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Applied Music Lessons

Overview

Colby College offers private music instruction for over 20 instruments, including guitar, piano, voice, and violin, and is open to students at all performing levels. Our applied music faculty, all professional performers and committed teachers, work together with students to perfect technique, enhance understanding towards the music, and refine aesthetic subtleties, a collaboration that brings to life the history and theory of the classroom.

To Enroll in Lessons:
1. Contact your instructor and confirm availability (listed below)

2. Complete the online Spring Semester Music Lessons Application.

Both of these steps must be completed in order to be enrolled.

Lessons Are Available in:

Lessons are scheduled weekly for either an hour or half hour, and can be taken either with or without academic credit. Students electing applied music for credit must play a jury or recital and have completed (or be enrolled in) one of the following: MU111 (Intro to Music), MU153 (Intro to Music Theory through DAW), MU181 (Music Theory I), MU252 (Intro to World Music) or MU298 (Intro to Afro-Latin Drumming). Students who submit either a 4 or 5 on the AP Music Theory Exam may also take lessons for credit.

Lessons for music majors in good standing are subsidized by the College; for 2024-25, the fee for non-majors is $650 per semester for hour lessons and $325 for half-hour lessons. Scholarships may be eligible upon application.

Music Lesson Policies

2024-2025 Policies

The last day to ADD a course is February 11th. 

The last day to DROP a course is February 21st.

Refund Policy: If you choose to discontinue lessons, you must drop the course. You must also notify your instructor and the music department administrative assistant. After the fourth week of lessons, no fees can be refunded. Any refunds prior to that will be based on the actual number of lessons not taken during the 12-week schedule. Students who either add or drop the major after the start of the semester will have their lesson fees prorated based on the date that the add/drop request was processed.

Scholarships

There are a limited number of scholarships available to help with music lessons. Students taking lessons for credit may apply for a scholarship using our online Scholarship for Applied Music Lesson Form (not available for JanPlan). Eligibility is based primarily upon demonstrated financial need, as verified by the Financial Aid Office.

A new application must be completed each semester.  

The deadline for submitting this application for spring semester is Friday, February 7th at noon.

Jan Plan Lessons

Non-credit lessons are available during the January short term (Jan Plan). This includes two 45-minute lessons per week for four weeks. The cost for Jan Plan lessons is $325. Scholarships and tuition subsidies are not available during Jan Plan.

JAN PLAN LESSON REGISTRATION FORM

Lessons available for Jan Plan:

  • Guitar
  • Piano
  • Pipe Organ
  • Violin
  • Viola

Additional Information

LOCKERS

Lockers are available for students who are enrolled in applied music lessons and/or department ensembles or programs and MUST be signed out through the Music Department. Please complete the Locker Request Form to request a locker and contact [email protected] to arrange to pick up a lock. Only department issued locks may be used. Unregistered locks will be removed.

Large lockers are reserved for large instruments. When large lockers are limited, sharing may be required. At the conclusion of the academic year students should remove all contents from their lockers. Students needing to utilize lockers over the summer should seek prior approval from the Music Operations Manager or Administrative Assistant.

INSTRUMENTS

The Department of Music has a limited number of  instruments that are available to loan to students who are enrolled in department lessons or ensembles, on a first come first served basis. If we do not have the instrument you require in our inventory we may be able to help recommend a store that you can rent from.