Classes

Ensembles
Traditional large ensemble and chamber music experiences are reflected in the sample schedules below.

Private Lessons
Each woodwind, brass, and percussion student will receive one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week. String students receive one 50-minute private lesson each week. Piano students receive one 30-minute lesson daily. Singers have a 60-minute voice class daily for solo singing, individual coaching, and special topics.

Performance Class
All students gather daily for a live music listening experience (30 minutes) featuring mini-recitals by the Seminar faculty, alumni, and guest artists.

Musicianship
Each student has a daily 50-minute musicianship (music theory) class assigned by level of ability ranging from the fundamentals of intervals, scales, key and time signatures to modes, counterpoint, and harmonization. There is an aural skills component to each class, where students have an opportunity to refine their sight singing and ear training and develop more reliable musical memory. A web site, developed by WMU School of Music theory faculty, providing assistance with music theory concepts can be found by clicking HERE.

Electives
Each student will choose one 50-minute elective class from an array of options. Possibilities include instrumental jazz techniques, computers and music, beginning piano, beginning guitar, introduction to music therapy, music history topics, chamber winds, chamber choir, etc.

Sample Schedules

The intended string enrollment of violins, violas, cellos, and double basses creates 4 quartets and a piano trio. Each will meet twice daily: one coached, one self led. The double basses will have one 50-minute group coaching/ensemble session daily. The entire enrollment will meet as a string orchestra for one 60-minute period daily. Each string student will also receive two 50-minute private lessons each week.

8:00–8:50am Practice or Free Time
9:00–9:50am Coached Quartet/Trio
10:00–10:35am Performance Class
10:45–11:45am String Orchestra
11:45am–1:10pm Lunch
1:10–2:00pm Self Led Quartet/Trio
2:10–3:00pm Musicianship Class
3:10–4:00pm Elective Class
4:10–5:00pm Lesson (twice weekly) or Practice Time
5:00–6:00pm Dinner
6:00–7:30pm Free Time
7:30–9:00pm Evening Activity
9:00–10:30pm Practice or Free Time
10:30pm Residence Hall Closes
The intended vocal-choral enrollment includes a balanced Concert Choir of 40 voices. All singers will meet for two 50-minute periods daily as a mixed chorus as well as for one 50-minute sectional rehearsal daily. Each singer will also be placed in a voice class which will meet for one 60-minute period daily. This class will include vocal technique, solo singing, individual coaching, and special topics.

8:00–9:00am Vocal Rest or Warm-up Time
9:00–9:50am Concert Choir
10:00–10:35am Performance Class
10:45–11:35am Choir Sectional
11:35am–1:00pm Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Voice Class
2:10–3:00pm Musicianship Class
3:10–4:00pm Elective Class (includes chamber choir)
4:10–5:00pm Concert Choir
5:00–6:00pm Dinner
6:00–7:30pm Free Time
7:30–9:00pm Evening Activity
9:00–10:30pm Practice or Free Time
10:30pm Residence Hall Closes
The woodwind enrollment includes flutes, oboes, clarinets, bass clarinets, bassoons, and saxophones (alto, tenor, baritone). These instruments constitute the woodwind section of a wind ensemble which meets for two 60-minute periods daily. Woodwind students meet one 50-minute period daily in a wind quintet, saxophone quartet, clarinet sextet, or flute trio. They receive one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week.

8:00–8:50am Coached Trio/Quartet/Quintet/Sextet
9:00–9:30am Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time
10:00–10:35am Performance Class
10:45–11:45am Wind Ensemble
11:45am–1:00pm Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Woodwind Choir (first week)
Wind Ensemble (second week)
2:10–3:00pm Musicianship Class
3:10–4:00pm Elective Class
4:10–5:00pm Group Lesson (once weekly) or
Practice Time
5:00–6:00pm Dinner
6:00–7:30pm Free Time
7:30–9:00pm Evening Activity
9:00–10:30pm Practice or Free Time
10:30pm Residence Hall Closes
The brass enrollment includes trumpets, horns, trombones, euphoniums, and tubas. These instruments constitute the brass section of a wind ensemble which meets for two 60-minute periods daily. Brass students meet one 50-minute period daily in a brass quintet or quartet. They receive one 30-minute private lesson and one 50-minute group lesson each week.

8:00–8:50am Coached Quintet or Quartet
9:00–9:30am Lesson (once weekly) or Practice Time
10:00–10:35am Performance Class
10:45–11:45am Wind Ensemble
11:45am–1:00pm Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Brass Choir (first week)
Wind Ensemble (second week)
2:10–3:00pm Musicianship Class
3:10–4:00pm Elective Class
4:10–5:00pm Group Lesson (once weekly) or
Practice Time
5:00–6:00pm Dinner
6:00–7:30pm Free Time
7:30–9:00pm Evening Activity
9:00–10:30pm Practice or Free Time
10:30pm Residence Hall Closes
The enrollment constitutes the percussion section of a wind ensemble which meets for one or two 60-minute periods daily. Percussion students begin their day with a variety of percussion chamber music experiences including mixed percussion and steel pan ensembles. They receive one 30-minute private lesson each week as well as two 50-minute drumset group lessons during the first week.

8:00–9:50am Percussion Chamber Music
10:00–10:35am Performance Class
10:45–11:45am Wind Ensemble
11:45am–1:00pm Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Group Lessons (first week)
Wind Ensemble (second week)
2:10–3:00pm Musicianship Class
3:10–4:00pm Elective Class
4:10–5:10pm Private Lesson (once weekly) or
Practice Time
5:10–6:00pm Dinner
6:00–7:30pm Free Time
7:30–9:00pm Evening Activity
9:00–10:30pm Practice or Free Time
10:30pm Residence Hall Closes
Pianists receive one 30-minute private lesson daily and are also assigned a duet partner. At their first lesson, they are assigned solo and four-hand works which are new to them. Pianists also have one 60-minute Piano Class daily, where they encounter sessions in technique, literature, and special topics.

8:00–9:30am Practice Time
9:30–10:00am Private Lesson (daily)
10:00–10:35am Performance Class
10:45–11:45am Practice Time
11:45am–1:00pm Lunch
1:00–2:00pm Piano Class
2:10–3:00pm Musicianship Class
3:10–4:00pm Elective Class
4:00–5:00pm Practice Time
5:00–6:00pm Dinner
6:00–7:30pm Free Time
7:30–9:00pm Evening Activity
9:00–10:30pm Practice or Free Time
10:30pm Residence Hall Closes