TEACHING > UNIVERSITY OF AKRON - BASSOON LESSON SYLLABUS

Attendance | Grading | Dress | Recitals | Studio & Reed Class
Independent Study | Reed Room | Communication | Miscellaneous
Enrollment | Jury Requirements | Scale Jury Handouts (pdf)

BASSOON LESSON SYLLABUS

Barrick R. Stees
Instructor of Bassoon
(440)338-6800
(440)781-1913 cell
steesbassoon@adelphia.net

Objective:

To encourage musical growth and independence through the development of good practice habits, critical thinking and artistic performance.

1. ATTENDANCE

1.1 Lessons

Lessons are once a week. All lessons for bassoon majors are four credits and one hour in length. If you are only registered for two, you need to add two credits before I will teach you.

Unexcused absences are not permitted. Please contact me at least 24 hours before an anticipated absence. You may contact me by phone or email. Do not call the School of Music office to cancel your lesson – contact me directly. Home phone or email is best. Each unexcused absence will decrease your semester grade by one number. Lessons which you cancel can be made up if you are sick or prevented by an act of God from attending. All other lessons missed will not be made up. Lessons I cancel will be made up and I will arrange all makeup lesson times.

Punctuality is very important in the music world. I expect you to be on time and warmed up for your lesson. If your schedule does not permit you to be on time and warmed up, you must take these things into consideration when we schedule lesson times at the beginning of the semester. If you are more than 10 minutes late to your lesson without prior notice, you will lose that lesson and it will be counted as an unexcused absence and your grade will suffer.

It is your responsibility to have all music assigned learned for each lesson and studio class performance. This includes accurate notes, dynamics and tempos. Any lack of preparation on your part hinders my ability to teach you effectively.

The bassoon needs to be your top priority while studying with me. It needs to take precedence over other school responsibilities and any work schedule you may have. Daily practice time should be scheduled as though it is another class. Write it in your schedule book and treat it as an important daily routine.

• Daily practice time required of music majors: 2 hours/day
• Daily practice time required of performance majors: 3-5 hours/day
  
  You will come to lessons with at least one acceptable reed, your lesson notebook, metronome, tuner, music and any other equipment needed to perform well in lessons.
  
  All students will bring a binder to studio class.

1.2 Studio Class

Studio Class will be held weekly. Attendance is required for all bassoon majors. Unexcused absences and tardiness will be treated the same way as in private lessons. Please inform me at least 24 hours in advance if you have good reason not to attend.

You will be required to keep a binder for studio class which will be turned in to me at the end of each semester for a grade. The binder will contain handouts, papers you present in class and notes you take in studio class.

1.3 Reed Class

Attendance in Reed Class is required for all undergraduate bassoon majors and the first year of masters study. Attendance by others is strongly recommended as I do not work on reeds in lessons. If you need individual help with reeds, please see me to schedule an extra lesson.

Back to Top

2. GRADING

Your grade reflects a composite of your efforts in the following areas:
(% indicates percentage of contribution to final grade.)

2.1 Lesson Preparation: 50%

Your grade in this area is the average of individual grades I will give for each lesson. If you are prepared and perform to the best of your ability, you will receive a high grade.

2.2 Performance: 20%

In consultation with ensemble directors and other faculty who hear you perform, I will give you a grade which reflects the level of your performance relative to your ability in studio class, chamber ensembles, large ensembles, juries and recitals.

2.3 Reedmaking: 10%

Reedmaking will be evaluated using the following criteria:

2.3.1 Improvement

Your ability to grasp reedmaking concepts and techniques and how you apply them will be evaluated.

2.3.2 Quantity

All bassoon majors must make at least 25 reeds per semester. Quantity builds quality.

2.3.3 Independence

I will judge your progress towards independence. I am always available for help, but reliance on me to fix your reeds must be discouraged.

2.4 Progress: 10%

I will assess how much you have improved as a player over the course of the semester. The number of goals you achieve (listed on the Student Information Form or those upon which we mutually agree) will determine this part of your grade.

2.5 Professionalism: 10%

In college you must prepare for the professional world. All bassoon students are expected to conduct themselves in a professional manner. This includes the following:

2.5.1 Regular lessons and punctuality

2.5.2 Large ensemble attendance, punctuality and decorum

This means being early for all ensemble rehearsals. It means being warmed up and prepared. If I hear that you have problems with behavior, punctuality or preparation, your grade will suffer.

2.5.3 Willingness to perform

If you are not willing to accept some assignments such as chamber music or conducting recitals when asked or if you try to get out of playing in studio class, your grade will suffer.

2.5.4 Concert attendance

If I am performing, a guest bassoonist, a student bassoonist or a wind group is performing at UA, I expect you to be there.

2.5.5 Cooperation

As a visiting, adjunct instructor, I will rely on you to cooperate with your fellow bassoon students regardless of degree program or age. Fostering a collegial environment in the studio is very important. Those not willing to cooperate will receive a lower grade.

Back to Top

3. DRESS

Please wear nice clothes to your lesson. Your attire should reflect the seriousness of purpose you hold. No T-shirts, jeans or sweat suits.

Back to Top

4. RECITALS

Most bassoon majors are encouraged to give a yearly recital even when not required to do so. Schedule them far enough apart from one another so I can give you the extra time necessary in preparation.

