Music Opportunities

Administrative

Recital Information & Instructions

Below you will find information about the process of securing a recital and instructions on how to complete each form. There are three different forms: recital request, pre-hearing, and special recital. Recital requests begin the WEDNESDAY after Add/Drop ends.

Student Recitals

It is the responsibility of the student and their private lesson instructor to prepare the recital program in the required format using the templates below. The program must be submitted to the area coordinator and private lesson instructor at least three weeks prior to the recital. Certain areas have specific requirements. Consult area-specific handbooks for this information.

Once your program is completed, the area coordinator must approve the final submission, and the private lesson instructor should submit it to Jessica Casey (caseyjr@vcu.edu) at least two weeks prior to the recital. The department covers the expense of printing recital programs and gives the programs to the concert hall manager.

Other Recitals

(studio recitals, guest artist recitals,  chamber ensemble and area recitals, and master class presentations)

It is the responsibility of the presenting event coordinator (faculty member) to gather programming information for any studio recitals, chamber ensemble and area recitals, guest artist recitals, and master class presentations. The department covers the expense of printing recital programs and gives the programs to the concert hall manager.

Once your program is completed, please submit it to Jessica Casey (caseyjr@vcu.edu) at least two weeks prior to the recital.

Recital program templates

Recital templates last updated Spring 2023

Recital Request Form Information & Steps

Recital Request Forms are used for junior and senior recitals. You will need the following information:

  • Applied Lesson Instructor name and email
  • Juror 1 and 2 name and email 
  • Accompanist name and email (if applicable)

First: Submit Recital Request Form through DocuSign

  • Note: if an accompanist is not needed, leave this section blank
  • To complete your submission, click finish

Next: Once your Applied Lesson Instructor has signed, you will receive an email notification from Docusign.

Then: Schedule a meeting with Facilities Coordinator (Curt Blankenship) to determine recital date, time, and location

  • After the recital information is confirmed, the form will be sent to Juror 1 and 2 for confirmation.

Final: When all signatures are completed, all signers will receive a completed version of the form. If an accompanist has been submitted, they will also receive a copy of the form but do not need to sign.

Complete the Pre-Recital process after you have completed the Recital Request process.

First: Schedule your pre-recital with your Applied Lesson Instructor and Area Coordinator. Pre-recitals should take place no earlier than two weeks ahead of your scheduled recital.

Next: Submit Pre-Recital Form through Docusign the week of your pre-recital. You will need the following information:

  • Applied Lesson Instructor name and email
  • Area Coordinator name and email
  • Recital date and time
  • To complete your submission, click finish

Final: When all signatures are completed, all signers will receive a completed version of the form.

Special Recitals are for Music majors who have approval from their area coordinator and applied lesson instructor. We strongly suggest considering an off-campus venue for your special recital. On-campus special recitals cannot exceed 60 minutes, are held Tuesday-Friday in the Recital Hall, and must be completed in the first 8 weeks of the semester. You will need the following information:

  • Applied Lesson Instructor name and email
  • Area Coordinator name and email
  • Accompanist name and email (if applicable)

First: Submit Special Recital Form through Docusign

  • To complete your submission, click finish

Next: Once the Area Coordinator has signed, you will receive an email notification from Docusign.

Then: Schedule a meeting with Facilities Coordinator (Curt Blankenship) to determine recital date, time, and location

Final: When all signatures are completed, all signers will receive a completed version of the form. If an accompanist has been submitted, they will also receive a copy of the form but do not need to sign.

  • What if I need to change the date or time of my recital?
    • You will need to start the entire process over from the beginning of the form you are filling out. Please make sure to notify your applied lesson instructor, jurors, and accompanist to expect a new form.You also need to email music@vcu.edu notifying them that your previous form needs to be deleted.
  • What if I fail my pre-hearing?
    • You will need to reschedule your recital by resubmitting the recital request form and resubmit the pre-hearing form as well.You also need to email music@vcu.edu notifying them that your previous recital request form needs to be deleted.
  • What if I’m going to need an accompanist but don’t know who it will be yet?
    • Go ahead and complete the form process! You can always send your accompanist a copy of the form after you’ve figured out who will be accompanying you.

Facilities

Information for Non-Majors

Are you a singer, musician, or music enthusiast who wants to take a VCU class about music theory, take private lessons with our esteemed faculty, or participate in a musical ensemble for college credit? We’d love to have you join us! There are many opportunities for VCU students who are not music majors to enjoy what the music department has to offer. Here are some ways you can be involved in music at VCU.

Students who are not music majors can take APPL 200 private lessons at VCU. These are 1-credit, 30-minute lessons that take place once a week. Students who register for these lessons will be charged tuition and fees for one credit, plus a $307 private lesson fee if they are in a major outside of the School of the Arts. This fee will be added to the rest of the tuition and fees billed by Student Accounting. To sign up for APPL 200 lessons, students should request an override using this online form.

VCU has many ensemble opportunities, most of which are available to non-majors. Some ensembles require auditions and some are open to anyone to register. Auditions usually take place during the first week of each semester. Students interested in playing or singing in an ensemble should register first (requesting an override if necessary), and then visit the Ensembles page for more information about all of the ensembles and audition requirements.

VCU offers a variety of lecture-style classes on music history, music theory, and other aspects of music that are open to non-majors. Some examples include:

    • MHIS 115: Musicianship Fundamentals
    • MHIS 243: Music Appreciation
    • MHIS 244: Experiencing Music
    • MHIS 251: American Popular Music
    • MHIS 252: Soundscapes: World Music
    • MHIS 380: Survey of the Music Industry
    • MHIS 491 Topics Courses: an umbrella designation that includes topics such as Women in Music and History of Hip-Hop. Students may take up to nine credits of MHIS 491 topics courses.

(Please note: not every class will be offered every semester.)

Students who want music to be a significant part of their VCU experience, but do not want to major in music, can choose to add a music minor to their degree. To minor in music, students must apply through the School of the Arts, and audition on their instrument (or voice). Students need to have at least a 2.5 VCU GPA to apply.

  • How can I gain access to the practice rooms at VCU?
    • VCU’s practice facilities are reserved for students who are: music majors, music minors, or enrolled in APPL 200 lessons. If a student falls into any of these categories, they can fill out the online practice room access form to request access via their VCU card.
  • Can I take lessons to learn a new instrument, and do I need to be able to read music?
    • Students should already be familiar with the instrument on which they want to take lessons, and should be able to read music well enough to practice and learn their music independently outside of weekly lessons. Students who want to take voice lessons must be able to read simple lines of music by playing them on the piano, and must be able to match pitch. A quick audition may be required after students submit their override request, in which case the department will reach out with details about what is expected and how to schedule this audition.
  • I have a musical background and want to take a music class that is restricted to music majors. Is this possible?
    • Students who want to take a music class that is otherwise restricted to music majors (example: MHIS 145 Music Theory & Aural Skills I) should fill out an override request form and indicate their relevant experience or knowledge in the ‘reason for request’ section. This request will be reviewed by the faculty and approved or denied based on appropriateness and available space in the course.
  • I have more questions about music classes or minoring in music. Who should I contact?
    • You can reach out to the academic advisor for music with any of your questions: Christine Hoffman, cdesantis@vcu.edu.

Music Education

Ensemble Auditions

Visit the Ensembles Auditions page to see all audition info
Ensembles Auditions

Jury Forms

Jazz Studies

Student Health and Wellness