Facilities

About our facilities

The music building, opened in 1980, is an exemplary music facility, recognized for its excellent acoustical design. There are rooms for large ensemble rehearsals, small ensemble rehearsals, a percussion practice room, an instrument repair facility, practice rooms containing pianos, and an outstanding recital hall. Large instruments and lockers for instrument storage are available for rental to students performing in ensembles. Many large ensemble concerts take place in either the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall or the internationally acclaimed Stephens Auditorium. The Music Department houses and maintains an electronic music studio which features a wide range of analog and digital sound synthesis and recording equipment which may be used by students who enroll in composition studies. Additionally there is a computer lab with MIDI and digital audio workstations.

The music building is equipped with over sixty pianos, including twenty-two Steinway grands. A practice wing on the ground floor has grand pianos which are reserved for piano majors and advanced piano students. Beginning and intermediate students study group piano in a modern electronic piano lab. In addition to three practice organs, including two by Lynn Dobson of Lake City, Iowa, there is a three-manual pipe organ built by John Brombaugh in the Recital Hall. The newly-renovated Stanton Memorial Carillon is a well-loved ISU symbol. A practice clavier, similar to the carillon, is located in the Music Hall.


Hours

Building Hours Main Office Hours Main Office Summer Hours
Open from 7 am - 11 pm daily. Monday - Friday: 8 am - 5 pm Monday - Friday: 7:30 am - 4 pm

Policies

  1. Smoking is not permitted in the music building. Consumption of food or beverages is not permitted in the practice rooms, practice modules, recital hall, computer lab, classrooms, or rehearsal halls.
  2. Student Lounge area and Center Foyer (Main Lobby):
    Student groups will be permitted to sell food and/or beverages in these areas. The specific plans for such sales must be approved by the Department Head.
  3. Music majors, with faculty approval, may reserve use of rehearsal and locked classrooms. If the faculty member is not available to unlock/lock the room, they may request that students be allowed to check out a key from the Main Office. Music students who have received such approval may check out a key by leaving an ID.
  4. The Recital Hall has a sophisticated multi-media system. Music department student organizations may request use of the system for special music events with the permission of their faculty adviser and the Department Head. The faculty advisor is responsible for the security of the Recital Hall and the proper operation of the multi-media system. The faculty adviser must supervise the entire event in person and operate the multi-media system. Students will not be issued keys to operate the multi-media system.

Instrument Rental

A limited number of wind and string instruments for use in university ensembles and classes are available. Instruments are issued in Room 216B. Hours of checkout are posted on the instrumental bulletin board. An instrument rental fee is charged to the student's university account. Students assume full responsibility for care and security of the instruments.


Lockers

Lockers are available to students participating in instrumental ensembles. Lockers may also be available to other students studying with Music Department faculty. They can be assigned through the secretary in Room 149. Students should observe the following:

  1. All lockers must be kept locked
  2. Only University locks may be used
  3. Locker reservations must be renewed each semester
  4. A nominal fee is charged to the student's university account for locker rental
  5. Lockers are for student convenience and the department cannot accept responsibility for the contents.

Computer Lab

The department's computer lab (room 52-56) is open during the academic year. A schedule of open hours will be posted at the beginning of each semester. Open hours will depend on funding and student worker availability. The computer lab is funded largely through student computer fees and complies with LAS Computer Advisory Committee (LASCAC) requirements. MIDI work stations with various music software programs are available for student class use. Suggestions and/or questions regarding the computer lab should be directed to Chad Jacobsen.


Music Room 056 Computer Lab Schedule

Fall 2012

Starting 1/27/13

Last Updated 1/24/2013

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
8:00 closed closed closed closed closed closed closed
9:00 closed closed closed closed closed closed closed
10:00 closed open closed open closed open closed
11:00 closed open open open open open closed
12:00 closed open open open open open closed
1:00 closed closed open closed open open closed
2:00 open open open open open open closed
3:00 open closed open closed open open closed
4:00 open open open closed open closed closed
5:00 open open open open open closed closed
6:00 open open open open open closed closed
7:00 open open open open open closed closed
8:00 closed open open open open closed closed
9:00 closed open open open open closed closed
10:00 closed closed closed closed closed closed closed
The Computer Lab will not be open during holiday breaks

Practice Facilities

Practice rooms are available in Music Hall while classes are in session during the following hours:

  • Monday - Sunday  7:00 am to 11:00 pm

When classes are not in session, the building is usually open weekdays from 7:00 am - 5:00 pm For complete information about hours when classes are not in session, check with the Main Office. Students wishing reserved times may sign up in the Department Office beginning the first day of classes each semester. A schedule sheet of reservations is posted on each practice room at the beginning of the semester. Reserved rooms are relinquished if not occupied within 15 minutes of the reserved time. Grand piano practice rooms are locked. Piano majors and other students with permission from the piano faculty may be issued a key for these practice rooms. Use of the carillon, harpsichord, or organ practice rooms and issuance of keys for those rooms requires permission of the instructors. Larry Curry will issue key cards upon approval of appropriate instructors.

