The Music Conservatory was founded in 1867 as Chicago Musical College, dedicated to the training of musicians preparing for professional careers. In 1954 Chicago Musical College became part of Roosevelt University, expanding its educational offerings through the resources of a comprehensive university.

In 1997 Chicago Musical College joined with the university’s theatre program to form the College of the Performing Arts. Three years later the conservatory was renamed the Music Conservatory of Chicago College of Performing Arts.

Roosevelt University is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM), of which it is a charter member, since 1928 (as Chicago Musical College).

The Music Conservatory is led by a Department Chair and organized into discipline areas, each administered by a Program Director. The Bachelor of Music degree is offered with majors in piano, strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, classical voice, harp, and classical guitar.

For information on master’s and diploma programs, consult the university’s graduate catalog.

The Music Conservatory presents more than 150 concerts and recitals each year, all free and open to the public. To receive monthly updates about Music Conservatory events, please sign up through the CCPA webpage.

Admission

Admission to Roosevelt University does not guarantee admission to the Music Conservatory. To be admitted to the Music Conservatory, students must present a successful audition or other evidence of aptitude in their chosen major in addition to meeting the university’s admission requirements.

Prospective students should contact the Office of Enrollment and Student Services and consult the CCPA website for specific audition requirements for each major program.

Students entering a collegiate music program typically have several years of study on an instrument or voice and experience in high school music organizations. Students entering the core musicianship sequence must demonstrate a written and aural command of the rudiments of music, including scales, intervals, triads, rhythm, and meter. Some knowledge of the keyboard is helpful.

All entering students (first-year and transfer) take placement examinations to assess their preparation in musicianship and keyboard proficiency. Based on these examinations, students are placed in the core musicianship sequence at an appropriate level. Study guides and other preparation materials are provided during the summer prior to matriculation. Students exempted from required courses by placement examination may replace those hours with free electives.

Transfer credit in applied music, musicianship, and music education subjects requires validation through proficiency examination, audition, consultation with program faculty, or successful completion of a more advanced course.

Degree requirements

Degrees are conferred upon students in good standing who have met the following requirements:

• Residency and enrollment for at least two academic years (no fewer than 48 semester hours).

• Completion of at least 120 semester hours of credit following the curriculum for the major field, with a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.0 and with core and major course grades that satisfy program requirements.

• Completion of the University Writing Requirement.

• Presentation of junior and senior recitals, according to the requirements of the specific program.

Academic policies

Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance at classes, rehearsals, and lessons reflects the professional standards expected of musicians. The Music Conservatory’s attendance policies are designed to cultivate a sense of responsibility for all school-related commitments and obligations.

Many courses include an attendance requirement, which will appear in the syllabus. However, students should understand that attendance is expected in the Music Conservatory even when it is not a graded component of the course. Students should notify their instructors if they cannot attend class (for example, because of illness) and should make up missed assignments promptly.

Perfect attendance in applied music study (private lessons) is expected. If a student must cancel a lesson for unavoidable reasons, the instructor should be notified 24 hours in advance when possible. Failure to notify the instructor by 9 a.m. on the day of the lesson releases the instructor from any obligation to make up the lesson. Regularly scheduled lessons falling on university holidays will be made up; the student and instructor are responsible for making the necessary arrangements.

Any student who misses three lessons without properly notifying the instructor will receive an immediate failing grade for the semester and will not be permitted to present the jury examination at the end of the semester. Students who do not appear for the required jury examination will receive a failing grade for the course.

Because membership in a performing ensemble entails responsibility to the Program Director, fellow students in the ensemble, and the Music Conservatory itself, school functions take precedence over outside activities. See Ensembles below for additional information. Students are expected to attend all rehearsals and performances.

Ensembles

Ensemble participation is a defining element of conservatory training and reflects the collaborative practices of professional musicians. Students in the Interdisciplinary Conservatory are expected to participate each semester in ensembles to which they are assigned by the instructor of record, in consultation with the Program Director and Academic Advisor.

Students assigned to ensembles as zero-credit participants (by assignment or with special permission) receive a grade and are expected to complete the same requirements as students enrolled for credit. Ensemble assignments are made at the beginning of each semester following placement and seating auditions.

A comprehensive annual ensemble calendar is distributed to students by the Music Conservatory Performance Activities Office (PAO) prior to the start of the fall semester.

Occasional excused absences from ensemble services may be granted with instructor approval through the completion of a Syllabus Exception Form (SEF). Advance notice—preferably at least two weeks—and appropriate documentation are required. SEFs are administered by the PAO in consultation with the ensemble instructor.

Students from other departments of Roosevelt University may audition for Music Conservatory ensembles.

Grades

The minimum passing grade in a student’s applied music concentration during the first three semesters of study is C-. Students who receive less than a C- in either component of applied study (lessons or jury) must repeat the entire course.

Beginning with the fourth semester and continuing through the final semester of required applied study, the minimum passing grade is B-. Students who receive less than a B- in any component of applied study (lessons, jury, or recital) must repeat the entire course.

Refer to the relevant program page for additional minimum grade requirements.

Performance classes and performance attendance

Regular performance opportunities in program-area performance classes, masterclasses with guest artists, juries, and degree recitals provide students with experience and poise in public performance. Performance classes expose students to a wide range of repertoire, develop critical listening skills, and address topics related to physical and mental wellbeing and effective practice strategies.

Attendance is required of all students in the Music Conservatory each semester as a prerequisite for graduation.

The lower and upper divisions

Undergraduate study in the Music Conservatory is organized into lower and upper divisions.

Lower Division

The first two years of study (first-year and sophomore) provide a broad foundation in music and orientation to the major field. All degree programs include a common core consisting of two-year sequences in musicianship (written, aural, and keyboard skills) and music history.

At the conclusion of the fourth semester (or the equivalent for transfer students), each student undergoes an intradepartmental review to verify that all first- and second-year course requirements have been completed satisfactorily.

Upper Division

The final two years of study (junior and senior) focus more intensively on the student’s field of specialization. Pending successful completion of the fourth-semester review, students are admitted to the upper division. During this stage of study, junior and senior recitals are presented and advanced coursework is completed, including a capstone project where applicable.