Students enrolled in private lessons have the opportunity to perform in regularly scheduled recitals held in the Recital and Concert Halls. Preparatory Division students participate in master classes with distinguished visiting artists and with the Conservatory's Collegiate Division faculty. Off-campus and showcase performances are also arranged for students throughout the year. Certificate programs available.
The Prep Chamber Orchestra is an advanced, strings-only ensemble open to experienced players. The Prep Chamber Orchestra explores the wonderful string orchestra repertoire from Albinoni to Zorn, with some Bach, Beethoven, Brahms and Bartók thrown in for good measure. Larger than a string quartet, smaller than a symphony orchestra, the Prep Chamber Orchestra provides the ideal setting for honing ensemble skills, exploring great compositions and making music with friends and colleagues.
Intermediate & Advanced Chamber Music ensembles emphasize quartet and trio repertoire, string and wind trios through sextets, two-piano literature, and guitar and harp ensembles. Priority is given to students enrolled for private lessons at the Preparatory Division; pre-formed groups are welcome.
Open to all students enrolled in the musicianship curriculum with permission of the department chair. Composition assignments are performed and discussed in class. Formal performances are presented in recital.
Level V: Sight singing with modes and remote modulation in 20th century idioms, polyrhythms, quintuplets, meters with unequal beats, tempo modulation, leading tone seventh chords, augmented sixth chords, Neapolitan chords, all intervals in a non-tonal context, fugue.
Level III: Sight singing material to include seventh chords, rhythmic patterns of two against three, inversions of triads and dominant seventh chords, non-tonal use of thirds, theme & variations and rondo form. Level IV: Sight singing with secondary dominants and chromatic non-harmonic tones, small subdivisions of the beat, changing meters, inversions of dominant 7th chords, secondary dominants, modulation, non-tonal use of sixths, sonata and concerto form.
Level I: Sight singing and conducting using diatonic melodies in simple and compound time. Students study all major and minor keys, the intervals in those keys, chord progressions, rhythmic design and phrasing. Level II: Sight singing using skips in all diatonic triads, syncopation, harmonic cycles of thirds and fifths, dominant 7th and V7 chords, non-tonal use of seconds, fourths and fifths; binary and ternary form.
Instrumental experience and ability to read music required. No previous music theory or ear-training experience required. Also appropriate for current Preparatory Division musicianship students.
Interview May be Required
Students will improve their general musicianship skills and lay solid groundwork for exploring music in other programs. Three class levels are offered, grouped by age and experience.
Interview Required
with submission of one previously composed work
Students explore chamber music composition, from conceiving an idea to sketching, workshopping and completing a final score. Chamber music students and guest artists perform composition students’ work in a culminating concert.
Experienced musicians (violin, viola, cello, piano, woodwinds or horn) receive intensive daily coaching in wide-ranging repertoire. Most pianists are assigned to a piano duo, but those with especially strong skills may play in a mixed ensemble. All students perform in two culminating concerts.