instrument/Voice:

To receive the diploma with honors in an instrument/voice, a student must have satisfied (or be registered for) all of the course, ensemble and lesson requirements for that diploma, plus:

• Successfully performed a level 6 jury by the end of the 1st semester of the student’s graduation year.

• Been recommended for Honors by his/her primary teacher.
• Received approval from an interdepartmental faculty jury following a solo Honors Jury performance (20-minute program) early in the 2nd semester of the graduation year.
• Perform a solo Honors Recital (minimum 30-minute performance), presented by the candidate near the end of the pgraduation year.  Repertoire selected for both the Jury and the Recital must represent a balanced program and must include a memorized work of at least 5-minute duration.

Honors Requirements in Theory:
Only students who successfully complete the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory are eligible for honors.  To receive the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory with Honors, a student must have satisfied all of the course, ensemble, recital and lesson requirements for that diploma.  In addition, the student must:

• Receive the grade of A in all theory courses pertaining to the Pre-Collegiate Diploma in Theory

• Successfully complete the Honors Theory Project

• Be recommended for honors by his/her Honors Theory Project instructor

• Receive a vote of approval by an interdepartmental faculty jury attending a lecture-recital (30 minutes) based on the student’s Honors Theory Project.

• Present the same lecture-recital in front of an audience near the end of the student’s graduation year.

 

Honors Jury Information

 

• All students who are studying with collegiate faculty must do so through ECMS to be eligible for the Honors Jury, Scholarships, Eastman recitals, ECMS pre-college diplomas etc.

• Students considering taking an Honor's Jury should complete the Honor's Check List with their teacher and return it to the director by mid-December.

• Honors candidates should drop off or email their Honors Jury program to the ECMS office one week before the  jury.  

• Only the candidate, the accompanist, and a page-turner (if absolutely necessary) are allowed in the audition room. It has been recommended to the candidate that neither the accompanist nor the page-turner be the  contestant's teacher.

• Candidates are to be judged according to this performance, and not on the basis of potential or other performances.  

• The Honors Jury is not a competition. It is a means to measure the artistic achievement of each student.

• Audition times may not allow for complete performances of all pieces. Judges may interrupt a performance after the allotted time.  

• Students will receive copies of the juror's evaluations after the  jury.    

• Judges may disqualify any student who does not meet memorization  requirements: Voice and piano applicants must memorize all music; WBP must  memorize at least 5 minutes of the 20 minute performance; Jazz applicants must have at least half of the performance memorized; String applicants must memorize all concertos and unaccompanied pieces. Exceptions will be made for any chamber music performance.

• Jazz candidates can be accompanied by up to an additional trio.  

• The jazz honors jury will consist only of jazz music (all 20 minutes).  

• Music should be performed as written - if the piece has piano  accompaniment, it should be played with piano.

• Orchestral excerpts are not accepted.

• Adult candidates are to be heard separately.  

• No audio or video recordings are permitted.

 

Honors Jury Checklist

Jury Date
Student's Name
Teach Signature

 

In an effort to help students and faculty plan for a possible honors jury, we have developed this checklist. If you check "no" to any of the first items, you should reconsider taking an honors jury. Please answer yes or no.

Preparation:

Yes	No
		Performed a level 6 examination or jury by the end of the first semester of the senior year
		Met all the requirements of the diploma with concentration in a particular instrument or voice
		Fulfilled the Community Music School recital requirements for the diploma you seek
		Fulfilled all coursework and ensemble requirements for the diploma you seek
		Demonstrated keyboard skills:  If you are a pianist you must complete Keyboard Skills.  If you are a vocalist or instrumentalist, you must pass a Keyboard Proficiency or Class Piano. Note: for the Preparatory Diploma, everyone must pass Keyboard Skills.
		Grades in all academic courses taken for the Community Music School diploma must each be a "B" or higher.

 

Going Forward to request a jury (for teachers):

Yes	No
		The teacher must recommend the student for Honors.
		The junior year jury evaluation should support the student's candidacy.

 

Going Forward to request a jury (for students):

Yes	No
		You and your teacher should be sure that you are deeply prepared and have the capability to perform an honors jury.
		You must present a balanced jury program of 20 minutes duration.
		You must perform from memory ( see Honors Jury - Student Information for particulars).
		If recommended by the Honors jury, you will present a recital of at least 30 minutes.

Last updated: April 23, 2008

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