Department of Music

Auditions for admission and for music scholarships are held throughout each year and are awarded to students who demonstrate exceptional performance ability and academic achievement. Scholarships range from $500 to FULL TUITION, ROOM, and BOARD. Additional information on institutional scholarships, grants, loans, and federal work-study, is available through the University's Office of Financial Aid.

All students preparing for an audition for admission and/or music scholarships should fill out the application for audition and observe the following:

• Students must provide their own instrument. The University will provide a piano for campus auditions. Videotaped auditions are permitted if circumstances do not permit a live audition 
• Any piece of music performed must generally be recognized to be an integral composition (arrangement or original), written for the instrument or voice part upon which it is to be executed and performed in its entirety; however, performers may play single movements of multiple-movement compositions. 

All performers are expected to demonstrate individual musical proficiency by selecting music of a grade level appropriate for potential university level music students.

Examples of “appropriate” literature for winds and percussion may be found in the Fall 2004 issue of South Carolina Musician (page 40, section XIV). A minimum grade level of difficulty selected from or comparable to the clinic band etudes is expected.

• Examples of “appropriate” literature for voice may be found in the 2004 National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) handbook. A minimum grade level of difficulty selected from or comparable to NATS senior high school audition is expected. Vocalists are expected to perform two contrasting selections. Preferred selections included art songs written in English, Italian, French, or German.
  
  Examples of “appropriate” literature for piano may be found in the 2004 Music Teachers National Association (MTNA) handbook. A minimum grade level of difficulty selected from or comparable to the required selections for MTNA senior high school audition is expected. Pianists are expected to perform two contrasting selections of standard piano literature. These may include work from any of the main eras of piano music (i.e. Baroque, Classic, Romantic, or 20th Century/Modern). Selections may include the works of J.S. Bach, F.J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart, L.V. Beethoven, M. Clementi, R. Schumann, G.F. Chopin, F. Schubert, F. Mendelssohn, C. Debussy, and other contemporary composers.
• At the request of the panel of judges, all performers will be required to sight-read an unfamiliar selection. The selection may be selected from the standard collections of hymns, folk songs, or etudes. 
• At the request of the panel of judges, all performers will be required to play all major scales 

All performers will be required to take a diagnostic test of music fundamentals

Audition Form and Letter of Reccomendation
Transfer Release Form
Music Health and Safety Manuel
Music Department Student Handbook
Audition Postcard

Claflin University Department of Music Credit Hour Definition 

Claflin University uses Carnegie units to measure semester credit hours awarded to students for course work. Academic credit is recorded in semester credit hours. One (I) fifty (50)-minute lecture period per week for one semester, or the equivalent time in laboratory work, constitutes a semester hour. 

Lecture Classes (Traditional Class): A semester credit hour consists of the equivalent of at least one (I) hour (SO-minute period) per week of"in-class seat time" and two (2) hours per week of out-of-class student work for fifteen (15) weeks. A standard three (3) semester credit hour lecture class meets for at least forty-five (45) contact hours per semester, plus a minimum average of six (6) hours of activities outside of the classroom per week for fifteen (15) weeks. 

Laboratory Classes: A semester credit hour consists of the equivalent of three (3) hours of laboratory work per week for fifteen (15) weeks. 

Directed Independent Studies (includes Distance Education): Instructors should make adjustments so that the total number of hours of work required by students is equivalent to that of a traditional class that meets face-to-face. 

Classes offered in a shortened format: The hours are prorated so that the classes contain the same total number of hours as if the classes were scheduled for a full fifteen (15) week semester. 

Graduate and Professional students: The required academic work normally will exceed three (3) hours per credit per week. Additional information is outlined below for the Music Unit as it relates to specific courses in the Music department. 

Credit Hour Definition specific for the Department of Music at Claflin University 

The following constitutes the definition of a semester credit hour for various modes of instruction in the Department of Music that is consistent with the University's definition of credit hour. Music courses follow the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) required for awarding credit. Normally one semester hour of credit represents at least three hours of work each week for a period of fifteen weeks. 

In lecture classes, such as music history normally one semester hour credit hour of credit is given for SO-minute session plus two hours of homework each week of the term. 

For ensembles, like laboratory classes, normally one semester hour of credit is given for two to five 90-minute rehearsal sessions per week, depending on the ensemble. 

For applied lessons, normally one semester hour of credit is given for each three hours of practice, plus the necessary individual 30-minute lesson per week with the instructor. For example, a two semester credit hour applied lesson would meet for two 30-minute lessons per week. 

For music seminar, which is a laboratory class with the applied area, is zero hours of credit for one hour of class attendance, performance, and a suggested six hours of practice time that are acquired via applied and small ensemble combined practice times, per week, for 15 weeks 

For online hybrid, and other nontraditional modes of delivery, credit hours are assigned based on learning outcome that are equivalent to those in a traditional course setting, forty-five ( 45) hours of work by a typical student for each semester hour of credit. Syllabi for each course will contain the appropriate credit hour from the list above. Each course should then follow this definition.