Conservatory

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Conservatory

Frequently Asked Questions

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Expand the topics below for details regarding the Division of Theatre's COVID-19 Accommodations

The department has decided to produce a series of small shows as part of a festival during the fall.  Each show will have the capability of being done in a safe manner, socially distanced.  Actor and audience will not be within 12' of each other.  Technical personnel will be safe and secure as well. Scripts are being read and chosen to ensure the text complies with social distancing.  Decisions regarding spring production will be made as we gain more information.

All acting classes will be treated as hybrid courses.  They will meet both in person and online with the option of students participating from home online.  Students will also meet individually with faculty as needed.

The majority of theatre classes will be treated as hybrid courses, meeting both online and in person.  Each faculty member will treat this in a slightly different manner.  We encourage you to reach out directly to your faculty member to discuss their approach.  Masks will be worn in all theatre classes.  Students have the option to have accommodations made if they are unable to come to class for in person instruction.

At this time, all theatre auditions will be conducted digitally.

We will make every good faith effort to secure both in person and digital rights to each script.  Should a situation occur where we cannot have a live audience, we will move to present the shows in a streaming format to the best of our ability.

Each area has been evaluated so that we can keep proper social distancing.  No area will be allowed to exceed that number.  Students will be required to wear a mask.  Cleaning and disinfecting supplies will be readily available.   We continue to develop policies for shared tools and supplies.  Work calls will be modified to allow for more breaks 

The theatre department will make temperature checks prior to each rehearsal.  Rehearsal studios will not exceed the recommended number for social distancing.  All personnel will be required to wear a mask except for the actor "on stage" in the scene.  Even then, we will encourage mask usage. Students will be encouraged to bring a water bottle, as no water fountains will be available.  Cleaning and disinfecting supplies will be readily available. Backstage crew members will be limited, and students will wear masks and practice social distancing. Breaks during rehearsals will be longer to allow for sanitizing high touch surfaces.

Expand the topics below for details regarding COVID-19 Accommodations for the Division of Dance

As of right now, Ballet and Modern Technique classes will be split into 2 studios: Studio A will have the instructor and musician along with a maximum of 10 dancers. Studio B will have a maximum of 10 dancers and view a synchronous live feed from studio A. For these classes, students will line up 6 feet apart at the north entrance on the 1st floor. Their temperature will be taken and logged as they enter one at a time, proceeding directly to their assigned studio. Floors will be marked for safe social distancing during class. There will be no use of the dressing rooms and only 1 in the restrooms at a time. Dancers will enter through one door and exit through another in all studios and must exit the building immediately after each class.

Dance History, Dance Science and Kinesiology, Production, Modern Rep, Partnering, Pas de deux, and Capstone projects will all be delivered online. When students need to be in the studio for their course work, the Dance Division is requiring social distancing in the dance studio and limiting the number of in person participants to 10 persons per room including the instructor and the accompanist.

The dance faculty is contemplating having seniors present their group works at the Faculty Fall Concert November 12, 13, 14 and if needed present their solos via live stream or video in February. We are also looking into alternative performance venues and controlling the number of audience members at performances so that the only people allowed in the theater would be that student’s family and a few friends and audience members. We will empty the theater and repeat the process with each student.

Expand the topics below for details regarding COVID-19 Accommodations for the Division of Music Performance and Division of Music Studies

Yes, UMKC will offer in-person applied study following guidelines set by the city, state, and university regarding safe instructional practices.

We have prepared all of our courses, including applied study, to work in three scenarios:

  1. In-person
  2. A hybrid of online and in-person
  3. Completely online.
We understand individuals may wish to have lessons online due to health concerns, and we are prepared to be flexible in delivery of instruction.

Yes, although this experience will have a new look and feel.

We will be divided into smaller groups of performers, masks, shields, plexiglass, and distance to help keep us all safe. We will also utilize a flexible format for rehearsals and any possible performances in order to provide a safer environment.

An online option for ensembles will be available for students who do not feel comfortable attending in person.

Yes, the chamber music experience will continue with an emphasis on safety.

Small groups of students, meeting in large enough spaces to allow for proper distancing, along with a flexible approach to scheduling will allow us to provide a high-quality chamber music experience.

Yes, the current plan is to divide classes into cohorts that will be attended in person for at least one of the regularly scheduled meeting times each week.

