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 take 6 semesters in applied instrumental/voice private instruction and 6 semesters in composition private instruction. For freshmen: private lessons on your instrument/voice are taken starting the first semester of study and continuing through the end of the junior year. Six units of composition lessons begin during the sophomore year and continue through the final semester of study. For transfer students: private lessons and composition lessons are taken every semester in residence.

Applied Music/Private Instruction courses are optional in the Bachelor of Arts degree programs and are offered at the discretion of the Department of Music.

The department funds:

• 60-minute sessions for BM majors (MUS 147/447)
• 45-minute sessions for BA Music majors (MUS 133/433 – MUS 143/443).

Practice Expectations for Private Instruction Courses

• 3+ hours daily for students in the BM Performance and Jazz Studies concentrations
• 1 to 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.

Contact Brooke Tester in the Department of Music's office for a permission code to add private instruction courses.