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Requirements

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  • Music Home

Course Work

Students wishing to study jazz are required to take Jazz Harmony l (a music theory course). If they are planning on specializing in performance, it’s also strongly advised that they take Jazz Improvisation I or II (depending on experience) during their freshman year. Students are also required to take at least one semester of the Sight Reading Workshop, unless they already read music well. Jazz students must be able to sight read to moderate into the upper college. It is also recommended that students take Jazz Through the Prism of History I, II MUS 177

The Contemporary Jazz Composers Ensemble is open to all jazz students who have advanced sight reading and performance skills.

Moderation and Senior Project

For their Moderation project, most students give a 25- to 40-minute concert of their own music and/or music by other composers; a substantial music history or theory paper written for a class may also be accepted. The Senior Project consists of two concerts of approximately 45 to 60 minutes each. In certain cases a produced recording or a substantial (70 pages) research or analytical paper on an approved topic, overseen by an adviser, may be substituted for one of the two concerts.

Private Lessons

Students who play an instrument are required to take private  lessons in conjunction with their course schedule.  All students are eligible for private music instruction. Instruction is available for piano, voice, guitar, trumpet, bass (both classical and jazz), cello, violin, viola, flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, and world percussion. Lessons are taught by adjunct professors.Lessons can be taken for either one or two credits or audited (no credit).

Private Lessons

In order to receive credit, the student must be registered with the Registrar’s Office. Registration for private lessons must be completed by the end of the drop/add period.

It is best to contact the teacher first to secure a place since the number of slots is limited. After that you can register online during the registration period or pick up a drop/add slip from the Registrar, get your teacher to sign it, and return it to the Registrar.

If you take lessons for credit, you pay a $250 fee (per semester, for a total of 12 lessons). In order to receive credit for lessons you must be enrolled in an ensemble or performance-based workshop either for credit or audit. You do not pay the teacher; the College does. If you do not want credit for the lessons, you may make arrangements to pay the teacher directly. In that case, you do not have to take a performance ensemble or workshop.       
                                               
 A normal lesson is one hour, once a week. It may be slightly shorter or longer by agreement with your teacher. Teachers are required to reschedule lessons that they have to miss. You are required to give teachers advance notice of lessons you cannot make. They may reschedule at their discretion; they are not required to do so.

Private Lesson Faculty
  • Bass – Ira Coleman
  • Cello – Akua Dixon
  • Drums – Peter O’Brien
  • Guitar – Mike DiMicco
  • Guitar – Steve Raleigh
  • Piano – Francesca Tanksley
  • Piano – John Esposito
  • Piano – Larry Ham
  • Saxophone – Eric Person
  • Saxophone – Erica Lindsay
  • Saxophone – Jessica Jones
  • Trumpet – Greg Glassman
  • Violin – Gwen Laster
  • Violin – Pamela Pentony

Applying to the Program

  • How to Apply
    To apply to the undergraduate Bard Music Program, apply through the Bard Admission Office. Applying to the Bard Conservatory of Music requires a separate application to the Conservatory.
    Apply to the Undergraduate Program   Apply to the Conservatory
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Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504-5000
Phone: 845-758-6822
Admission E-mail: [email protected]
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