Studio Policies
Studio instruction is at the core of the Conservatory education. Students enrolled in 3-5* credits of studio can expect 14 scheduled one-hour private lessons each semester. Scheduling for these lessons is the responsibility of the student and instructor. Students must petition faculty for a make-up lesson at least 24 hours prior to missing a scheduled lesson. Consideration will be given to documented emergency circumstances. Please note that faculty may ask their students to apply their studio lessons in on- and/or off-campus opportunities, such as performances, composing or supervised teaching.
STUDIO AS ELECTIVE CREDIT
Students may take up to 8 studio credits in the bachelor’s program, or 4 in the master’s, to fulfill elective requirements. Graduate Musicology majors may not exceed their studio credit requirement to fulfill electives. Students registering for more than four studio credits in a semester will be charged full tuition, plus the part-time tuition rate for studio beyond 4 credits.
BEYOND-DEGREE STUDIO
Students who complete all studio requirements, yet remain enrolled in their program, may register for beyond-degree studio. The Conservatory awards grades, but not credit, for beyond-degree studio. String majors who register for beyond-degree studio must also enroll in ensemble.
STUDIO INSTRUCTOR CHANGE PETITION
Students who wish to consider changing studio instructors should begin by consulting their department chair; those studying with the chair should meet with the Dean and Chief Academic Officer. The procedure requires careful advising and needs the approval of the student’s current and proposed instructor, department chair, and the Dean and Chief Academic Officer. Petitions for change of studio instructors should be completed prior to the beginning of the semester; they must be filed by the end of the add/drop period.
CURRICULAR PRACTICAL TRAINING
Undergraduate international students who have been in F-1 visa status for at least nine months may apply for permission to work in the fields of performance, composition, or supervised music teaching as a part of Curricular Practical Training (CPT). Graduate students may be eligible to apply for CPT immediately upon matriculation. Each employment opportunity must be integral to the studio instruction, and must be approved by the studio instructor. Complete regulations and instructions for CPT are available from the Office of Academic and Student Affairs.
* Most students enroll in 4 credits of studio per semester. As of 2024-25, all undergraduate students enroll in 4 credits of studio per semester. Master's voice majors enroll in 3 credits of studio. Undergraduate voice majors other than those in their first year of study in 2024-25 enroll in 3 credits of studio per semester. Undergraduate piano majors other than those in their their first year of study in 2024-25 enroll in 5 credits of studio per semester.