From: Jones, Dena K
Sent: Monday, October 16, 2006 9:58 PM
To: Noelia Celeste Escalzo
Cc: Valles, Leticia; Ross, David
Subject: RE: From Cordoba, Argentina

Dear Noalia,

I am so happy to hear from you. As you know my name is Dr. Dena Kay Jones, Piano Area Coordinator, and I received your email saying that you are interested in our graduate programs here at the University of Texas in El Paso. I'm honored to describe our program to you and thought I’d take this opportunity to introduce myself and tell you about what we do here at UTEP.

Currently for pianists, we offer both undergraduate and graduate degrees. At the undergraduate level, we offer piano performance, piano pedagogy (also a performance degree, but it focuses more on private teaching and the business of music in addition to performing), and music education (certification for public school teaching) with piano as primary instrument. We also offer the piano performance degree and music education with piano as a primary instrument at the Master of Music level. All of these degrees focus on applied lessons and piano performance, music history and theory courses, pedagogy courses and written scholarly work. In the Piano Area at the moment, we have two piano students at the Master’s level and approximately twenty undergraduate piano majors. One of our Master’s candidates held a graduate teaching assistantship, which this past year was supported by a very large stipend. I don’t know when you might be interested in attending our school, but there are financial assistance possibilities here at UTEP. Currently the teaching assistant stipend is around $8,000.00 per year, with most master's candidates completing their degree in two years.

El Paso is a wonderful city. With a professional orchestra, opera company, and outstanding chamber music series, the music and fine arts scene is amazing. There are a lot of small music groups as well, and performance opportunities here are numerous. It is a city which holds a rich piano history, with Tobias Matthay having worked with one of El Paso’s most successful piano teachers. There is a strong pedagogical sense throughout the city in regard to music education and performance.

UTEP (the University of Texas at El Paso) is a diverse and active university. Located right on the border with Juárez, México, the student body incorporates many students who cross the border daily to attend school. Spanish and English are equally heard in every part of the campus, and this rich cultural identity influences the food, music, art and society. The music building houses a 450-seat performance hall, many practice rooms, and large classrooms. The UTEP campus also has wonderful technological resources and an excellent library for research. Although El Paso is one of the largest bi-national regions in the world, UTEP still has a family feel to it, especially in the Piano Area and the Department of Music. Most guest artists that come to perform and offer master classes mention right away how positive UTEP is. We want our students to be successful musicians and music educators. I personally believe it is a very special place.

Noalia, there are two parts to applying to the music program here at UTEP. One side of things happens through the Admissions Office at the Graduate College. This is the important paperwork process, such as completing an application and submitting all undergraduate transcripts. There is a standardized test for international students, (TOEFL) of which all international students need to take to enter the music program. We also would ask that on the open section of the application that you provide us with a sample of your writing. We invite candidates in music education to compose a Teaching Philosophy (a small essay offering information about your musical journey thus far and where you see yourself going—including philosophical ideas, teaching methodology or specific skills acquired or dreams yet to be fulfilled, etc.). There is no GRE required for the Master of Music at UTEP. I would encourage you to visit the Graduate College’s web site: https://webmail.utep.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.utep.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://academics.utep.edu/Default.aspx?tabid=25001. It is extremely thorough and helpful and may answer many questions for you. You will be able to download many of the applications, but please feel free to contact any of the admissions counselors via email. I have included Leticia Valles (lvalles2@utep.edu) in this communication, as she will be a huge help to you. She can assist you specifically through this process. They can also tell you the costs of attending UTEP as an international student. Again, we will do whatever possible to help cut these costs by scholarships or teaching assistantships. I obviously can not promise anything at the moment, but please know that I will do whatever I can to help you to receive some sort of financial assistance, should you be accepted to our program.

The second side of things happens through the Department of Music. We require an audition, which for the next academic year (2007-2008), will be held on Monday, February 26th, 2007 from 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., and Saturday, March 3rd, 2007 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. If an on-campus audition is impossible, we simply ask you to submit a representational CD, DVD or VHS tape, along with a Curriculum Vitae or Résumé. We’d like to hear at least three complete piano works from varying musical eras. You can send those materials directly to me (Dr. Dena Kay Jones) at:

UTEP Department of Music

500 W. University Ave

436 Fox Fine Arts

El Paso, TX 79968

Once you have submitted all required parts of the application process, we have listened to your CD, and if you are accepted into the program through the Graduate College, you will begin your piano studies at UTEP.

I would also like to invite you to several of our web pages so that you may gain a greater idea about our school and our programs. These addresses are:

http://www.utep.edu/music

http://www.keyboard.utep.edu

http://utminers.utep.edu/dkjones

I would also like to send you some brochures about UTEP and El Paso. If you can please send me your mailing address, I will get those materials out to you right away. I am available to answer any questions as you consider attending UTEP.

We look forward to hearing you and knowing more about your musical path. We’d like to contribute to your continued success in piano.

Sincerely,

Dr. Dena Kay Jones

p.s. I'm attaching a wonderful article about El Paso from the Texas Journey Triple A Motor Club Magazine. You can practice more English by reading it, although Noalia, your English writing skills are excellent. Congratulations!

AAA Motor Club Article, Page 1

AAA Motor Club Article, Page 2

AAA Motor Club Article, Page 3

Dena Kay Jones, D.M.A.

Department of Music

Keyboard Division Coordinator

The University of Texas at El Paso

dkjones@utep.edu

From: Noelia Celeste Escalzo

Sent: Wed 10/11/2006 10:13 AM
To: Ross, David; Jones, Dena K
Subject: From Cordoba, Argentina

Estimated Teacher:

My name is Noelia Celeste Escalzo Robles. I’m from Cordoba, Argentina.

In November I have my graduation of Teacher in Musical Composition and at the end of next year; I have my graduation of Licensed in musical Composition and also of Teacher of piano.

I am studying English. On having finished my studies, I have serious intentions of being going to UTEP to study the Master in Musical Education.

It wanted please the requirements could send me to enter to this university and the costs. I like to begin in the spring of 2008, and all these steps demand time.

It is my intention to grow and to perfect myself in this university, but in the next year I must finish both careers and the Englishman's studies

I study the professorship and the licentiate in the National University of Cordoba, Argentina, and the professorship of piano in the Provincial Conservatoire of Music.

All my life is the study and development in the music.

From already, I am very grateful. I wait for his response.

Attentively. Noelia Celeste Escalzo Robles.