Composition Emphasis

General Requirements

A. Pre-recital jury. Students in the Jazz Studies Concentration are strongly recommended to enroll in ETHNOMU 199 (2 units) in winter quarter, with their emphasis advisor. Students must submit their compositions or recordings of their compositions to a pre-recital jury in the 5th week of winter quarter. The pre-recital jury will consist of a faculty committee who will determine whether or not the compositions are ready to be performed in public.

B. Senior recital. Students' compositions must be presented in a senior recital during the spring quarter of their senior year. Students must enroll in ETHNOMU 186 (2 units) with their emphasis advisor in spring quarter. The recital may take place on campus (in Schoenberg Music Building) or at an off-campus venue. It must be performed live and video recorded. The recording must be submitted to a faculty committee for evaluation.

The pre-recital jury
A group of two or more faculty members will serve as committee members to evaluate students participating in the pre-recital jury. The committee will consist of Kenny Burrell, James Newton, and others, depending on the student's instrument or specialization.

Scheduling the pre-recital jury
The pre-recital jury will be scheduled on Friday of the 5th week of winter quarter.

Material for the pre-recital jury
Students must prepare at least 50% of their intended compositions for the pre-performance jury. The jury will then give suggestions for improvement. If the jury panel decides that the student is inadequately prepared, it can recommend postponement of the final performance.

Musical content
The final performance of compositions should be prepared in close association with the student's composition/performance instructors. This preparation should begin no later than during the first quarter of the student's final year as an undergraduate, and continue until the performance.

Students can choose one of the following formats for the performance of their compositions:
a) solo performance
b) small group performance
c) performance by a departmental ensemble

Scheduling the recital
Students who are eligible to perform a senior recital (have passed their pre-recital jury) will receive their recital packet in Fall or Winter Quarter. Recitals are scheduled for the Spring Quarter, and the student is asked to select three dates. The selections must be approved by their private teacher.

Once the requests are submitted to Al Bradley's office, students will be assigned dates on a first-come-first-served basis. Students will be sent an assignment letter, which outlines all services.

Logistics and preparation
In preparing for their recitals, there are numerous logistical considerations that the student must plan for, including the following:

a) locating musicians/singers/accompanists
b) organizing rehearsal time (a minimum of three rehearsals is highly recommended)
c) booking the venue (see "scheduling the recital" above)
d) checking lighting, sound and equipment needs (see "sound system" below)
e) creating and duplicating a printed program (see "printed program" below)
f) timing the recital for length
g) arranging for recording the recital
h) organizing a reception
i) promotional materials such as posters
j) appropriate recital attire (see "Promotion" below)
k) staff/faculty signatures/approvals needed before and after the recital
l) transportation needs

All of these tasks are the responsibility of the student, but can be discussed with members of the performance committee and the undergraduate advisor. See sections below for details.

Printed programs
All performances must have a printed program with pertinent information about the musical selections, including performers. The program should also include a brief description and/or analysis of the individual selections and the date the composition was written. Don't forget to include the month, day and year of the recital! Faculty are expected to assist their students in preparing performance program copy and must sign the Program Approval Form. Please give one copy of your program to Al Bradley to keep for the record.

You must make copies yourself of the program. Bring them with you to the performance.

There is a standard format for all student performance programs. This format must be followed. When preparing for the Program Approval Form, be sure to follow these guidelines:

1. The cover format must include:

a) The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music
b) Department of Ethnomusicology
c) Your name
d) Jazz Studies Concentration, Composition Emphasis
e) "Senior Recital"
f) Recital date and time
g) Recital location

2. The inside format must include:

a) the title and date composed of each piece
b) a description of each piece: the ideas which motivated the piece; the compositional influences; genre
c) include the names of accompanists or other performers
d) your biography (short - 3 to 5 sentences)
e) brief acknowledgements are permitted on the program

NOTE: Please pay attention to spelling, capitals, and include complete names and titles. All questions regarding programs should be addressed to the private instructor.

Recital promotion
Students are expected to promote their own recitals. They can get some assistance from the department, but the main responsibility is up to the student. They must promote their recitals through the use of posters, fliers, mailers, email lists, and other possible media outlets.

Posters, fliers and emails are to be distributed and posted at least ten days before the recital. Posters and fliers can be placed on official ethnomusicology boards in Schoenberg Music Building; do not place on wall, doors, and windows. The date of completion of the recital's promotion should be noted and submitted as part of the recital report to the undergraduate advisor.

Sound System
Students should remember the importance of sound in a concert as it can have a positive or negative effect on the musicians and the audience. Students are responsible for making the sound system at the venue as good as possible. The person in charge of the performance venue can best help to fulfill the needs of the expected recital program. Well before the recital date, the student needs to inspect the venue and the existing sound system and try to learn how to use it. If at all possible, the student should have an early sound check/rehearsal in the venue before the recital.

On-campus (Schoenberg) technical needs
Students must contact Shelley Eckart via email < This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it > no later than one week before the recital. The email must include the following information: 1) what the program is about or the format or type of music that will be played; 2) the technical aspects need to be addressed.

Off-campus technical needs
It is the student's responsibility to contact representatives from the venue where they will have the recital, to take care of their technical needs.

Audio or video recording
For recitals taking place in Schoenberg
Please confirm your recital date and time with the Technical Services office, at least one week prior to your recital. The Technical Services Office will make an audio recording of your performance. This recording will serve as documentation that you have completed your capstone requirement for the jazz studies concentration, and will be made available to the faculty for their evaluation.

For recitals taking place at an off-campus venue
You are required to make a video (DVD or VHS) recording of the recital. This recording will serve as documentation that you have completed your capstone requirement for the jazz studies concentration and will be made available to the faculty for their evaluation. Please submit a copy of the recording to Al Bradley no later than one week after your recital. However, the video recording must be given to Al by Friday of 10th week, even if the recital takes place during 10th week.

The video recording should be labeled with the following information:

a) Your name
b) Jazz Studies Concentration
c) "Senior Recital"
d) Recital date and time
e) Recital location

This recording will not be returned. It will remain as a permanent record of the completion of your recital.

Cancellations
Should it be necessary to cancel or change a recital date, please notify Al Bradley. Recital change petitions are available in Al Bradley's office. The instructor's signature is required.