Music Recitals at Moravian

In my previous post, I blogged about all the recitals that took place this past weekend and I wanted to shed some light as to what it takes to put on a student recital here at Moravian.  

Last weekend, all the of recitals were student recitals.  In case some of you are unfamiliar with what student recitals are and how they work, here's a little info.  Student recitals are required for all Bachelor of Music students.  

• Music Education Majors = perform a half recital (20-30 minutes) their senior year during the semester prior to student teaching
• Music Performance/Sacred Music Majors = perform a half recital their junior year and a full recital (45-60 minutes) their senior year
• Music Composition Majors = perform a half recital their junior year and either a full recital or a project their senior year

*Bachelor of Arts in Music students and Music Minors have the option to perform recitals as well.  However, it is not required.

All the repertoire is representative of the student's musical concentration (either vocal or instrumental).  In other words, the students either sing OR play one specific instrument for their recital.  The repertoire also is designed to showcase the skill level the student has achieved over the past several years.

The students are not in it alone.  All recitals are supervised by a faculty member of the music department.  Also, professional and/or student accompanists play for the student recitals.

In addition to all the hard work the students put into learning, rehearsing, and in some cases memorizing pieces, student also must research their pieces and the composers who wrote them.  All that information is then published in the recital program.  

It is also important to remember that these students are graded on all of this.  It counts as course credit and is part of the requirements for completing a Bachelor of Music degree.

So, if you have yet to attend a student recital, be sure to go to one!  You can check out the music department's concert schedule here to see what's coming up.  Also, if you do go, be sure to tell me about it!  I'd love to hear your thoughts!