Back to Top

5. STUDIO CLASS / REED CLASS

Studio Class is primarily a performance class for you to try out repertoire, practice performing in public and develop constructive means of criticism. Both those performing and listening will observe normal concert etiquette. Comments will be given in an orderly, one-person-at-a-time manner.

Back to Top

6. INDEPENDENT STUDY

Each bassoon major is required to take two semesters of independent study(1 credit) in a topic related to the bassoon. The topic(s) will be chosen by us mutually. Suggested areas of study could be reedmaking/reed theory, instrument maintenance/repair, acoustics, pedagogy, etc.

Back to Top

7. REED ROOM

Bassoonists may use the Wenger practice room in the basement or, when I am not using it, my office for reed making. Please leave the place in a clean, orderly state when finished using it. All tools must stay in my studio.

Back to Top

8. COMMUNICATION

When I can’t see you in person I communicate with you by phone or email. I consider both official means of communication. Please make a habit of checking your phone and email messages frequently so you don’t miss important announcements.

Back to Top

9. MISCELLANEOUS

9.1 When you need to see me, please do not interrupt while I am teaching. The schedule on my door tells you when I am free. Please see me between lessons or make an appointment.

9.2 Each bassoon student is required to keep a date book (palm pilots are fine) for the current year. Keep a record of all your lessons and performance dates to avoid confusion.

9.3 Each student is required to keep a lesson notebook and bring it to each lesson.

9.4 Each bassoonist is required to keep a binder and bring it to studio class.

9.5 Students whose names do not appear on the class list will not be permitted to participate (take exams or receive credit) without first showing proof of registration by no later than September 10th.

Back to Top

10. ENROLLMENT

Course numbers for the following levels are listed below:

Undergraduate

7520 : 039 004 = non major or conditionally accepted student
7520 : 139 004 = 100 level music major
7520 : 239 004 = 200 level
7520 : 339 004 = 300 level
7520 : 439 004 = 400 level

Graduate

7520: 539 004 = 500 level non performance major
7520: 639 004 = 600 level bassoon performance major

Advancement from one level to another requires a jury before the woodwind faculty at the end of the semester. Degree requirements regarding level attainments can be found in the undergraduate and graduate course bulletins.

Other enrollment information:

All undergraduate music majors are required to enroll in
Student Recital: 7500: 157-001

All undergraduate bassoon majors must attend Woodwind Sectional (Thursday, 1:10 pm, Rm. 05). All bassoon majors must perform at least once each year. Sectional performances are graded and counted as a lesson grade. Performance majors must perform every semester.

All bassoon majors must register for Studio Class (Monday, 2:15 pm in Rm 137) and Bassoon Ensemble (time and place, TBA).

Studio Class is covered under Student Recital in the course bulletin, so when you register for 7500 : 157-001 you are registered for Studio Class. Bassoon Ensemble is 7510 : 110 006 for undergraduate, and 7510 : 610 006 for graduate.

Those bassoonists taking Reed Class should register for
7510 : 110 002 for undergraduate, 7510 : 610 002 for graduate.

Back to Top

11. BASSOON STUDIO JURY REQUIREMENTS
(Technical and Verbal Skills)

All technical skills are to be memorized and performed at a minimum tempo of quarter note = 60 for 16th notes, 80 for triplets.

100 Level: (audition requirements to be a music major)

• Perform an etude from the Weissenborn 50 Advanced Studies or the Milde 25 Studies in All Keys.
• All major scales, 2 minor scales (any form) and chromatic scale from low Bb to high Bb.
• One solo or movement from the standard solo repertoire.

200 Level:

• All major and minor scales, harmonic and melodic, all slurred or all tongued in 16th notes in the ranges below

  3 octaves - Bb, B, C major and minor
  2 octaves - C# through A major and minor

• Major and minor arpeggios, slurred in triplets in ranges above
• Verbal skills (memorized)
  Four questions to be determined

300 Level:

• Half or full recital
• Scale jury, level 1
• Arpeggios; Bb-D, 3 octaves; Eb-A, 2 octaves
• Verbal skills (memorized)
  Four questions to be determined

400 Level:

• Full recital
• Five orchestral excerpts
• Level 2 scale jury
• Van Hoesen arpeggios in all keys
• Verbal skills (memorized)
  Four questions to be determined

600 Level:

• Full recital
• Mock audition
• Level 4 scale jury
• Van Hoesen arpeggios in all keys
• Written skills: submit a paper on a topic given to you by me.

*NOTE: ALL STUDENTS PERFORMING A JURY MUST ATTEMPT TO PASS THEIR TECHNICAL SKILLS AT LEAST TWO WEEKS PRIOR TO THE JURY. STUDENTS WHO DO NOT ATTEMPT TO PASS OFF THEIR SKILLS EARLY WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO JURY.

Back to Top

12. SCALE JURY HANDOUTS

All links below should open up a PDF file in a new Window. Hit the back button in Windows browsers to return to this menu (or on Macintosh OS X.2+ return to the browser).

If you do not have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader plugin, you can download it and easily install it by finding the program and its instructions at:

Click here to obtain the free Adobe Acrobat Plugin

1. Scale Jury Info - Page 1

2. Scale Jury Info - Page 2

3. Scale Jury Info - Page 3

4. Scale Jury Info - Page 4

5. Scale Jury Info - Page 5

6. Scale Jury Info - Page 6

Back to Top