Organs/Harpsichords

The department owns four pipe organs: a seven-stop, two-manual tracker-action instrument by Wolff of Quebec and two two-manual mechanical action organs by Lynn Dobson of Lake City, Iowa, one of three stops and one of seventeen stops. A large three-manual tracker organ of John Brombaugh, situated in the Recital Hall, is available to experienced organ students for lessons, accompanying, and performances. A harpsichord is available: a large two-manual instrument by William Dowd. These instruments are available for departmental events provided that the performer is a qualified organist/harpsichordist and that permission has been obtained. Students should contact Tin-Shi Tam for information.


Carillon

Auditorium Reservations

Reservations should be arranged well in advance. The Concert Coordinator makes all reservations for performing facilities and maintains a current calendar of events. This calendar should be checked before selecting any dates. Note: music department students and faculty have first priority for booking rehearsals and performances.

The facility normally scheduled for music student performances is the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall. Other rooms, including Music Hall 102 and 130 or rooms in Memorial Union, may also be used. Music majors desiring the use of an auditorium for recitals and rehearsals for recitals must consult their applied instructors for permission and appropriate dates. It is the responsibility of the music student to have these dates properly recorded by the Concert Coordinator. Any proposed cancellation or change in schedule must be (1) discussed with and approved by the student's applied instructor, and (2) reported immediately to the Concert Coordinator for final clearance.

Use of the Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall for concerts and other outside events requires submission of the Music Facilities Request form available in the main office and permission of the department head. Because of the number of sensitive and costly instruments and equipment in the hall, under no circumstances will outside users be given keys to the Hall without authorized staff present. Facility Rental and Labor fees are charged for any event that is not sponsored by the Department of Music.

Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall Use Fees

May 1, 2012, thru July 31, 2013

The Martha-Ellen Tye Recital Hall is considered one of the premier acoustic environments in the mid-west. The recital hall auditorium has 305 seats and has seating onstage for approximately 75 musicians.

Reservations

  1. Contact the Department of Music at 515-294-3831 to determine available dates.
  2. Secure permission from the Music Hall Facilities Manager Larry Curry .
  3. Submit the Music Facilities Request Form available online or in the Main Office.
  4. Complete and sign the rental agreement form and pay a rental deposit equal to ½ of your program’s rental fee a minimum of 2 weeks in advance of the program. In the event of program cancellation, your account will be charged a $50.00 reservation cancellation fee for the hall.

Hall Usage

The following rules are in effect when requesting use of the Hall

  1. ISU Music Department ensembles, faculty and students have first priority for booking of rehearsal and performance time periods.
  2. The Hall may be reserved for a time period of up to 6 hours for the base fee. Physical move-in, set-up, the event itself, move-out, must all be completed during that block of time. No rehearsal time will be booked for outside events. One house manager, one stage manager and one usher are the minimum number of ISU music department staff required for any event. Additionally, any group using a Department of Music piano on stage will be charged a tuning fee. The fees for labor and piano tuning are in addition to the base rental.
  3. Outside users will not be given keys to the Hall or allowed time in the Hall without authorized staff present.
  4. The recital hall organ is only available for use by outside organizations if it is played by a member of the music department organ staff. There would be a separate fee to be negotiated with the performing faculty artist in addition to the base rental.
  5. Smoking and use of alcohol is prohibited.
  6. Selling any merchandise, food, beverage, or other product is strictly prohibited.

Fees

Base rent:
ISU Music Department Events or co-sponsored events:

  • No charge

ISU Organizations:

  • Free events (no admission charged): $150.00
  • Ticketed events/donations: $300.00

Non-university Organizations and Individuals:

  • Free events (no admission charged): $450.00
  • Ticketed events/donations: $600.00

Hall use fees are for blocks of time up to 6 hours. Blocks of time from 6-9 hours will be charged 170% of the Hall use fee.

Piano tuning fee:

  • $95.00

Labor fees:
Labor fees are charged for any event that is not sponsored by the Department of Music. Labor fees are $20.00 an hour for each stage manager or house manager and $15.00 an hour for each usher or other additional staff person needed. There is a minimum two hour call for the above support staff.

Recording Services
Audio or video recording costs of programs require a separate contract and fee for the Music Department recording studio. Only music department recording studio staff may use the music department recording studio equipment. A Recording Request Form is available online or in the Main Office if you wish recording services. Typical minimum cost for audio and/or video recording a 2 hour program would be $100.00.

Facilities Manager

Inquiries or requests regarding our facilities should be directed to Larry Curry.


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