Lesson Levels

There are three levels of private performance instruction.

200-level

For students playing at a beginner to intermediate level or with limited time to practice. One hour or one-half hour lessons, credit/no-credit (pass-fail), ½ or 1 credit hour. No jury, but optional performance opportunities will be available. Individual instructors may, as they wish, set definite performance requirements for their students. A limited number of scholarships may be possible, as funding permits, but normally students at this level should expect to pay for their lessons.

300-level

Advanced performance, for students working at the level of a music major, though not necessarily majoring in music. Prerequisite: at least one semester of 200-level study and a successful audition. Normally auditions take place during fall or spring juries; if this is not possible, students audition at the beginning of the semester. One hour lessons, graded, 2 credit hours. Students at this level should make a time-commitment to practicing appropriate for major-level study. We suggest a norm of at least 6 hours/week, though individual performance instructors may set a different (lower or higher) expectation of practice time as appropriate. Students play a jury at the end of the semester. Students at this level are often on scholarship, but scholarship support is always contingent on availability of funds.

400-level

Honors performance, to be taken for two semesters, by fourth year students preparing a senior recital or, in cases of unusual ability, by students preparing a full recital to be given before their fourth year. Prerequisite: 300-level study, successful written application in the semester before enrolling, and a successful audition (to be included in juries) at the end of the semester before applying. One hour lessons, graded, 2 credits. Jury at the end of the first semester, recital near the end of the second semester. Students are normally on scholarship, but scholarship support is always contigent on availability of funds.