Interested in Taking Music Lessons?
The following information is intended for the incoming freshmen class. For more information about the Music Department and its offerings please contact the department at music@vassar.edu.
The Department of Music at Vassar College offers lessons for both music majors and for non-music-majors in many areas: piano, organ, voice, guitar, harp, percussion, all strings, woodwinds, and brass. All lessons are private and the student meets with the instructor once a week for 50 minutes. There are normally twelve to thirteen lessons per semester. Some studios have performance class at the end of each semester. Music lessons at the college level require self-motivation and daily practice and are to be considered an academic pursuit.
Some studios require auditions in order to take lessons; some do not. Students who wish to study a woodwind, brass, string instrument, or percussion, are encouraged to contact Peg Lockhart, the music department's administrative assistant, during orientation week to make arrangements for an appointment with the pertinent instructor. The department office is Room 105 in Skinner Hall and the phone number is x7319. Because of the large number of students who wish to study voice, piano, and guitar, the department holds scheduled auditions for these at the very beginning of the year.
Voice
Voice lessons entail the study of the bel canto tradition in singing, with a focus predominantly on classical vocal repertoire and technique. Auditions are competitive. Students are encouraged to prepare one classical vocal piece in any language and it should be memorized. Students should bring a copy of the music with piano accompaniment. An accompanist will be provided. Students who do not have a classical piece prepared may also present selections from musical theatre or other musical genres.
Auditions: August 31, 2009, 5pm - 8pm, Skinner Hall.
Piano
Interview-auditions. Prepare two contrasting pieces, preferably short. Interview-auditions tend to be 5-10 minutes long.
Auditions: August 31, 2009, 6pm - 9pm, Skinner Hall, Room 400 in Thekla Hall.
Guitar
Interview-auditions: No specific requirements.
Auditions: August 31, 2009, 5pm - 8pm, Room 325, Skinner Hall
Other instruments
Interested in taking musical instrument lessons? Please see the sign up sheets outside room 105 for all other instruments. Instructor contact information will also be posted.
Fees and Scholarships
Students may take lessons for credit or non-credit. Music lessons are not covered by tuition; they cost an additional $500 per semester. If a student receives any amount of financial aid from Vassar, and elects performance lessons for credit, he/she will be eligible for a music scholarship in one instrument per semester. This scholarship will offset the $500 fee. In order to receive a scholarship, the student must complete an application form which is available in the music department office. Complete the form, obtain the instructor's signature, and return the form to the music office for the department chair's signature. (This must be done for each semester in which a scholarship is received.)
More information about auditions, and information about private lessons, chamber music and opera workshop, will be included in the orientation packet you receive when you arrive on campus in August.