Applied Study

Felix Hell Laura BaldasarreThe Conservatory offers private lessons on piano, organ, guitar, voice, woodwind and brass instruments, percussion, and string instruments. Registration for all applied music lessons is processed through the Sunderman Conservatory Office. Elective private study for non-music majors is available on a space-available basis and encouraged for non-major participants in ensembles.

Credit is offered at four levels:

Music Majors Pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music

  • Weekly one-hour lessons, daily minimum two-hour practice expectation.
  • The registration is at the 200-level. Students perform a jury at the end of each semester with the exception of the semester in which they are completing the BA capstone.
  • In the sixth (6th) semester of study on the principal instrument/voice, students should register for MUS 331: Advanced Applied Music for Music Majors, which earns a full course credit.

Music Majors Pursuing a Bachelor of Music Education

  • Weekly one-hour lessons on the principal instrument/voice, daily minimum two-hour practice expectation.
  • The registration is at the 200 level. Students perform a jury at the end of each semester with the exception of the semester in which they are performing a degree recital.
  • BS students may choose to register for MUS 331 as an elective credit during their sixth (6th) semester of study on the principal instrument/voice. BS degree students are also allowed to elect up to 4 terms of private lessons on a secondary instrument at no charge on a space available basis. Lessons will be weekly, one-half hour, daily minimum one-hour practice expectation. Registration is at the 100 level. No jury is required for secondary study.

Music Majors Pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance

  • Weekly one-hour lessons, daily minimum three-hour practice expectation, attendance at scheduled Performance Studies events.
  • Students register each semester for Performance Studies (MUS 157, 158, 257, 258, 357, 358, 457, 458), which includes the private lesson, participation in chamber music and the appropriate major ensemble, and the scheduled events.
  • Enrollment for lessons in any applied studio assumes required attendance at the Friday Afternoon Recital Hour, Now Hear This!, attendance and performance at studio classes, and at a specified number of Conservatory-approved music events (see Recital Attendance Policy).

Minor, Secondary Instrument, and Non-Major Study

  • Weekly half-hour lessons, daily minimum one-hour practice expectation and attendance at studio classes.
  • The registration is at the 100-level; in the fourth (4th) semester of study on the same instrument/voice students should register for MUS 231: Advanced Applied Music, which gives a full course credit and culminates with a jury.
  • Any music minor who is the recipient of a Wagnild scholarship will receive a weekly one-hour lesson on the principal instrument/voice and is required to play a jury at the end of the semester.