The future of music, made here.

January 25–26

Due to anticipated weather conditions, NEC will close for all activities, classes, concerts, and events at 12:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 25 and remain closed through Monday, January 26. Normal operations will resume on Tuesday, January 27. For more information about specific events, please visit the Performances + Events calendar.

NEC Prep Lessons

A teacher giving a private guitar lesson to a student.

Private Lessons offer individualized instruction for all skill levels.

A teacher giving a private guitar lesson to a student.

Available Lessons

  • Brass: Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba
  • Woodwinds: Flute, Piccolo, Oboe, English Horn, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Recorder
  • Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Suzuki
  • Voice
  • Piano
  • Composition
  • Guitar
  • Harp
  • Harpsichord
  • Improvisation
  • Jazz
  • Percussion
  • Theory

Most private lesson instruction begins at the start of the school year, though admissions are rolling and families can choose to enroll later with the knowledge that faculty studios may have limited space as the year goes on.

Get Started

  1. Complete the NEC Prep Application to help us get to know you.  
  2. We’ll set up an appointment for you to meet with the department chair of your instrument group. You’ll share where you are now in your musical learning and where you want to go, and our staff will offer a personalized recommendation of an appropriate teacher for you. The appointment is also an opportunity for you and your family to address any questions or concerns you might have and talk about goals and preferred lesson schedule.
  3. Once you’ve been matched with a teacher, it’s time to register.

Placement Requirements

Following a department chair’s teacher recommendation, students are invited to take a trial lesson. When a teacher assignment has been finalized by the student, the student’s family, and the teacher, the student will need to complete the online registration.

If the student is a beginner, there is no need to prepare anything for the placement. The placement will simply be a conversation. If the student has experience playing their instrument or singing, they should prepare two contrasting solo pieces to play for placement. Certificate students are required to perform a solo recital as a capstone experience.

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