General Information and Policies

Music Building Use
During the academic year, McAlister Conservatory and Pierce Memorial Chapel are open from 6:00 am to midnight. Edman Chapel is open for specific scheduled events only. e Conservatory of Music Office is open Monday-Friday from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Buildings are closed Sundays and holidays.

Authorized Use of the Music Buildings
Students enrolled in music lessons and classes have exclusive priority to use practice rooms and classrooms to fulfill their required practice hours and course requirements. Students are not to use music buildings to teach private lessons, unless such activities fulfill current course requirements.

Practice Room Scheduling
Practice room scheduling is coordinated by student representatives and take place early each semester. Practice rooms may be reserved for the minimum required weekly practice time (see Private Music Lessons). Announcements are made early in the semester regarding practice room scheduling time and location.

Scheduling Events and Reserving Rooms
All events are scheduled by the Conservatory Scheduler using the R25 online program. All reservable rooms are listed on the R25 webviewer (See weblinks at: McAlister and Pierce). Room reservations are made using the downloadable Facilities Request Form (also available in P127 or the Conservatory Office). Schedulers need at least three business days to process requests. Students receive confirmation of their reservations via email.

Campus and Conservatory Calendars
Music events scheduled on R25 are listed on the Music Event Calendar (See weblinks at: Performances and Classes/Rehearsals/Special Events). Additional campus events are available in a downloadable .pdf at: Campus Calendar.

Personal Computers
Beginning Fall, 2007, all incoming music majors will be expected to purchase a Macbook computer for use during their music study at Wheaton. These computer bundles are available at special pricing from the Wheaton College Bookstore, an authorized Apple reseller. For 2007, coursework will assume availability of the Apple iLife family of software, Sibelius Scorch, Finale Notepad and Microsoft Office. Sibelius or Finale music writing software are optional.

Wireless Access
McAlister Conservatory and Pierce Chapel both have wireless access for authorized users. Students are urged to comply with individual faculty requirements regarding the use of wireless devices in the classroom.

Computer Support
Students are strongly urged to purchase Apple Care for their personal computers. In the event a student-owned personal computer requires repairs at an authorized Apple service center, there are Apple computer labs in Pierce 101 and Adams 113 (see the Wheaton College Art Department website). There is also a public access computer in the Conservatory office (McAlister 201) for R25 scheduling inquiries and email.

Music Technology Center (Pierce 101)
A 17-station digital music studio offering beginning and intermediate level students a full array of state-of-the-art software and hardware for digital music editing, MIDI sequencing, aural skills, notation for composing, arranging and professional quality score production, as well as web-based research and scholarship.

Digitial Music Studio (McAlister 135)
A state-of-the-art studio for sound design, composing and arranging comparable to the finest project studios found in major music centers like New York, Nashville and Los Angeles, featuring capabilities for film scoring, digital sound editing, MIDI sequencing offering a wide array of virtual instruments, and sampling featuring the Vienna Symphonic Library.

Media Resources BGC
Other technological tools are available in Media Resources. See the Media Resources Website for more information.