Lessons & Juries (Performance Studies)

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Music Lessons (Performance Studies)

Music Lessons Offered

Brass:  Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Jazz Trombone, Euphonium, Tuba
Composition (with prerequisite Music 223 and instructor approval)
Historic Strings:  Viol de Gamba
Historic Winds: Dulcian, Recorder, Sackbut, Shawm
Keyboard: Piano, Jazz Piano, Harpsichord, Organ
Percussion: Percussion, Drum Set
Strings:  Violin, Viola, Cello, String Bass, Hardanger Fiddle, Harp
Voice
Winds:  Flute, Clarinet, Oboe, Bassoon, Saxophone, Jazz Saxophone

General Information
  • Lessons are requested, dropped, and changed by filling out one of the forms to the right.
  • Lessons cost $650 per .25 credit per semester for the 2025-2026 academic year and will be added to your tuition statement.
  • Taking lessons may include research/analysis, listening, and memorization time, in addition to practicing the instrument (see below).
  • We do not offer music lessons for no credit or auditing.
CHANGING OR DROPPING A LESSON
  • Students should fill out the lesson change or drop form immediately to allow waitlisted students to be placed in open spots.
  • There will be no refund of the lesson fee if dropped after the 6th day of classes, Wednesday, September 10, 2025, for the fall semester, and Wednesday, February 11, 2026, for the spring semester.
  • If you have questions, please contact Lisa McDermott (mcderm6@stolaf.edu, x3180, HOM 245).
PERSONAL STUDENT PRACTICE TIME: RECOMMENDED GUIDELINES
  • 0.25 credit lessons = 3–6 hours per week
  • 0.50 credit lessons = 6–12 hours per week
  • 1.0 credit lessons = 10–21 hours per week
Studio Class Attendance Expectations: Recommended Guidelines
  • 0.25 credit lessons = 3–4 hours per semester
  • 0.50 credit lessons = 6–8 hours per semester
  • 1.0 credit lessons = 10–12 hours per semester
Music Department event Attendance Expectations (Pink card events):
  • Music Majors are required to attend 10 music events in both fall and spring terms (Interim events will be added to the spring count). A minimum of 60 total pink cards are required for the BA and BM music degrees.
  • Non-Music Majors are required to attend 4 music events in fall and spring terms .(Interim events will be added to the spring count.)
  • See below for complete information about Pink Cards.

Juries

Juries (performance exams) are held during the final exam period each semester.

  • Juries are generally required for all students taking lessons.
  • At the discretion of the performance studies teacher, students performing on an Entrance/Continuance Recital and students performing a Junior or Senior Recital, provided more than one faculty member attends and provides written feedback, may not be required to perform an end-of-semester jury in the same semester.
  • A teacher may elect to waive the jury requirement for any student in their first semester of study (i.e., to place greater emphasis and time on technical studies.)
  • Students who have performed on a Student Recital are required to perform an end-of-semester jury.

Music Performance Attendance Requirements (Pink Cards)

General Information

Non-music majors who are taking lessons are required to attend at least four (4) official recitals or concerts per semester.

Music majors are required to attend a minimum of ten (10) official recitals or concerts per semester. Sixty (60) pink cards, total, are the graduation requirement at the end of 4 years.

Students who participate in one piece on a student recital, and stay for the entire recital, will be eligible to submit a pink card. The student will get a pink card at the door before the event starts, and turn it in immediately following the end of the event. Attendance credit is also given for participation in Band Day, Choral Day, and Christmas Festival. Students participating in Christmas Festival will receive one pink card for the three-day event.

Attendance credit will also be give for attending official master classes (a minimum of one hour.)

Attendance credit will not be given for any musical event off-campus or for partial attendance.

To receive credit for attendance, pick up a “pink card” from the House Manager when you enter the concert hall. Fill out the card LEGIBLY, sign it (again, legibly), and return it to the House Manager at the door as you leave. Pink cards are not accepted at any other time.  Pink cards with illegible or incorrect student ID numbers and/or signatures will be discarded. With the exception of official master classes (see above), you must arrive on time and remain for the entire performance to receive attendance credit.