Emerson Music Performance Program for Private Lesson Study

MIT Emerson Music Performance Program for Private Lesson Study

Auditions

Scholarship and fellowship auditions are held once each year, on the first weekend after the Fall Registration Day.

Auditioners perform privately for two or three adjudicators (simultaneously) who are specialists in their particular instrument and style. Each audition lasts up to fifteen minutes, and students may be asked questions about their musical background and interests. Instrumentalists should be prepared to play fifteen minutes of music of contrasting styles and periods that show the complete range of their ability. Vocalists will be required to sing three art songs of different styles, at least one of which should be in English. An accompanist will be available for vocalists; please bring a copy of the music for this purpose. For jazz musicians, improvisation will be part of the audition. For everyone, sight-reading and/or sight-singing may also be requested.

Application

If you wish to audition for a scholarship or fellowship, submit a completed application to: Emerson Music Performance Program, MIT Music Office, 4-246, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139. Applications may also be submitted via the web from http://web.mit.edu/mta/www/music/resources/app.html. Check the bulletin board outside 4-243 when you arrive on campus in the fall for your assigned audition day, time, and location. Due to the number of applicants and difficulty of scheduling adjudicators, late applications may not be accepted. Incomplete applications will be discarded. Students wishing to audition on more than one instrument (or for voice and an instrument) must return separate forms for each audition requested. Application Deadline is August 15 .

Practice Rooms

The Music Department has eight practice rooms located in a suite on the second floor of Building 4. Students may request temporary access to these rooms in order to practice for auditions. Once the auditions have been held, access will be granted only to students who have accepted the terms of the scholarship or fellowship programs or who join one of the performance groups that are granted practice space privileges. See the departmental secretary at the beginning of the semester to determine whether you qualify.

Results

The results of the auditions will be posted by September 15th on the bulletin board outside the Concerts Office (4-243). Cuts are always difficult to make and generally reflect not only the excellence of the performers, but the potential that is seen for improvement through private study.

Contract

If you are offered a scholarship or fellowship, you will be assigned an advisor who will explain the details of the program to you, including your responsibilities to us and ours to you. He or she will also discuss the selection of your instructor with you. If you choose to accept the offer, you will sign a contract that acknowledges your commitment to one year of private study and acceptance of the program requirements. Scholars should be prepared to submit full payment for fall semester lessons at the time they submit the signed contract. Your advisor can provide more details during your interview. Offers for support must be accepted and lesson times established before September 30.

If you have any questions, please contact Priscilla Cobb in the Music Office at (617) 253-5623 or pcobb@mit.edu.

Apply for the Emerson Music Scholarship Program