Eastman Pathways Student/Parent Handbook
Pathways is part of the William Warfield Partnership between the Eastman School of Music and the Rochester City School District. The following information is meant to guide students and parents in their educational experiences in the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS). By accepting your Pathways scholarship in the ECMS you have the same privileges and responsibilities as do all ECMS students and parents.
We hope you will take advantage of the world-renowned Sibley Music Library as well as attend some of the free concerts and recitals held at the Eastman School of Music.
Table of Contents
Student Commitment
Parents/Guardian Commitment and Responsibilities
Financial Information
Lesson Information
Calendar
Registration
Recital and Performance Requirements
Continued Eligibility - Evaluations, Grades, and Juries or Exams
Other Benefits of the Pathways Scholarship
Further Information
Student Commitment
It is expected that students will be diligent in their practice, lesson attendance, and overall commitment to this remarkable ESM/RCSD partnership program. These are the basic policies and expectations that you agree to when you accept your scholarship; they both ensure your individual progress and allow our program to run smoothly.
- Have regular access to an appropriate instrument and associated supplies for practice purposes
- Attend lessons or chorus weekly
- Come to lessons or chorus on time
- Bring music and instrument to lessons or chorus
- Practice diligently and show commitment to the program
- Chorus / ensemble students will attend all concerts
- Pathways students who take private lessons will prepare for and perform in at least one ECMS recital each school year
- Participate annually in the MCSMA and/or NYSSMA solo festivals
- Participate in the April All-City Festival Concert
- Fulfill the expectations of their private teachers at Eastman
- Maintain good academic standing in both RCSD and ECMS lessons and courses
Parents/Guardians Commitment and Responsibilities
- Help the student complete an annual Eastman Pathways registration form.
- Submit family financial information (a copy of the most recent year’s income tax form with Adjusted Gross Income) in March. Student must be listed as a dependent. If most recent year’s information is not available, the previous year’s AGI is accepted when completing the application. It is expected that the most recent year’s AGI will be submitted by the orientation meeting in June. The scholarship cannot be posted to a student's account without this information, which means the student's parents would be responsible for paying full tuition or any related late fees accrued until the current AGI is submitted.
- Ensure the student’s instrument is kept in good repair.
- Pay a $20 annual registration fee plus any tuition not covered by the Eastman Pathways Scholarship.
- Pay required fee of up to $25.00 per semester for theory texts or worksheets.
- Provide transportation to and from lessons and concerts.
- Help the student purchase music and/or instrumental supplies as requested by the Eastman Community Music School teacher. (Please notify the program coordinator if this is a hardship.)
- Attend the annual orientation program in the spring with the student.
- Support the student’s musical progress by attending his or her performances at Eastman whenever possible, and by taking them to other free Eastman concerts.
- Notify the Eastman Community Music School teacher of any problems that may be impeding the student’s musical progress.
- Ensure that the student notifies the Eastman Community Music School teacher in advance of any absence.
- Notify the ECMS office of address or phone changes.
Financial Information
Limits of the Scholarship
- Scholarships in Eastman Pathways are either full or partial tuition awards for weekly 30-minute private lessons.
- Beginning in 2006, we will apply the tuition sliding scale in the first year of participation.
- An additional course - age and level appropriate theory class, music history or class piano - may also be included at no cost as part of this scholarship award regardless of family income.
- Tuition must be paid for any additional courses beyond the one included with the scholarship as well as for lessons of longer length.
- It is anticipated that scholarships will be continued for future semesters for interested students; however, all students must maintain eligibility and will need to re-apply for scholarship assistance each March for the following academic year. Scholarships cannot be awarded without the receipt of all requested information including a copy of the current IRS tax form.
Textbook Fee
There will be a fee of up to $25.00 per semester for theory books depending on course taken. There is a duplicating fee of up to $25.00 per semester for courses for which there are no texts.
Billing
- All Pathways students’ parent or guardian will receive bills at the beginning of each semester even if you have a full scholarship.
- If the scholarship is for full tuition, the “balance due” at the bottom should read $0.00. The only fee a full tuition scholarship recipient must pay is an annual $20.00 registration fee and the cost of the textbook, if required for the theory class. The registration fee is due at the orientation session.
- If the scholarship is for partial tuition assistance, the balance will read the amount due after the scholarship has been subtracted. The partial tuition scholarship recipient must also pay the annual $20.00 registration fee and the cost of the textbook if required.
