Piano Juries

Piano juries will be held twice per year, during the last third of the each semester.   Every student must take the jury.   (Please note the exceptions below.)  

Repertory:

• Lower Level
  • Prepare 7 ½   minutes of memorized piano solo repertory
  • Repertory to be chosen in consultation with studio professor
  • Styles of repertory must differ from fall to spring semester juries
  • Sophomore Spring semester jury must include at least two different styles
• Upper Level
  • Prepare 10 minutes of memorized piano solo repertory
  • Styles of repertory must differ from fall to spring semester juries
• Masters
  • Prepare 12 ½ minutes of memorized piano solo repertory
  • Prepare at least two different styles
• DMA
  • Prepare 15 minutes of memorized piano solo repertory
  • Prepare at least two different styles

The student chooses the piece with which he/she would like to begin.   The committee will hear a total of 9 minutes out of the prepared repertory, except for the lower level juries.

Grade:

• The committee will decide on a grade for the jury.   This grade counts as 25% of the total semester grade in piano performance.
• Students who do not attend their jury, without a reasonable excuse (see below), will receive an F for the jury.

Exemptions and excuses:

• Juries are optional for the following students:
  • Students who have given a degree recital during the course of the   semester, prior to or on the date of the jury
  • Students who are in the first semester of their studies at the University of Iowa
  • DMA students, who have fulfilled their degree recital requirement
  • Students participating in the concerto competition during the fall semester
• Reasonable excuses can include, but are not limited to the following:
  • Family emergency
  • Injury and sickness
  • Off-campus performances
• All excused absences from the jury must be made up by the seventh week of the following semester.   The jury grade will then pertain to the following semester grade.  
• Excuses for being absent from the jury must be made, in writing, with proof (i.e notice from a physician, concert program for off-campus performances, etc.), within one week of the date of the jury, if possible prior to the jury.
• This excuse can be made initially by sending an e-mail to ALL piano faculty members.   Further proof and explanations must be received by the piano faculty chair via hard copy.
• The piano faculty will decide (majority vote) if the excuse is reasonable or not.

Formalities:

• Each student should prepare a typed repertory list, consisting of the pieces to be performed at the jury, other pieces studied during the course of the year, chamber music works studied during the course of the year, as well as works in progress.
• It is expected that the students will wear appropriate attire, which includes NOT wearing jeans, t-shirts, low-rise pants, and high-rise tops.