FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Degree Questions:

• Can I declare a music major and a music minor? No, your major cannot be in the same academic field as your minor. For example, you cannot be a piano pedagogy major and an arranging minor.
• Are  Music Ed majors required to have a minor or concentration? No
• If a Secondary Education majors wishes to do a music minor, which may choose they choose? Any music minor.
• If an Elementary Education majors wishes to do a music minor, which may they choose? Music Education or Pedagogy minors.
• Can I major in two different music majors? A person cannot “double major” in two music degrees: e.g., Performance and Music Education.
• What is meant be “music degree students?” Music degree students are any students pursuing a music major, minor or concentration.
• What should I do to prepare to be a music degree student? See the section on suggestions for prospective music degree students.
• What is the difference between a major, minor, and a concentration? See the catalog.
• If I want to take lessons and not be a music degree student, is this possible? Yes.

Auditions and Repertoire Level Questions:

• What are the minimum repertoire expectations for majors, minors, and concentrations? Music degree students are expected to be playing collegiate level repertoire in college (See the Music Handbook). Faculty advise students accordingly when evaluating their Performance Assessment Packets. The sooner you submit your packet, the better. Occasionally, we do have students “under level” decide to pursue a music degree. Students have one year to work really hard to be up to level before their Freshman platform. We have had students who have been able to do this, but these are gifted students who have incredible determination and a strong work ethic.
• Do I have to pass an audition to be a music degree student? Because we have several students from across the United States attend Maranatha, we do not require “in person” auditions. Rather, we ask students to send in a DVD recording of their playing, and we send them an assessment in return. For details, see Performance Assessment Packet.

Financial Aid Questions:

• Do you offer scholarships? We do not offer scholarships for incoming students, but each year we have a scholarship chapel in which a few music students received a combined total of approximately $10,000. For example, one student received a $5,000, and several students received $1,000. See privately funded scholarships on the website.
• Do you offer financial aid options?  Yes, see Financial Aid on the website.

Private Lesson Questions:

• Can I choose which private lesson instructor I want? You can request an instructor, and we do our best to accommodate your wishes. Please see faculty. Instructors are assigned to students based on the degree the student is pursuing, the student’s strengths/weaknesses, the instructor’s specialty, and the instructor’s load. To request a piano teacher, email janet.tschida@mbbc.edu. To request an instrumental teacher, email sherry.trainer@mbbc.edu. To request a voice teacher, email carol.ruffin@mbbc.edu.
• Do I have to audition for lessons?  Piano students need to sign up for a teacher placement assessment. Voice students must take FIVO 135 Intro to Vocal Studies before taking private voice lessons from a Maranatha instructor. Students may test out of FIVO 135 (see testout section in the Music Department Handbook). Instrumental students do not need a teacher placement assessment because we do not have multiple teacher options for other instruments.
• Do I have to take FIVO135 Intro to Vocal Studies if I have already been studying voice privately in the past? FIVO135 Intro to Vocal Studies is the prerequisite for taking private voice lessons with any of Maranatha’s vocal instructors. One may, however, attempt to test out of the course. See test outs in the Music Department Handbook).
• What length of lessons would you recommend?  We strongly recommend that music degree students take 45 or 60 minute lessons. Majors are required to take 45 minute lessons. Minors and concentrations are strongly advised to take 45 minute lessons.
• When do lessons start?  Private music lessons start the second week of the semester unless your teacher notifies you otherwise.
• How do I know who my private lesson teacher is? You will know who your private lesson teacher is during the first week of the semester because (s)he will be contact you for your schedule. Please reply ASAP.
• How do I know when my lesson will be? Your lesson will be scheduled based on your availability. Promptly replying to your private lesson teacher’s inquiries about your schedule is imperative.
• How much do lessons cost? Students taking from adjunct instructors pay the instructor directly and receive a stipend from Maranatha if they are taking 18 or less credits and are a music degree student. Students taking from Maranatha instructors are assessed a lesson fee depending on the length of the lesson.
• What music materials should I bring? Bring all of the books at your level, your hymnal, your instrument, and a metronome.
• What if my course number is incorrect on my transcript? Ultimately, making sure the correct private lesson course number is listed on your worksheet is YOUR responsibility. If you have a lesson credit course number that is listed incorrectly, you need to take the initiative to correct this with the registrar’s office (This will not automatically fix itself).
• Do I have to retake a semester of lessons if I switch from a music ed major to another music major? If you were enrolled in a music education major program, but switched from a 1 credit/semester lesson requirement to a 2 credit/semester lesson requirement—as a general rule, you are NOT required to re-do those semesters of lessons.

Repertoire Class Questions:

• What is repertoire class? Music degree students attend, perform, and critique performances at weekly instrument-specific repertoire classes. These repertoire classes have included performing in master classes given by area professionals, attending open rehearsals for the Madison symphony, attending chamber music concerts, having discussions after viewing historic performances, and sightreading literature.
• Who needs to attend repertoire class? All music degree students must attend repertoire class—this includes majors (8 semesters), minors (6 semesters), and concentrations (4 semesters).
• How do I sign up for repertoire class? You should register for repertoire class in the same way you register for your other courses. You need to register for the repertoire class that corresponds with your primary instrument (if your primary instrument is piano, register for piano repertoire). If you have questions, please contact the registrar’s office. Make sure repertoire class shows up on your class schedule or you are not properly registered. First semester music degree students must attend a music seminar.

Academic Course Questions:

• How do I know which courses to register for the first semester? The registrar personnel will assist you in scheduling your first semester of courses at Maranatha. To graduate on time, you should be following the course sequencing specified in the catalog.
• What courses can I test out of? See testouts in the Music Department Handbook.
• What courses can I CLEP out of? See the General Info Section in the catalog.
• What if Christian Life conflicts with courses I need to take? CL is 1-credit. If there is a conflict with a requirement, the major should take precedence. CL 1, 2, 3, and 4 are part of the Biblical Studies Core for all of our students. (Of course, we do have quite a few transition students working through Personal Evangelism and Pentateuch, and still need Christian Living.) CL1 is only offered in the fall, but CL 2, 3, and 4 will all be offered both semesters. The students should take them in sequence whenever possible, but can take them out of order, or two in one semester as needed to get them in.
• Are Music History courses offered on a one or two year rotation? Music History courses are offered on a two year rotation.
• Are Music Harmony courses offered on a one or two year rotation? Music Harmony courses are offered on a one year rotation.

Primary/Secondary Proficiency Questions:

• What is the difference between a primary proficiency and a secondary proficiency? Music and music education majors must declare a primary proficiency (typically the instrument at which you are most proficient), and a secondary proficiency (typically piano is required for non-piano majors; typically organ or voice is required for piano majors). Specific requirements are delineated in the Music Department Handbook.
• Do music minors and concentrations have a secondary proficiency? No.
• Do I have to take lessons on my primary proficiency my first semester? Yes.
• Do I have to take lessons on my secondary proficiency my first semester? Yes. Students need to begin lessons or classes on their secondary instrument during their first semester at Maranatha. A minimum of 2 semesters of lessons or classes is required. Students must continue taking lessons until they pass a secondary proficiency exam.
• What are the expectations for primary/secondary proficiencies?  Specific requirements are delineated in the Music Department Handbook.

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