- If the scholarship recipient elects to register for a course in addition to the one offered through the scholarship, the bill would indicate a fee for such class. Click here for tuition rates.
- If the recipient elects to increase lesson time beyond the individual award, the bill would indicate the additional fee.
- Payments may be made one of 3 ways: 1) by sending a check or Visa/Mastercard/Discover card number via mail using the self-addressed envelopes provided with each bill; 2) personally delivering a check or credit card to the ECMS office; or 3) by faxing a signed "Credit Card Authorization" form (provided with each bill) to ECMS at 274-1005. The ECMS office cannot accept credit card payments over the phone.
- If you have any questions about billing or feel that you have an error on your statement, call the ECMS office (274-1400) for clarification.
Lesson Information
Schedule
- ECMS lessons will begin the first Wednesday after Labor Day and will continue through the second Saturday in June.
- Lessons will be offered for a full academic year, 34 weeks.
- Students will be assigned to available ECMS Faculty.
- Private lesson times will be arranged by the first week of September. Private instructors contact the student to set-up a mutually agreeable time.
- Notify the ECMS office with any changes in your phone number or address in order for the private teacher and the office to be able to contact you as needed.
Missed Lessons
- Students are expected to notify the private and/or theory teacher in advance of any absence. Please call your teacher directly, or if there is no studio phone, during office hours call the ECMS office at 274-1400. After hours, call the absence line in the ECMS office at 275-1357.
- Unexcused absences (absences not reported in advance) will be reported through the Progress Report to the parent, RCSD Music Teacher, and the coordinator of partnership.
- Should a third unexcused absence occur, the Pathways scholarship will be revoked.
Lesson Make-up Policy
- Some teachers offer make-up lessons under certain circumstances, but they are not obligated to do so.
- Teachers are not required to make up lesson time missed as a result of tardiness.
- If a teacher is absent from a lesson, a make-up will be scheduled at a mutually convenient time.
- For more specific information, see Registration and Policies.
Curriculum
- Each instrument being taught in ECMS has a curriculum that is used as a guide against which the student can measure his or her progress through the various levels of performance skills and repertory.
- In order to remain eligible for the scholarship, students must show significant progress through the prescribed curriculum.
Calendar
- Classes are held on all Mondays including those designated as holidays such as Columbus Day and Martin Luther King Day.
- We teach on several RCSD holidays including Superintendent’s Conference Days.
- Please refer to the Calendar for ECMS vacations, closures and special Pathways events.
Registration
- Every ECMS student must annually complete the standard ECMS “Application/Registration for Study” form during the Pathways March registration period. Actual Registration for Pathways takes place at the annual Orientation Meeting in May or June at which time the $20.00 registration fee is paid.
- If at any time during the academic year you have a change of address or home/work phone, please advise the ECMS office at 274-1400.
Recital and Performance Requirements
- Upon the recommendation of the private teacher, students are to perform annually on at least one regularly scheduled Saturday ECMS student recital or private teacher’s Studio Recital.
- There are three categories of recitals: Pre-College, General and Advanced. There is an appropriate level recital for each student. Recitals are normally held in Howard Hanson Hall or in Kilbourn Hall.
- Participation in one or both of the annual solo festivals is required: MCSMA held in January (resulting in possible All-County participation) or the Eastman In-House NYSSMA held in May. However, students performing at NYSSMA levels 5 and 6 are encouraged to attend another approved All State site (resulting in possible Area-All State participation). RCSD music teachers must register students for these festivals.
- SOTA music program expects Pathways students to prepare for both festivals.
- Students must perform in his/her home school music ensemble every semester on the instrument or voice studied at ECMS. In the case of piano or strings where no ensemble exists, students will be required to perform on a different instrument or sing in the available school ensemble.
- Participate in the annual All City Festival.
Continued Eligibility - Evaluations, Grades, Juries or Exams
Students must earn the retention of scholarships annually. The Eastman Community Music School reserves the right, upon evaluation by the ECMS teacher, to place on probation or dismiss students who have consistently displayed a lack of cooperation, interest and/or progress through curricular levels.- In order to monitor student progress and maintain communication with parents and RCSD Music Teachers, Pathways students will receive an evaluation of their musical progress and lesson attendance each semester in addition to a letter grade.
- Evaluations will be shared with the student, parent and RCSD music teacher.
- A mid-year evaluation will be given at the end of first semester. The mid-year evaluation is a preliminary indication of the ECMS teacher recommendation for the renewal of student scholarships for the following year.