For example, in a music history class of 15 students that meets twice a week, 7 students may come on the first class meeting of the week, and 8 on the second class of the week. Each class will also be recorded and placed on Canvas so students can watch them later if they are uncomfortable or unable to attend. This approach will allow students to enjoy some face-to-face meetings with their instructors, since they will be socially distanced in classrooms.

Yes, we will continue to provide space and time in White and Grant Recital Halls for student recitals. Guidelines for performances will follow the current COVID policies set by the city, state, and university. Audiences will also follow up-to-date policies for attendance.

We have canceled the planned performance of Albert Herring for the fall semester. We have decided instead to perform two evenings of opera in its place. Both evenings are designed around the theme of Shakespeare: one evening will feature operatic arias and duets, the other will showcase art songs. Auditions and any performances are prepared to be either live or online, depending on the current COVID-19 climate.

Yes, we have worked over the summer to prepare all Conservatory classes for three possible scenarios:

  1. In-person instruction
  2. A hybrid of online and in-person
  3. Completely online.
You will be able to have a complete course load online, and we will work to meet your concerns and needs regarding your study at UMKC.

Please consult the university’s official COVID-19 page for information about financial implications and procedures: https://www.umkc.edu/news/coronavirus.html.

As long as the buildings are open, we will make practice rooms available for student use. University-provided cleaning supplies will be available, and social-distancing guidelines will be followed. Students are encouraged to clean keyboards, music stands, light switches, and door handles both before and after their practice session.

Yes, the University allows for current students to apply for a leave of up to one year and entering students can apply for up to a year of deferment. You are strongly encouraged to speak with your Conservatory advisor before making your application for either of these opportunities.

Conservatory policy allows us to hold scholarship for current Conservatory students for up to one academic year, on a student-to-student basis. Decisions are based on current Conservatory needs with regard to a balanced enrollment.

Scholarships for incoming students will not be deferred, but incoming students who defer admission will be re-considered for scholarship when they do enroll. 

Undergraduate

The Welcome Center offers prospective undergraduate students several ways to visit.

  • Full-day Roo Visits
  • Half-day Senior Preview Days for current high school seniors
  • Half-day Junior Sneak Peak Days for current high school juniors

All group visits provide information about UMKC student life, a campus tour and a Conservatory presentation on degree plans, application process, auditions and scholarships. During Roo Visits from September through April, we encourage students to visit a rehearsal of a Conservatory ensemble.


Transfer 

The Welcome Center offers 1:1 Transfer Consultations for prospective transfer students.

Graduate

Prospective graduate students may directly contact a faculty member in their desired degree area to arrange a meeting. Conservatory Admissions is happy to meet with any graduate applicants who have questions about the application, audition or scholarship process. Please contact us — with two weeks' notice — to request a visit.

If you are unavailable for an official visit day, we may be able to schedule an individual appointment for you. Please give us two weeks' notice before your visit.

Individual appointments last about 30-45 minutes and focus on Conservatory degree programs, application process, auditions and scholarships, but do not include a campus tour. Campus tours may be scheduled separately through the Welcome Center.

Please contact Conservatory faculty members directly.

Appointments with our academic advisors are available for current Conservatory students only. For questions about degree programs, transfer credits and enrollment, please contact Conservatory Admissions.

It's a big job being an internationally recognized center for artistic excellence and innovation. As such, our faculty and staff have busy schedules. We prefer that you contact us at least two weeks ahead of time so that we can plan to engage with you during your visit. However, you are welcome to walk around the buildings and get a feel for life at the Conservatory. It's a happening place!

We provide information about planning your visit on our Admissions page.

We offer undergraduate and graduate degrees in several areas of study.

We do not offer minors in Music or Dance. We do offer a Theatre minor.

Conservatory students may complete two degrees concurrently. The most common double-major combination is bachelor's degrees in Performance and Music Education, but other combinations of majors are possible. Pursuing a double major will likely add time to your degree plan — students who double major typically take more than four years to graduate.

If you are interested in pursuing a Conservatory area and a degree in another area, the Conservatory degree must be your home degree. For students interested in a double major, we recommend looking into our Bachelor of Arts in Music, which has non-music course requirements and can be a good fit with a non-Conservatory degree. Completion of a double major will typically take longer than four years.

