The Upper Level Competency Exam is given at the end of the fourth semester of applied study. Its purpose is to assess the student's general progress in all subjects and to determine whether or not he/she may continue in the chosen curriculum. The applied faculty make recommendations to the Director of the School of Music, who, with the Associate Chair, makes recommendations for the student's junior and senior years of study. Students are not officially designated as Performance majors or Music Education majors until after passing the Upper Level Competency Exam. Each student will be given two opportunities to pass the ULCE. The student will be sent a letter by the Director of the School of Music notifying him/her of the outcome. If a student successfully passes the ULCE the first time, the letter advises him/her of the curriculum to which he/she has been admitted. The first time a student fails the ULCE, he/she must enroll for sophomore (2000-level) lessons for the next long semester. Those students must re-take the ULCE at the end of the next long semester in which they are enrolled. If a student fails the ULCE a second time, he/she will normally be denied access to studio instruction and music academic classes, and will be encouraged to pursue a degree other than music.

Requirements

Scales

During your regularly scheduled lesson in the semester of your ULCE you will be required to play a scale jury. Scales will be played in a sixteenth-note pattern at m.m. 52-60. ULCE candidates will be required to play all major and three forms of the minor scales, no exceptions. Each scale will be played two octaves. Performance majors will also be required to learn all the major modes in their third year of applied study. Remember, SCALES MAKE IT EASIER.

Solo

Concertpiece No. 1 by Rodger Vaughan Wingert-Jones Music, Inc. 2026 Broadway, Box 419878 Kansas City, MO 64141-6878

or

Concertino by Arthur Frackenpohl


These pieces are available from Robert King Music or any other sheet music supplier.

Etudes

Selected from:

• Vladislav Blazevich, 70 Studies for Tuba, Book I
• Marco Bordogni/J. Rochut, Melodious Etudes, Book I
• Phil Snedecor, Low Etudes
• C. Kopprasch, 60 Selected Studies

Jury

The student will be evaluated by a jury of faculty members at the end of the semester. At this time the student must display mature tone quality and improved technical facility. Prior to the jury, the student must obtain jury sheets online, fill them out completely and turn them back into the instructor with copies of all the repertoire to be performed on the jury. The student must then sign up for three (3), five minute slots on the jury sign-up sheets. The student will then be sent a letter by the Chair of the Music Department notifying him/her of the outcome.

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