Only matriculated students with satisfactory academic records may take private lessons for credit; non-degree students and permit students may not take lessons for credit. Private lessons cannot count for more than 50% of the total credits in any given semester, unless all other degree requirements have already been fulfilled. Except under extraordinary circumstances, students will not be allowed to register for lessons during late registration period. If enrolled for private lessons, you must begin private instruction no later than the end of the second full week of classes.
Graduate students who are accepted as Performance Concentrators may take up to four semesters of lessons for 3 credits each semester; the lessons are listed under the course numbers MUS 781-784. All M.A. Performance students who plan to take MUS 781-784 must fill out the online Teacher Assignment Form for MUS 781-784 at least one week before the semester begins. This form must be completed each and every semester (fall and spring) that a student plans to take private lessons for credit.
Performance Concentrators taking MUS 781-784 may apply to study with one of the members of the Hunter College faculty, or (with permission of the Music Department) they may study with a teacher of their choice in the New York metropolitan area. Students who study with a teacher not on the Hunter College faculty must pay the teacher directly and are given a Tuition Waiver each semester for the 3 credits of private lessons. (It is the responsibility of each student to make sure a Tuition Waiver is approved by the Director of Performance Studies before paying the Bursar the tuition fee.) Students who want to study with a member of our faculty must apply before the beginning of the semester by filling out the Teacher Assignment Form for MUS 781-784, and if their teacher request is accepted, the lessons are provided as part of the tuition. Students who want to study with an approved Performance Associate (i.e., non-Hunter applied faculty) must also fill out a Teacher Assignment Form, and if their teacher request is accepted, they will receive a Tuition Waiver for lessons, and pay their instructor directly, as noted above.
Students who are not Performance Concentrators may take up to four semesters of lessons for 1 credit each semester; the lessons are listed under the course numbers MUS 681-684. Students taking MUS 681-684 must study with one of our faculty or a Hunter College Performance Associate. All students who plan to take taking MUS 681-684 must fill out the online Teacher Assignment Form for Private Lessons at least one week before before the semester begins. This form must be completed each and every semester (fall and spring) that a student plans to take private lessons for credit.
Students taking MUS 681-684 who take lessons with Performance Associates pay the teacher directly and are given a Tuition Waiver for the 1 credit of private lessons. (It is the responsibility of each student to get a Tuition Waiver from the Director of Performance Studies before paying the Bursar the tuition fee.) Those who want study with a member of our faculty must apply before the beginning of the semester by submitting a Teacher Assignment Form for Private Lessons, and if their teacher request is accepted, the lessons are provided as part of the tuition. Students who want to study with an approved Performance Associate (i.e., non-Hunter applied faculty) must also fill out a Teacher Assignment Form, and if their teacher request is accepted, they will receive a Tuition Waiver for lessons, and pay their instructor directly, as noted above.
Please note that tuition waivers apply only to credits for private lessons for which the student pays the teacher directly. Also, a tuition waiver can be given for at most 50% of the total credits a student is taking in a given semester. Thus, for instance, if a student is given a tuition waiver for 3 credits of private lessons, the student must also take at least 3 additional credits (for which they are not given a tuition waiver) in that same semester.
All music students must play a jury at the end each semester during which they get credit for taking private lessons. For Performance Concentrators in their last semester of lessons, the Graduate Recital will count as the final jury. In each case, the final grade is determined by the Hunter College Music Department, taking into account the student’s jury grade and the recommendation given by the teacher.
For more information regarding private lesson policies (for both graduate and undergraduate students), please download the Private Instruction Policy (PDF).
