Start of School Information

First Class Meeting

After auditions (see "Join"), our first rehearsal will be Tuesday, October 1.  At our first rehearsal, we will:

  • Go over the Syllabus
  • Pass out music and folders
  • Sight read and rehearse a portion of our repertoire
  • Introduce Symphony Officers
  • Get to know other members of the group
  • Answer any logistical questions you might have

Adding the Class

If you are accepted into the ensemble, you should add MU 174-70 (1st and 2nd year students) or MU 374-70 (3rd year and above students). You may take each of these classes 6 times, which corresponds to 4 years signing up each quarter.

If you need a permission number to add the class, please email me.  For instructions on how to add a class (including with a permission number), please see the Registrar's Student Center page.

If your official schedule contains a partial conflict with our rehearsal time (even if you don’t have to go to the other class), you need to fill out a Time Conflict Request Form, available from the Office of the Registrar (Navigate to "Time Conflict Request" on the linked page).  Permission numbers do not work in that case; the form adds the class for you.

Required Materials

If you are accepted into the ensemble, you should make sure you have the right materials!  All members are required to bring the following to every rehearsal:

  • An instrument with all of the necessary accessories (strings, rosin, mute, reeds, swabs, cork grease, valve oil, etc.).  If you do not have your own instrument, please contact the conductor to request a school instrument.
  • A pencil
  • Your music 

Symphony members are also required to wear appropriate concert dress: all black, covering knees and shoulders.  Examples include a black dress, a black suit (black jacket and black shirt), black top and black skirt, black shirt and pants, etc. 

Music Use Fee

A “Music Use Fee” of $20/quarter (or $60/year) enables you to:

  • Use a locker in the music building
  • Use the practice rooms in the music building, with the ability to reserve a specific time (they will lock after auditions)
  • Check out a Music Department instrument for use in the Symphony (with my permission)

If you don’t need any of these things, you do not need to pay the fee.  If you do need any of the above, however, please do the following:

  • Go to your Cal Poly Portal.
  • Select the "Money Matters" tab.  
  • Click on the "Make a Payment Now" button and go to “Music Fees.” 
  • Follow directions to make a payment.
  • A receipt will be emailed to you. Please forward that receipt to music@calpoly.edu and say that you have been accepted into the Symphony.

Lockers

If you have paid the Music Use Fee and have been accepted into the Symphony, you can request a locker in the music building via this Locker Request Form.  Locker check outs should begin on Monday of Week 2.

Practice Rooms

Practice rooms in the Music Building will be open the week before fall quarter classes begin and through the first week for students to prepare for auditions.  After that, they will be locked.  Access after the first week is available as follows:

  • First, successfully audition for a performing ensemble (like Symphony).  I send my roster to the Department Office so they know who is eligible.
  • Then, pay the music use fee!  (see above)
  • Once that is paid and after a little processing time, you can access this Practice Room Sign-up Form.

Instrument Check-out

Students who have paid the Music Use Fee may check out a department instrument for use in Symphony.  Once the fee has been paid, please see me.

Music Department Office

We have two very knowledgeable and capable people who work in our Music Department Office (45-129).  Both can answer logistical questions about lockers, practice rooms, adding a music minor, music classes and their prerequisites, etc., etc.  If you plan on staying active musically while at Cal Poly, go ahead and introduce yourself!

 

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