New England Conservatory’s Preparatory School empowers students ages 0-18 to learn and grow as musicians.
Imagination Begins at NEC Prep
The NEC Prep Experience
With robust resources, world-class faculty, and a supportive community, NEC Prep prepares students for a lifelong relationship with music.
Dedicated teachers and performers provide a challenging, nurturing, and inspiring experience for every student.
From beginners to advanced musicians, all students are welcome to join the NEC Prep community and advance their skills.
NEC Prep students can explore a many music styles—including classical, jazz, contemporary musical arts, world music, and musical theatre.
Connect With Us
Engage with the NEC Prep team through our events or email list to have your questions answered about our programs, resources, and application process.
Join us for an in-person seminar on our Boston campus to gain a firsthand look at the NEC Prep experience.
Dial into a convenient virtual seminar hosted by the NEC Prep team.
Interested in receiving more information about NEC Prep via email? Fill out this brief form helpful information and timely updates.
Take the Next Step
Start your NEC Prep journey by submitting your application. Please note that the application deadline for Large Ensembles and the Chamber Music Intensive Performance Seminar (CHIPS) is May 15.
Submit your application for the 2024-2025 academic year—whether you are a returning family, or new to the NEC Prep experience.
Use this helpful timeline to ensure you don't miss any important deadlines or milestones in the NEC Prep application process.
NEC Prep is an important investment. Learn more about tuition, fees, payment plans, and other important details.
Resources for Current Prep Families
Create your NEC Prep Parent Portal
To apply for any of NEC Prep's programs, parents or guardians of students younger than 18 must create an account in our Parent Portal.
Discover NEC Prep Concerts & Events
Stay up-to-date with the latest concerts and events happening at NEC Prep by exploring our calendar and joining us for an upcoming performance!
Current Prep Student Resources
From the academic calendar to class schedules and locations, view resources that current NEC Prep students and their families access more regularly.
What do you want to do?
At NEC, young musicians can explore all kinds of instruments, from early childhood on.
Young singers at NEC get a very special kind of training with lots of variety—voice lessons, choruses, jazz, musical theatre, rock, world music, and more!
Every musician is a composer. Students as young as eight can start learning to hear and create the elements of music.
Foundation classes like chorus, music theory, composition, and the art of practice and performance are for every musician at NEC, whatever the level or instrument!
We invite you to explore the many opportunities for your child here. If you need more information, don’t hesitate to get in touch! We’d love your family to join our family and make NEC Prep your musical home.
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Recent News
Mon, July 15
This spring at NEC, a group of violin students in faculty member Ayano Ninomiya's studio arranged the Dichterliebe song cycle, composed for voice by Robert Schumann based on the poetry of German romantic poet Heinrich Heinne, for the violin. The students collaborated to develop a new musical notation system they could use as they translated the scores of each song. After weeks of experimenting, integrating new skills, and receiving coaching from Ninomiya and guest faculty Tanya Blaich, students presented the final cycle—fully reimagined for the violin.
Wed, July 10
For the fourth consecutive year, New England Conservatory has partnered with Silkroad for the continuation of its Global Musician Workshop (GMW) in Boston from August 4-10. Silkroad also introduces the first-ever international iteration of the program in Hangzhou, China, presented in partnership with Zhejiang Conservatory of Music, from August 26-31.
Tue, July 9
Pianist and NEC alumna Ariel Mo ’20, ’22 MM, ’24 GD has been named the newest member of Trio Gaia, NEC's most recent graduate piano trio in residence. Mo succeeds Andrew Barnwell ’20, ’23 MM, ’24 GD, who leaves the group to pursue other projects.
Wed, June 26
The Cassatt String Quartet has announced violist and NEC alumna Emily Brandenburg ’15 MM as its new member. Brandenburg will succeed Rosemary Nelis, who joined the group in 2022 and is leaving to focus on other projects. Other quartet members include violinists Jennifer Leshnower and Muneko Otani, who studied at NEC in the '80s, and cellist Gwen Krosnick ’13 MM.
Tue, June 25
New England Conservatory is thrilled to share the success of the Community Youth Music Festival, a vibrant celebration of music and community held on June 8 in Jordan Hall. Hosted in collaboration with the Conservatory Lab Charter School (CLCS), Boston String Academy (BSA), and NEC's Expanded Education department, this event brought together over 2,000 students, staff, and family members for a day filled with enchanting performances and enriching opportunities.
