Private Lessons are a primary component of the degree program for the Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degrees offered in Music at Hartwick College.
Artists in Residence teach private lessons. The fee for one-on-one teaching is supported in part by the college and individual students pay the remainder. The student cost for hour lessons is $450 per semester. The cost for ½ hour lessons is $225. Contact the music department for fees for part time students and lessons taken for no academic credit.
Majors are expected to practice at least two hours daily.
Music Major Performance Requirements
To successfully complete a B.A. in Music or B.S. in Music Education, students must successfully complete the following individual performance requirements:
Convocations
Each semester, approximately half of weekly convocations are devoted to student performances while the remaining convocations are for presentations and topics of interest.
All music majors are required to perform each Fall semester at convocation.
Recitals
Students may give solo recitals in addition the the required senior recital. Based on the recommendation of the private lesson instructor.
Senior Recital and Senior Thesis/Project - All music majors must complete a senior recital and a senior thesis/project.
Senior recitals are part of the senior thesis, and are typically completed during the spring semester of the senior year. It entails a public recital on the student’s primary instrument as well as a research project. Private lesson instructors will supervise recital preparation and a full-time faculty member supervises the research components. The research project culminates in a written paper that documents the research undertaken, as well as a public presentation of the research for faculty and students at a departmental convocation. Topics for the research project can take on a variety of forms. These might include: issues in performance practice, case studies, analysis, composition, musicology, multimedia, lecture/demonstration, or community based projects.
Recital Hearings
Private lesson instructors, our Artists-in-Residence, will determine the recital readiness of their students in a recital hearing.
The following will be guidelines for the process:
Advising
The audition and interview are the beginning of the advising process for music students.
All music students are assigned a full-time music faculty advisor. The academic advisor helps with course selection and ensures that students are enrolled in the correct courses for the major. Faculty advisors are also available for students who need additional academic advising, whether it is providing advising for individual student issues or counseling students to determine whether they are in the correct degree program.
In the spirit of exemplifying the college definition of a community of learners, faculty advisors and private lesson instructors work with music majors on the overview of individual student development through the study of music, as reflected in classes, private lessons, ensemble participation and preparations for recital requirements. Dialogue between students, private lesson instructors and full time faculty advisors, is of critical importance. There will be a formal review of student progress in the major at the end of the sophomore year.
