The Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University

Large ensembles, which include the Peabody Symphony and Concert Orchestras, Wind Ensemble, Jazz Orchestra, and the Peabody-Hopkins Chorus and Singers, are graded using the same letter grading system as classroom courses. Large ensemble grades are based primarily on the following four factors:

• Performance and preparation
• Contribution to the ensemble
• Cooperation and professionalism
• Attendance

Attendance alone does not determine the final grade, but does determine a student's maximum attainable grade before other factors are considered.

Unexcused absences or lateness to ensemble services will cause a student to accrue grade reduction points as indicated below:

1 point	Late to a regular rehearsal
3 points	Absent from a regular rehearsal
2 points	Late to the last rehearsal before a dress rehearsal
4 points	Absent from the last rehearsal before a dress rehearsal
3 points	Late to a dress rehearsal
6 points	Absent from a dress rehearsal
2 points	Late to a composition reading
6 points	Absent from a composition reading
2 points	Late to a combined orchestra/chorus rehearsal
4 points	Absent from a combined orchestra/chorus rehearsal
3 points	Late to a recording session
6 points	Absent from a recording session
4 points	Late to a performance call
8 points	Absent from a performance

Based on the total number of grade reduction points accumulated during a semester, a student's maximum attainable grade before other factors are considered will be as follows:

0-3 points	A
4 points	A-
5 points	B+
6 points	B
7 points	B-
8 points	C+
9 points	C
10 points	C-
11 or 12 points	D
13 or more points	F

At the discretion of the ensemble's manager, the following factors may also have an effect on the student's grade or the amount of credit received:
 

• Being granted three or more excused absences or latenesses within a semester.
• Being released from a program for any reason.
• Failure to take the mandatory ensemble placement audition scheduled at the beginning of the school year, or failure to schedule and take a make-up audition in a timely manner.
• Arriving at a concert dressed inappropriately.

Any student who misses a dress rehearsal, or who misses a week or more of rehearsals in preparation for a program, may also be removed from the concert at the ensemble manager's or the conductor's discretion. Also, any student who misses a dress rehearsal or a concert may be expelled from the ensemble for the remainder of the semester. Willful neglect of ensemble responsibilities may also subject a student to expulsion from the ensemble.

Many of the large ensembles will have occasional rehearsals that fall outside of the ensemble's regular rehearsal days and times. These out-of-sequence rehearsals are usually very critical rehearsals, such as dress rehearsals or combined orchestra/chorus rehearsals. All out-of-sequence rehearsals are in the schedule from the very beginning of the school year and students are expected to make note of them and plan to attend them. Because of the importance of these rehearsals, students are excused from their regular classes during these times to allow them to attend these rehearsals. This is communicated to all affected faculty members by memos from the Dean of the Conservatory.

Ensemble members arriving at rehearsal after tuning has begun - or, in the case of choral ensembles, after warm-up has begun - will be marked late. Leaving a rehearsal prior to its scheduled completion is considered the same as being late in terms of the grade reduction points assessed.

To request permission to be excused from a large ensemble rehearsal or performance, or to be excused from being late or leaving early, students are required to fill out and submit an Excuse Request Form. Paper versions of the form have been discontinued. These requests are reviewed by the manager of the ensemble who will either approve or deny the request. Any absences or lateness not documented by an approved Excuse Request Form will be considered unexcused. Forms submitted later than a week following the date of the absence or lateness will not be approved.

In accordance with Conservatory policy, absence or lateness due to schedule conflicts with classes or private lessons are not excused. This also applies to make-up lessons. Conservatory faculty are aware of this policy and should not attempt to schedule a lesson that would conflict with your large ensemble rehearsals. It is each student's responsibility to arrange their schedule to avoid conflicts with ensemble services. It is particularly important that students schedule their recitals so as to ensure that no conflicts are created with any ensemble rehearsal or performance, as no excuse requests will be approved under these circumstances.