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The ensemble program is designed to provide an enriched and cohesive curriculum in practical musicianship for every student. Much of this training is accomplished in ensembles (instrumental, choral ensemble, or specialized) for the duration of a student's studies.

Students are responsible for checking their program requirements carefully in order to verify and fulfil large and small ensemble requirements; the Performance Department does not follow the particular enrolment of any student's participation in their large or small ensembles.

For each program's large and small ensemble requirements, students should refer to the appropriate section of the eCalendar's Music Undergraduate section (all undergraduate and licentiate requirements are found under Department of Performance and Department of Music Research: Composition; Music Education; Music History; Theory; Faculty Program. Graduate programs are found in the Music Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies section).

Small Ensembles: All students registered for full-time or part-time studies in a Performance Department program must audition for, and participate in, a small ensemble (with the exception of voice performance majors who should register for a large and/or small ensemble in the semester for which they are registered full-time or part-time).

More information on small ensembles for orchestral instruments can be found on the Chamber Music website. Jazz majors should refer to the Jazz Combos section. Additional information on other types of small ensembles can be found on the Other Ensembles section of the School of Music's Ensembles website.

Students should refer to the ensembles website and the program description for clarification on ensemble requirements by program.

The following policy and regulations apply to all students performing in all ensembles, large or small, required, complementary, or elective. They apply also to all students who have been assigned to an ensemble for any reason, including conducting students, composers- and arrangers-in-residence, and others.

For ensemble purposes, the orchestral instruments include:

• flute;
• oboe;
• clarinet;
• bassoon;
• saxophone;
• french horn;
• trumpet;
• trombone;
• tuba;
• percussion;
• harp;
• violin;
• viola;
• cello;
• double bass.

Voice majors may choose from a group of vocal and choral ensembles appropriate to the level of their development.

In all programs which specify small ensembles, the following are considered small ensembles:

Additional ensembles chosen by students in non-performance programs to reflect their particular interests may, with departmental approval, be applied as music and/or free elective credit. Students in performance may apply a maximum of four ensemble credits as complementary performance courses. Students electing an ensemble will normally be required to participate in the ensemble placement auditions and will be placed accordingly.

All students registered as full-time or part-time students in the Department of Performance must audition for a large ensemble in the beginning of the school year. (If a mid-year audition is offered for a particular year or ensemble, notice will be given to students.)

Auditions for large and small ensembles are mandatory for participation in the ensemble. Information on all auditions for ensembles can be found on the ensembles website.

Students who cannot participate in the ensemble auditions at the times indicated on the website must contact the ensemble resource supervisor at least two (2) weeks before the date of the audition. The students must submit, in writing, reasons for their lack of availability and, if applicable, submit a recording of their audition materials prior to the day of the auditions. If students miss an audition with an accepted reason, but do not deliver the audition materials to the department, or if students miss an audition for reasons unacceptable to the Performance Department, they will not be allowed to audition and their assignment will be left entirely to the discretion of the Performance Department. The students may also be subject to grade penalties in the ensemble to which they are assigned.

Assignments for large and small ensembles are posted on the . Reassignments may be made from time to time during a term and will be communicated to students. Students registered in an instrumental program who are not assigned a large ensemble following the ensemble placement auditions should take a choral ensemble as their large ensemble.

Ensembles are courses. Each student who has registered for an ensemble, or who has been assigned to an ensemble, has made a commitment to the ensemble and is required to be available to attend all rehearsals, concerts, performances, field trips, recordings, and other activities, which constitute the course requirements of that ensemble. If rehearsals outside of class meeting times occur, advance notice will be given. These additional rehearsals will be avoided when possible.

A failing grade in any of the ensembles (large, small, complementary, or elective) obliges the student to make up the credit during a later semester. A subsequent failure in the same course may result in the student being required to withdraw from the program.

Students who cannot attend a rehearsal for a large ensemble are required to fill out an as soon as they learn of their conflict. The students may be required to find a replacement for the rehearsal, in collaboration with the director.

How to submit a request to be absent from a rehearsal

Important: No permission is given to be excused from a rehearsal in the week (7 days) before a concert, including the dress rehearsal and the concert itself.

Absences or tardiness without an approved Absence Request Form (available at ) will result in a final grade deduction as follows:

• Excused absences = no loss of grade
• Tardy to rehearsal, without approved Absence Request Form = loss of one grade point (e.g., B to B-)
• Absences without approval = loss of one entire letter grade (e.g., A to B)

Students may be excused from a rehearsal of an ensemble for the following reasons; however, submitting a form with one of these reasons does not guarantee approval of a request.

If the director of an ensemble is not satisfied with the quality of the student鈥檚 preparation for rehearsals, the director shall first warn the student. This warning shall be communicated by the director to the Ensemble Resource Supervisor and Area Chair, who shall inform the student in writing. If, in the Director's opinion, this lack of preparation continues, further action will be taken to remedy the situation.

For any particular performance, if鈥攁fter a written warning to the student(s) with copies to the Ensemble Resource Supervisor, practical instruction teacher, Area Chair, and Department Chair鈥攖he director, in consultation with his/her sectional coaches, feels that the performance of a student or group of students will not meet a certain minimum standard established by the director, the director may cancel a student's participation in a performance.

The director of an ensemble may recommend that a student withdraw from an ensemble for disciplinary reasons. A student asked to do so will be required to appear before the Department Chair, Area Chair, and director to show cause why he or she should not be required to withdraw.

Students who are required to withdraw from an ensemble for reasons of lack of preparation or discipline will be given a grade of F, which will be reflected in their grade point average (GPA).

Withdrawal for any reason obliges the student to make up the credit(s) during a later semester.

In order to be given permission not to participate in a required ensemble for a term or part thereof, a student must meet one of the following four criteria:

1. The student must be a participant in a major national or international competition, or (in the case of voice students) be given a significant role with a recognized performing arts ensemble, and (in the case of all students) have completed the minimum number of required terms of the ensemble, and have the permission of:
   • his or her practical teacher;
   • the Area Chair;
   • the director of the ensemble; or
2. The student must have completed all program requirements except the final exam on his or her instrument; or
3. The student must have completed all musical requirements of his or her program, having only non-music and/or free electives remaining; or
4. The student must have a significant medical reason.

When possible, and to help ensure equal opportunity and experience for students in the large instrumental ensembles, the seating of students in these ensembles may be rotated periodically throughout the term or year. The director of the ensemble, along with the guidance of the Area Chairs and/or practical instruction teachers, will determine whether or not rotation is possible.

The previous ensemble participation of students coming to 91社区 from other universities will be recognized if their ensemble experience was similar to that required by the Schulich School of Music; determination of this experience will be approved by the Area Chair and the Department Chair. In general, transfer credit is made on a term-for-term basis (not by credits) and usually does not exceed two (2) terms. Students are normally not permitted to reduce the large ensemble training requirements of their 91社区 program to less than the number of terms required for them to complete the rest of their program. In such cases, transfer credit may be given as music and/or free elective credit for students in non-performance programs. Students in performance may apply a maximum of four credits as complementary performance courses.

Large ensemble credits accumulated above the minimum may be applied as music and/or free elective credits for students in non-performance programs. Students in performance may apply a maximum of four credits as complementary performance courses. Participation in additional large or small ensembles implies that the same policies will apply.

Students are responsible for the music that has been loaned to them for their use, and for its return in good condition to the Gertrude Whitley Performance Library. Students will be required to pay for the replacement of any music that has been lost, stolen, or damaged, and a hold on a student's Minerva account can be placed by the Performance Librarian should music or fines not be handed in to the library.