Policies

This section provides an overview of only a few important policies that are key to your academic success. However, students are responsible for familiarizing themselves with all College policies that cover academic matters and student conduct. All College policies can be accessed on the College Policies webpage.

Private Lessons

All students of the MIAP program will take private lessons on a primary instrument/voice during every semester of the program. These lesson take place for half an hour per week for 13 weeks, and then you will perform at a semester-end masterclass on week 14.

During the first year of the program, students must take private lessons on the instrument/voice on which they auditioned. However, students may take private lessons on a different instrument in the second and third years with permission from the program coordinator. Students may need to audition on the new instrument/voice before permission is granted. Students wishing to change the focus of their private lessons must notify the program coordinator by the end of April. It is not possible to switch instruments partway through the year.

Since private lessons are only half an hour long and usually scheduled back to back, it is essential that students show up on time for private lessons. A student’s scheduled half-hour time slot remains the same regardless of when the student shows up. For example, if a student shows up at 10:15am for a 10:00am lesson, that student’s lesson will still end at 10:30am.

Ensemble Rehearsals

All students of the MIAP program will rehearse and perform with a musical ensemble during every semester of the program. The program coordinator will group students into ensembles based on the students’ interests and abilities. Generally, students will be contributing her/his primary instrument/voice to the ensemble; however, students may be asked to play a different instrument and/or sing depending on ability and the needs of the ensemble. Students are not allowed to join more than one ensemble simultaneously unless they are doing so to fulfill specific course and/or academic requirements.

Since showing up late for an ensemble rehearsal affects everyone in the ensemble, it is essential that students show up on time for ensemble rehearsals. Students must notify the instructor in writing prior to the rehearsal if they are going to be late. If a student shows up late for a rehearsal, they will be deducted 2 marks out of 10 on the upcoming Individual Contribution Checkpoint grade.

Since being absent for an ensemble rehearsal affects everyone in the ensemble, it is essential that students show up to ensemble rehearsals. Students must notify the instructor in writing prior to the rehearsal if they are going to be absent. If a student misses a rehearsal, they will be deducted 2 marks out of 10 on the upcoming Individual Contribution Checkpoint grade. If for any reason in a single semester a student misses three consecutive rehearsals, or five rehearsals in total, the ensemble will decide by general consensus whether or not that student should remain in the ensemble. If it is decided that the student is no longer in the ensemble, the student will either drop the course or accept a failing grade since they will no longer be attending rehearsals or performing with the group.

Late Assignments

All assignments must be submitted before, or on the specified date and time as determined by the course instructor. Grades of assignments handed in late will be deducted by 10% per day late. If a student cannot submit an assignment on the due date for any reason, they must notify the appropriate professor in writing at least 24 hours in advance and request an extension giving reasons for the delay. Written documentation may be requested to support claims of illness or death of a family member. If an extension is granted, a new deadline for the assignment will be determined by the instructor and student. If the student does not hand in the assignment by the new deadline, the assignment grade will be deducted by 10% per day late based on the new deadline.

All assignments must be handed in to the instructor by the last scheduled day of class no matter how late they are. If a student hands in an assignment after the last day of the semester (that is, the Friday of the 14th week of the semester), that assignment will not be graded.

Missed Tests

Students should make every effort to attend classes when a test is being given. In the case of a missed test due to exceptional circumstances, the teacher will reschedule a make-up test. A 10% grade reduction will be applied to the make-up test if the original test date is missed for an invalid reason. If the student misses the date and time of a make-up test, a grade of zero will be applied.

A Note About Student Accommodations

MIAP teachers make every effort to accommodate all students regardless of their learning style. If you are someone who has received accommodations in the past due to an IEP (extra time on tests and assignments, etc.), or if you are someone who feels you would benefit from such accommodations, there is a very specific process that you must go through in order to make use of these accommodations. You must be in touch with the Centre for Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) as soon as possible, preferably before you begin your first semester. They will work with you and if you qualify for accommodations, you will be given a document outlining your accommodations that you must email to all of your teachers at the beginning of each semester. Even if you don’t plan on using your accommodations, you should still send this document to your teachers. You and your teacher should then schedule a time to meet and discuss which accommodations you would like to make use of during that course. If you and the instructor decide that you will receive assignment deadline extensions, you will set new assignment deadlines within the first three weeks of class. If you hand in your assignment later than the agreed upon revised deadline, regular grade penalties of 10% per day late will apply.

If the procedures noted above are not properly followed, we may not be able to honour your accommodations. For example, if you notify your teacher the day an assignment is due that you have special accommodations, you will not be granted an extension. If you notify your teacher after lateness penalties have been applied to a past assignment that you have special accommodations, those lateness penalties will not be lifted. You must make a learning plan with your teacher at the beginning of the semester in order to make use of your accommodations.