Lessons

lesson

Private lessons in voice, piano, organ, guitar and the major orchestral and jazz instruments are available at three levels: credit/D/fail (Music 285-289), which offers a half-credit per semester and requires a short performance of 10 minutes of music at the end of the semester; no credit, which has no performance requirement; and advanced lessons (music 385-386), which offers a full credit, requires a solo recital at the end of the semester, and has one year of credit/D/fail lessons as a prerequisite.

There is an extra fee for lessons, which is waived for one year for majors and minors, and for which there are scholarships (see below). Depending on faculty availability, the Department also offers instruction on rarer instruments such as Celtic harp, harpsichord, sitar, and Renaissance instruments. To sign up for any of these levels of lessons, please see Linda Marquis in the Music Department Office (Gibson 103).

Practice Rooms, Loaner Instruments and Lockers

Most practice rooms and teaching studios (nine in the Recital Hall Annex, and five in Gibson Hall) are equipped with at least one Steinway grand piano. A wide range of loaner instruments and lockers of various sizes are available to students as well.

Applied Music Scholarships

For students who are on financial aid, a limited number of scholarships to cover fees for music lessons for credit (Individual Performance Studies) are available. They are supported by the following funds:

Isaacson Family Applied Music Scholarship Fund

Judson Fund, given by Ron and Kathy Judson in Memory of Todd Judson, Class of 1998

Friends Fund, given by the Association of Bowdoin Friends

To apply, download and complete the scholarship application form and submit to Linda Marquis (Gibson Hall Room 103) no later than twelve noon on Monday, Sept. 3. You must also sign up on the Gibson Hall bulletin board for an informal audition, which will take place on Tuesday, Sept. 4, 9 AM to noon. The audition consists of the performance of a single piece of music (accompanist provided).

Credit

Up to six credits of individual performance and ensemble courses together may be taken for graduation credit. Lessons, large ensembles, and chamber ensembles may also be taken as non-credit courses. Individual Performance Studies encompasses the various options and costs associated with taking lessons. For additional information, please refer to the College Catalogue (pdf)