For transfer students with at least 24 transferable credits, completion of a Conservatory degree will typically take three years. For incoming freshmen with dual credit or AP/IB credit, completion of a Conservatory degree will typically take four years.

We do not currently have a musical theater program.

Instructions and a link to the application are on our Admissions page.

The Conservatory does not require a supplemental application. All application materials can be submitted to the UMKC Application. If you applied using the Common App, you will need to complete additional materials through the UMKC Application.

You select your audition date on your application.

A live audition is the best way for our faculty to assess your abilities. However, under some circumstances we allow a video audition. Information about auditions is available on the Auditions page.

Upon completion of your application, you will receive a confirmation email. Approximately four weeks before your audition date, you will receive confirmation of your audition time. Contact Conservatory Admissions for questions about your application and audition status.

All admissions decisions are made after the final audition date of the year, typically the first Friday in March. Letters of acceptance, waitlist and denial are sent mid-March.

The UMKC application fee is $45 for domestic applicants and $75 for international applicants. This fee is paid directly to the University.

Domestic Applicants

Transcripts are considered official if they are received in a sealed envelope or sent electronically to the Office of Admissions through Parchment, National Student Clearing House, SCOIR or eScrip-Safe.

Send by mail to:
UMKC Office of Admissions
Administrative Center
5115 Oak St., Room 120
Kansas City, MO 64112


Send by secured email to: umkc-admtranscript@umkc.edu

Please do not send transcripts directly to the Conservatory.

International Applicants

Upload PDFs of your transcripts, test scores and other supplemental documents to your application.

Please do not send transcripts directly to the Conservatory.

We may still be able to take your application. Contact Conservatory Admissions.

Most programs do not start new students in the spring semester, but exceptions can be made in certain cases and if there is space in your desired program. If you are interested in a spring start date, please contact Conservatory Admissions. The deadline for the spring application is November 1. We are typically unable to offer scholarships to students starting in the spring semester.

You may apply for multiple degree programs. We recommend that you limit your choices to programs in which you feel you can be highly successful. Our current application does not support multiple degree programs, so if you would like to apply for another degree program, please contact Conservatory Admissions by phone at 816-235-2932 or email so we can open an additional application for you to complete. You will not need to pay an additional application fee or submit additional transcripts.

The instruments you list on the application are the instruments for which we will be scheduling you an audition. We ask that you list only the instrument or instruments in which you are most proficient, and on which you would like to audition. If you are highly proficient in more than one area, you are welcome to audition in more than one. However, it is not common for a student to audition on three or more instruments, or voice types. Most students who audition in two areas will select only one in which to begin their program of study.

We provide suggested audition repertoire.

The application for the summer master's of Music Education is the same as the full-time master's program.  An audition for this degree program is not required — select "N/A" for your audition date. You are required to interview with our Music Education faculty. We will contact you to schedule the interview.


To be eligible for this degree program, you must have completed a undergraduate degree in music education with a minimum 3.0 GPA.

We do not require GRE or GMAT test scores for our graduate applications.

Conservatory scholarships are offered based on academic merit such as ACT/SAT test scores and class rank and the strength of your application and audition, if required. They vary in size and number from year to year, based on factors such as the size of our applicant pool and the requirements of each studio.

If you are offered a Conservatory scholarship, a letter with details about your offer will be emailed to you by the first week of April. If you have not been awarded a Conservatory scholarship, you will not receive a scholarship offer letter. The Conservatory does not send notifications by postal mail.

Scholarships are renewable each year for students who maintain a GPA of at least 3.0 and make satisfactory progress on their designated degree map.

Undergraduate students may enroll in classes after they have completed orientation.

Graduate students will receive information about orientation from our graduate advisor.

You will not be required to live on campus, but there are residence halls for those who would like to.

UMKC has a wonderful Division I sports program but does not have a football team, so we do not have a marching band.

The Conservatory offers a number of courses for all UMKC students. Contact Conservatory Admissions for a complete list.

Auditions for ensembles are held in August and are open to all UMKC students. We have had many students of all different majors perform with us, but we cannot guarantee space to non-Conservatory students.

Our degree programs are designed for students who are already highly proficient as instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers. However, our Academy offers private, non-credit lessons and classes for many instruments and areas of study to students and community members of all ages and ability levels.