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Private Music Lessons

Lessons available on most instruments for non-major students and for music majors studying an additional instrument.


Private lessons on most instruments are available for non-major students and for music majors seeking study on a secondary instrument. Lessons are intended for students with prior experience. The School of Music does not offer lessons for beginners.

If interested in enrolling in private lessons, students should:

  • Preview the information about studio availability, lesson guidelines, and audition requirements.
  • Email for Music Lessons. Include Cell number, instrument choice, years of experience, and 1/2 hour or full hour requet.
  • Submit the application before the last day of class the preceding semester or, for new students, during the first two days of the semester.

Your acceptance as a private music lesson student is subject to instructor and School of Music approval. Enrollment is departmentally controlled and will be added to your schedule.

Lesson fees are required for individual instruction: $175 for one credit; $250 for two or three credits. Music fees should be paid at the Bursar’s Office, 103 Shields Building, upon receipt of your bill.*

You will be contacted by the instructor to schedule your lesson time or to inform you that a lesson is not possible for the semester.

*Because private music lessons involve one-on-one instruction, they are inherently more expensive than most university classes. Thus, it is usual for institutions to charge an additional fee to assist with the extra costs of one-on-one instruction.

Piano instruction with faculty and student.

Details by Instrument

Bassoon

Please contact Professor Margaret Fay (mpf5656@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Cello

Cello lessons for non-majors are generally taught by graduate teaching assistants (TA). Priority is given to students who will be performing in one of our School of Music orchestras, but others may be accepted based upon available instructor hours.

Successful applicants will be assigned to a TA and enrolled in lessons by the music office during the first week of the semester. You will be contacted by the TA to coordinate your lesson. Lessons begin during the second week of classes. Students who are not accepted will be so notified by email.

Please contact Professor Kim Cook at kdc3@psu.edu for further questions.

For more information about the cello studio, please visit http://kimcookcello.weebly.com/penn-state-cello.html

Clarinet (Meeting and Audition Required)

There are always more requests for lessons than can be accommodated. An audition/meeting is required during the first week of classes.

Priority for lessons is given to:

1. music majors who are studying clarinet as a secondary instrument;
2. non-majors particpating in a School of Music ensemble;
3. highly qualified non-major applicants.

Please contact Professor Anthony Costa (ajc26@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Double Bass

Please contact Professor Patricia Wietzel (pvw5227@psu.edu@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Flute

There are always more requests for lessons than can be accommodated.

Priority for lessons is given to:

1. music majors who are studying flute as a secondary instrument;
2. non-majors particpating in a School of Music ensemble;
3. highly qualified non-major applicants.
Questions?

Please contact Naomi Seidman at nks11@psu.edu or 814-865-0175.

Harp

The School of Music does not offer harp lessons.

For information on harp lessons, please contact Ruth Hunter at ruthe@ruthhunter.com. She teaches both beginning and advanced students. All fees are charged by Ms. Hunter based on the length and number of lessons.

Horn

There are always more requests for lessons than can be accommodated. An audition/meeting may be required during the first week of classes.

Priority for lessons is given to:

1. music majors who are studying horn as a secondary instrument;
2. non-majors particpating in a School of Music ensemble;
3. highly qualified non-major applicants.

Please contact Professor Sarah Schouten (sms642@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Oboe

Please contact Professor Andreas Oeste (abo5235@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Percussion

Please contact Professor Lee Hinkle (leehinkle@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Piano

Saxophone

Private Lessons are by audition and permission of instructor. Enrollment is extremely limited. Beginning lessons are not offered.

Please contact Professor David Stambler (dbs12@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Trombone

Please contact Professor Mark Lusk (marklusk@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Trumpet

Trumpet lessons for non-majors are generally taught by graduate teaching assistants (TA).

Successful applicants will be assigned to a TA and enrolled in lessons by the music office during the first week of the semester. You will be contacted by the TA to coordinate your lesson. Lessons begin during the second week of classes. Students who are not accepted will be so notified by email.

Lessons for non-majors are taught by graduate teaching assistants.

Please contact Professor Langston Fitzgerald (ljf11@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Tuba and Euphonium (Audition Required)

Non-major students wishing to pursue private tuba or euphonium lessons must audition.

Please contact David P. Stone Professor Velvet Brown (vmb10@psu.edu) for audition information.

Viola

Please contact Professor Timothy Deighton (tjd8@psu.edu) to determine if you are eligible for enrollment.

Violin (Audition Required)

Violin lessons for non-majors are generally taught by graduate teaching assistants (TA). Priority is given to students who will be performing on violin in one of our School of Music orchestras, but others may be accepted based upon available instructor hours.

Depending on the number of applications, auditions MAY be required to determine the most eligible students for the limited spaces. If an audition is required, it will be held during the first week of classes.

Successful applicants will be assigned to a TA and enrolled in lessons by the music office during the first week of the semester. You will be contacted by the TA to coordinate your lesson. Lessons begin during the second week of classes. Students who are not accepted will be so notified by email.

Generally, late requests for lessons will not be accommodated. Please contact Professor James Lyon (jpl5@psu.edu) if you have questions not answered by the preceding material.

Voice (Audition Required)

Voice Study is available to non-majors by video submission. Please submit a private YouTube link to Professor Norman Spivey at nspivey@psu.edu.

Videos are due by the end of the second full day of the semester.

Simple, unedited videos are best. Please start by introducing yourself and letting us know what your major is, what year of study you are currently in at Penn State, what kind of previous music study you might have had, if any, and your current goals for voice study. Sing a song you enjoy. Any style of music is fine, though our teachers tend to specialize in classical or musical theatre singing.

Please also attach a copy of your class schedule so we can know your availability for scheduling individual lessons.

Students who have submitted auditions will be contacted with results via email during the first week of class.

PRIVATE LESSONS

Voice 100 is a one-credit course that includes a weekly 30-minute lesson. All students are eligible for private voice study, but space is limited. Priority is given to students who need voice as a curricular requirement and to students who are in disciplines that have professional voice requirements (theatre, communication disorders, etc.).

Lessons are typically with graduate teaching assistants. Every effort will be made to place students with the teacher of their choice, based on studio availability.

There is no jury examination required, but students who wish to continue private study must re-audition every semester. The course carries a fee of $175.

Voice 500 is a graduate course that parallels V100, but auditions are handled separately. Interested students should contact individual voice faculty members regarding availability and auditions.


Private lesson sign-up