Covid-19 Response and Restart Updates and Information
(Updated August 27, 2020)
Department of Music Returning Student Town Hall
As the responses and solutions to situations to the novel coronavirus are ever changing, the Wayne State University Department of Music is working to answer questions and to keep our community of students, faculty and staff informed with up-to-date information. We will continually update this page with new information as it is made available. If you are a student, faculty or staff at WSU, please check your WSU email address frequently for updates as well as refer to the College of Fine, Performing and Communications Art's Covid-19 Resource page and Wayne State University's Covid-19 Response site.
Department of Music Safety Plan and Policies
We are looking forward to your return to Wayne State University this fall. Since March 2020, the university and music department has developed various ways of assuring your safety and minimizing health risks during this ongoing pandemic. They include various instructional delivery modes, a significant increase in fresh air throughout Old Main, required daily screenings and procedures for entering and exiting the classrooms and rehearsal spaces.
The Dean of Students have sent to all students the university's plans to maintain a safe environment during the pandemic. The information can be found here.
Before coming to campus, it is required to complete the "Be Warrior Safe" training which provides an overview of COVID-19 and a guide to staying safe on campus; and fill out the mandatory "Campus Daily Screener" beginning 48 hours before your return and each day before coming to campus. Students, faculty and staff must to stay home if they are sick.
All must wear their masks while on campus. The Dean of Students Office will be providing students with a "Warrior Safe is Warrior Strong" swag bag which will conclude WSU face coverings.
Rehearsal and Classroom Spaces in Old Main
There will be hand sanitizing liquid at the entrance of the rehearsal rooms and classrooms. All must sanitize hands before entering and before exiting the spaces.
If you have classes or rehearsals on campus, you will notice the room capacities have been reduced. This is because we are following the social distancing guidelines developed by CDC and mandated by the university to maintain at least six feet from each other. Music stands may not be shared. Students will have to bring their own portable music stands with them to rehearsal. The department will have a few to loan students and will make them available until all have been distributed. Pianists will be required to wipe down the piano keys before and after rehearsals and classes, and students who use WSU amplifiers must wipe down the controls with university issued disinfectant wipes. The department will be purchasing a supply of wind defenders for flute players, bell covers and instrument covers for clarinets (and oboes) for student use. Sheet music will be scanned and sent to the students as a digital file. Each student will need to print his/her music and bring it with them to rehearsals.
Method of Instruction
On the Fall 2020 Schedule of Music Classes and Rehearsals, you will find information pertinent to the academic activities for the upcoming semester. In addition to the course numbers, titles, instructors and credit hours is an instructional mode for each activity:
WEB: All instruction will be online
Hybrid: Students are occasionally expected to be on campus for face-to-face instruction, but also complete online work through distance education (WEB).
Remote/synchronous: Students must log in at a specific time for online/remote instruction.
ENSEMBLES
Jazz Big Band, Jazz Guitar Ensemble (I, II), Jazz Combos/Jazztet Opera Workshop and Electronic Music Ensemble will rehearse on campus during the scheduled times. Occasionally, students will be assigned activities which will replace on campus rehearsals. Chamber Music/Chamber Winds will be remote/synchronous. Wind Symphony, Concert Band, University Orchestra, Concert Chorale and Choral Union will also be remote/synchronous, which means they the students will log in at a specific time for online/remote instruction. Final projects for these ensembles will range from live streamed or previously recorded streamed performances to audio recordings of some of the semester's rehearsal highlights.
Click Fall 2020 Ensemble Information for a brief overview of each ensemble's semester plan provided by each ensemble director.
PIANO CLASS/PIANO SKILLS
The sections of Piano Skills I taught by Gail Gebhart and Dr. Ann Marie Koukios will be remote/synchronous. Dr. Stanley Waldon will teach their piano classes on campus at the times listed in the schedule of classes.
MUSIC THEORY/COMPOSITION
All of the music theory and composition courses [MUT], including Jazz Studies specific courses will be taught remote/synchronous, which will require students to long in at the specific times scheduled. The Ear Training course taught by Dr. Koukios (I, III) and Dr. Braunschweig (III) will be taught remote/synchronous. Stephanie Yu's section of Ear Training I will be taught as a WEB course and Vincent Chandler's Jazz Improvisation course will be taught as a WEB course. "Arranged" courses are scheduled in consultation with the instructor.
MUSIC HISTORY
The following music history courses will be entirely online:
- Music Appreciation: World Music
- History of Rock and Roll
- Music Appreciation: Beginnings to the Present
- Music History and Literature 3
- Jazz History
Music History 1 and Diction & Song Literature 1 will be remote/synchronous. Both American Music and Music Research will be hybrid, requiring a combination of face-to-face and online activities.
MUSIC BUSINESS
With the exception of arranged internships, the Music Business classes are remote/synchronous.
MUSIC EDUCATION
Introduction to Music Education, Vocal Music in the Schools 1, Instrumental Music in the Schools 1 and Voice Techniques and Pedagogy are remote/synchronous. Music Education practicum and student teaching are arranged. Brasswind Techniques and Pedagogy is a WEB course; and Pedagogy and String Techniques and Pedagogy is hybrid, occasionally requiring on campus activities. Please consult your teachers for additional information.
MUSIC TECHNOLOGY
The Music Technology Fall 2020 offerings include courses which are entirely remote/synchronous, such as Music Technology, Music Technology: Senior Project, which is a WEB course, and several courses which are hybrid (Electronic Music Synthesis) and a combination of WEB or remote/synchronous with arranged studio times. Consult the teachers and the Fall 2020 Schedule of Music Classes and Rehearsals for additional information.
APPLIED LESSONS/RECITALS/B.A. PROJECTS
This term, most private (applied) lessons will be either remote or face-to-face. Consult your private instruction to determine what works best for you. The faculty is still exploring the different ways which students may perform their degree recitals or complete their BA projects. This information will be made early in the Fall term.
MISCELLANEOUS
General Lectures and Concerts will be taught as a WEB course. Guitar Class and Conducting Techniques 1 will be remote/synchronous.