ELECTIVE INTENSIVE PROGRAM (EIP) 6 CREDITS
This program gives the student the opportunity to undertake an intensive period of study in areas and topics of personal interest. Students choose from class offerings and professional rhythm section style areas. Elective offerings may vary from semester to semester.

This program includes the following courses:

READING PROFICIENCY PROGRAM (1 credit)

RHYTHM SECTION INTENSIVE PERFORMANCE ELECTIVES (2 credits)
Each of the following elective rhythm section classes has an associated private lesson assigned to the student with the instructor of the performance class. The focus of the private work is to prepare for and review the work done in the rhythm section class. All rhythm section classes have professional rhythm section players.
 
 
ELECTIVE INTENSIVES (EIP)

1. Contemporary Jazz
2. Jazz/Funk
3. Pop-Rock
4. Contemporary Afro-Cuban/Fusion
5. Brazilian (winter & summer semesters)
6. Progressive Rock (fall & spring semesters)

COORDINATED PRIVATE STUDY (1 credit)
Each performance style offers private lessons with the teacher for the purposes of preparing and reviewing the student's performance in the rhythm section class.

ELECTIVE CLASS
Students may further personalize their plan of study by choosing from the following list of elective classes. Prerequisites may apply.

1.  MUSIC THEORY / KEYBOARD  MON. 10-12 / weeks 2-10  (Hernandez)
This course links the study of music theory with its practical application on the keyboard. Students apply information studied in class to the piano keyboard. Course topics include scales, chord structures, chord progressions, and song forms.

2.  COMPOSITION / ARRANGING  WED. 10-12/weeks 1-9 (Seiferth)
Students learn to apply basic musical concepts to the writing and arranging of original material. Both live and electronic media are used in this course.

3.  SOLOING / IMPROVISATION  THURS. 10-12/weeks 1-9  (Retzlaff)
Students work on developing their musical spontaneity in within given formal structures and contexts. Soloing and improvisation is studied in a number of important styles and settings.

4.  LIFE SKILLS  WED. 10-12/weeks 1-9  (Petrillo)
There is more to succeeding than how well you play. This course examines the musical and non-musical aspects of a professional musicians career, including pertinent and valuable information such as preparing for auditions, media kits, organizing and recording CD projects, personal organization and time management, finances, and networking strategies, including the internet and MySpace Music sites.

5.  PERSONAL MARKETING AND PROMOTION
This course is designed to help students become self-sufficient in the utilization of contemporary digital tools for the purpose of promoting themselves and their music. Students learn the basics of web, Myspace, and facebook site development and construction and design, using state-of-the-art Adobe Creative Suite software. The goal of the course is for each student to launch there own MySpace or Facebook site, and to understand how to proceed to launch their own web site. 

Individual Study and Practice:

WEEKLY ELECTIVE PRIVATE LESSONS (2 credits)
Students are assigned twenty additional private lessons to study with an individual instructor or series of instructors of their choice.

DAILY INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE TIME (0 credits)
Students are assigned 17 hours per week of individual practice time, with additional hours available at scheduled times throughout the week.

WEEKLY ELECTIVE PRIVATE LESSONS (2 credit)
Students are assigned twenty additional private lessons to study with an individual instructor or series of instructors of their choice.

DAILY INDIVIDUAL PRACTICE TIME (0 credits)
Students are assigned 17 hours per week of individual practice time, with additional hours available at scheduled times throughout the week.