Dear College Choral Directors,

Please help with 3 short questions.

1. In your experience, how many hours per week does the
top-auditioned/touring ensemble at your school rehearse?

2. How many college credits do students earn for this ensemble each
semester?

3. What is the total full-time enrollment of your institution?


Thank you,
Joseph Testa
Chair, Department of Music
608-663-2259
jtesta(a)edgewood.edu

---

Dear List,

Thanks to all who responded to my original posting! 32 college
directors replied and I arbitrarily broke the information down in the
following way:

Smaller colleges/universities = 650 to 3,000 students (16
responding)
Mid-size colleges/universities = 3,500 to 7,000 (6 responding)
Larger universities = 10,000 to 25,000 (10 responding)

In each category the amount of rehearsal time varied between 2 1/2
hrs to 6 hrs per week.

Smaller college

Rehearsals: 2 1/2 hrs
# of colleges: 1

Rehearsals: 3 hrs
# of colleges: 6

Rehearsals: 4 hrs
# of colleges: 3

Rehearsals: 5 hrs
# of colleges: 5

Rehearsals: 6 hrs
# of colleges: 1


Mid-size college

Rehearsals: 2 1/2 hrs
# of colleges: 2

Rehearsals: 3 hrs
# of colleges: 2

Rehearsals: 4 hrs
# of colleges: 0

Rehearsals: 5 hrs
# of colleges: 5

Rehearsals: 6 hrs
# of colleges: 0


Larger Universities (3 additional times added for this
category)

Rehearsals: 2 1/2 hrs
# of colleges: 1

Rehearsals: 3 hrs
# of colleges: 2

Rehearsals: 3 1/2 hrs
# of colleges: 1

Rehearsals: 4 hrs
# of colleges: 1

Rehearsals: 4 1/2 hrs
# of colleges: 1

Rehearsals: 5 hrs
# of colleges: 2

Rehearsals: 5 1/2 hrs
# of colleges: 1

Rehearsals: 6 hrs
# of colleges: 1


As for credits earned, the vast majority of choirs are taken for
1 credit per semester. There were 5 exceptions: a mid-size university
that allows students to take the course for 1 OR 2 credits (but the same
workload). But within the small college group (with 16 responding), one
school offers 0 credit, two offer 1/2 credit and the final one offers
2/3 credit.

In responding to my post a few offered their own comments --
most, the type one would expect:
"Not nearly enough" [rehearsal time]
"No music major" [the 0 credit school]
"It is never enough time, especially for the select choir"
"They aren't that good" [the result of a 2 1/2 rehearsal
schedule]
"All ensembles earn the same level of credit regardless of
hours met. The price of excellence!"

Thanks again to all who participated.

Sincerely,
Joseph Testa
Chair, Department of Music
Director of Choral Activities
608-663-2259
jtesta(a)edgewood.edu