The Conservatory offers private applied lessons on piano, organ, guitar, voice, woodwind, brass, percussion, and string instruments. Enrollment for lessons, for both Majors and Minors, in any applied studio requires:
- Attendance and performance at studio classes
- Attendance at the Friday Now Hear This! Recital Hour
- Attendance at a specified number of Conservatory-approved music events each semester and each academic year (See the Recital Attendance Policy. A list of approved events is emailed to students each semester.)
Registration for all applied music lessons is handled only through the private applied instructor and is completed during the first week of classes in each term. Students are responsible for ensuring they are registered correctly and should check their registration status in the Student Center at the conclusion of the drop/add period. Bring any discrepancies to the attention of the appropriate applied instructor.
Elective private study for non-music majors is available on a space-available basis and encouraged for non-major participants in ensembles.
Note: Music majors and minors taking lessons who have not declared a music major/minor through the Office of the Registrar by the end of the drop-add period of the given semester will be charged for lessons.
Credit is offered at four levels as follows:
Music Majors pursuing BA degrees
Weekly one-hour lessons, daily minimum two hours practice expectation, and attendance at Studio classes, Now Hear This!, and recital attendance. The registration is at the 200-level (ex: MUSIC 227xx_yy). Students perform a jury at the end of each semester with the exception of the semester in which they are completing the BA capstone. Music minors on Wagnild scholarships follow the applied study guidelines for BA majors. See below (minors) for more information. Four semesters of applied lessons will accrue into one full Gettysburg course credit.
For Music Majors pursuing Music Education degrees (BME)
Weekly one-hour lessons on the principal instrument/voice, daily minimum two hours practice expectation, and attendance at Studio classes, Now Hear This!, and recital attendance. The registration is at the 200 level (ex: MUSIC 227xx _yy). Students perform a jury at the end of each semester, with the exception of the semester in which they are performing a degree recital. Lessons for BME students count toward their 36 required courses for graduation.
Music Education degree students are also allowed to elect up to four semesters of private lessons on a secondary instrument at no charge on a space available basis. Lessons taken beyond the fourth semester will be billed to the student’s account by the Financial Services office. Lessons will be weekly, one-half hour, daily minimum one-hour practice expectation. Registration is at the 100 level (ex: MUS127xx_yy). No formal jury is required for secondary study.
For Music Majors pursuing the BM degree
Weekly one-hour lessons, daily minimum three to four hours practice expectation, attendance at Studio classes, Now Hear This!, and recital attendance. Students register each semester for Performance Studies (MUSIC 157, 158, 257, 258, 357, 358, 457, 458; ex: MUSIC 157yy), which includes the private lesson, participation in chamber music and the appropriate major ensemble, and the scheduled events. Lessons for BM students are full Gettysburg courses and count toward their 36 required courses for graduation.
For Minor, secondary instrument, and non-major study
Weekly half-hour lessons, daily minimum one to two hours practice expectation, and attendance at studio classes. The registration is at the 100-level (ex: MUSIC 127xx_yy). Music minors will perform a jury at the end of their 4th semester of study. Four semesters of applied lessons will accrue into one full Gettysburg course credit.
- Any music minor who is the recipient of a Wagnild scholarship follow the same guidelines for BA music majors. They will receive a weekly one-hour lesson on the principal instrument/voice and will register for applied lessons every semester in residence. They will perform a jury each semester. Music minors on Wagnild scholarships register for applied lessons at the 200 level (MUSIC 2xx_yy).
- Non-majors will pay a fee per semester for lessons. Lesson fees are set by the Financial Services office.
- The College has a limited supply of instruments for non-major use.