- The recommendation for renewal of scholarships is based on the Eastman Community Music School teacher evaluation of student attendance, commitment, attitude, responsiveness and progress made through curricular material.
- Students receiving their ECMS teacher recommendation will be continued in Pathways.
- Students who have not met the requirements, but have received a conditional recommendation of their Eastman Community Music School teacher, will be asked to re-audition in April to retain their scholarships.
- Scholarship of students who do not receive the recommendation of their Eastman Community Music School teachers will not be renewed.
- Each student must take a performance jury or exam at the end of each academic year. It is expected that students will annually show progress through the various curricular levels.
- In addition to the recommendation from the ECMS teacher, each student must receive a positive recommendation from the RCSD music teacher in order to continue in the program.
- Students must be in good RCSD academic standing:
- Maintain a 2.0 average
- Be in good standing in the school music program
- Not fail any class
- Students will be placed on academic probation should their average fall below a 2.0 or fail any class.
- Should the failure happen at the end of the school year, the student may go to summer school to pass the course. If the class is not passed or not offered, the scholarship will be revoked.
- Students receiving an ECMS grade of C or lower in either lessons or classes applicable for diploma credit will not be eligible to receive the diploma. A student will be placed on ECMS probation if the grade is a C or lower. If the lesson grade is not raised by the end of the semester, the scholarship will not be renewed. If the class grade is not raised the student will not be eligible for a class the following year.
Other Benefits of the Pathways Scholarship
Mentor
Carrol Frangipane, who taught public school music for over 30 years, is our experienced Pathways Mentor. Mrs. Frangipane is contacted when a Pathways student has been reported falling behind in class work, missing lessons, coming consistently late or unprepared for lessons, or finding it difficult to adjust to our rigorous curriculum. She works with the student and parent to help find solutions to problems.
Accompanists
- To encourage all of our students to participate in recitals each year, each student is granted two rehearsal coupons per semester (valued at $30.00 per semester).
- Each coupon covers a rehearsal up to 30 minutes with any accompanist on the ECMS list.
- Students sign for their coupons in the ECMS office, 3rd floor, Messinger Hall.
- Please refer to the accompanist policy found in the ECMS catalog for specifics.
- The use of the accompanist for additional rehearsals at Eastman, as well as performances outside and not affiliated with, the Eastman School (e.g., NYSSMA), is the financial responsibility of the parent/student.
Pre-College Diploma
Motivated and interested students who take classes offered through the Pathways Scholarship may work toward one of our 3 Pre-College Diplomas. Pre-College Diplomas are awarded in June at the ECMS Commencement Ceremony upon completion of all requirements listed in the Diploma brochure. A student must receive a B or high in any class or lesson taken to be eligible. See Diplomas and Certificates for complete information
Courses
- Students are encouraged to take one of the many enriching music courses - theory, history, class piano and a wide selection of ensembles – offered at the Eastman Community Music School.
- Theory classes are highly recommended for every Pathways student. The wide variety of theory classes are organized in sequential manner to enable students to engage more fully in their musical experience at Eastman.
Academic Advising
- Dr. Margaret Henry, Chair of Music Theory and Composition, is the ECMS academic adviser.
- Returning students: We recommend that you review all of your courses with Dr. Henry during the annual advising period during Festival Week to determine your over-all progress in the curriculum and/or a diploma sequence.
- New students: You are encouraged to schedule an advising session during Festival Week to discuss taking theory. The academic adviser will recommend your first theory class based on the results of the theory test taken on audition day. Please note that all chorus students are required to take a theory/musicianship class along with chorus.
Further Information
The ECMS Staff is happy to answer your questions. Students who have questions regarding registration or eligibility, lesson or class times, teacher assignments or other ECMS issues may contact the ECMS office at 274-1400. Questions regarding instruments or lesson supplies should be directed to the student’s Eastman and RCSD instrumental music teacher.
Other policy questions may be directed to:
- Jan Angus, Program Coordinator Eastman Pathways,
Eastman Community Music School: 274-1960 email: jangus@esm.rochester.edu - Deborah Harloff, RCSD Director of the Arts,
Rochester City School District: 262-8939 ext 2221 email: Deborah.Harloff@rcsdk12.org - Kevin Coughlin, Pathways Liaison with RCSD,
Wilson Foundation Academy: 463-4100, ex 4052 email: KMCoughlin@aol.com - ECMS Office: 274-1400