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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.