Private Instruction
Students in all Bachelor of Music degree programs are required to take Applied Music/Private Instruction courses each semester in residence on their declared instrument or voice (typically 8 semesters for first-time students and 4 semesters for transfer students).
Students in the Composition degree program will take 6 semesters in applied instrumental/voice private instruction and 6 semesters in composition private instruction.
Applied Music/Private Instruction courses are optional in the Bachelor of Arts degree programs.
The department funds:
- 60-minute sessions for BM students (Applied Music, MUS 147/MUS 447)
- 45-minute sessions for BA Music students (Private Instruction, MUS 133/MUS 443 and MUS 143/MUS 443).
Practice Expectations for Private Instruction Courses
- 3+ hours daily for students in the BM Performance and Jazz Studies concentrations
- 1–2 hours daily for students in the BM Music Teacher Preparation concentrations
- 1 hour daily for students in the BA programs
Grading Criteria
Faculty provide clear evaluation and grading criteria in their course syllabus, and shall assign a weekly grade. Faculty are responsible for providing students with a progress report. While the criteria for evaluating private instruction sessions is at the discretion of the instructor, the typical breakdown is as follows:
- 75% (attendance, preparation, progress, practice, as prescribed in the instructor’s syllabus)
- 25% End-of-Semester Jury Evaluation (students taking applied lessons are required to pass an adjudicated jury performance each semester)
Four-Year Curriculum of Lesson Repertoire, suggested repertoire includes year by year.
A list of Applied Music/Private Instruction courses can be found on the Fall Private Instruction and Spring Private Instruction pages.
Contact Brooke Tester in the music department office for a permission code to add private instruction courses.