Performances + Events
New Student Orientation
New NEC students gather on the steps of the Student Life and Performance Center.
We are delighted that you will be joining us at NEC and look forward to meeting you during our in-person New Student Orientation, which begins with move-in on August 24 and ends with the start of classes on September 4 and the President’s Convocation on September 5.
New Student Orientation is a time for new students to meet their classmates and returning NEC students, get familiar with Boston, engage with faculty, and dive into their music — all while having a little fun. The New Student Orientation schedule is full of important events such as move-in, mandatory sessions, community-building socials, and academic advising sessions. The Office of Academic and Student Affairs believes New Student Orientation will set you on the path to academic and personal success.
New Student Orientation
About NSO
Participation in online and in-person New Student Orientation is mandatory for all new students.
Students with active NEC accounts have access to the Office of Academic Affairs’s Student Resources website, which includes:
- Reminders for new student onboarding, including information on placement and competency exams
- The complete schedule for in-person orientation
- Access to NEC departmental websites and handbooks
- Information on ensembles and links to their websites and resources
- Academic Advising guides to program curriculum, registration, and more
New students living in the residence hall will receive information about moving in from Patrick Hazilla, resident director.
We wish you a restful summer and look forward to meeting you in the fall. Please contact the Office of Academic and Student Affairs if you have any questions:
Email: studentservices@necmusic.edu
Phone: (617) 585-1310
New Student Orientation
Pre-Orientation Requirements
All incoming students are required to complete the Sexual Assault Prevention Course, an online informational program that educates students on healthy relationships, the meaning of sexual consent, and the role of the bystander in creating a safe and healthy community. On August 8, incoming students will receive a link to the course, sent to their NEC email address. Students must complete the course before they register for classes on September 2. This interactive program takes about 45 minutes to complete. Please see NEC’s Policies Against Gender-Based Misconduct for more information.
All incoming undergraduate students are required to complete the AlcoholEdu course, an online informational program designed to reduce the negative consequences of alcohol among students. On August 8, incoming undergraduate students will receive a link to the AlcoholEdu course, sent to their NEC email address. Students must complete the course before they register for classes on September 2.
All students must turn in their Student Health Report by July 15. Information for the 2024-25 Student Health Insurance Policy will be updated on June 30. Please check back after that date to find out rates and benefits as well as how to waive our student plan.
Your Penguin Pass is your student ID. It allows you to gain access to NEC’s buildings. You can also load money on your Penguin Pass that can be spent on dining, copying, and other cashless purchases. Please submit your picture for your Penguin Pass before arriving on campus.
Placement
Orientation Exams
All incoming BM students are required to take the Undergraduate Music Theory Placement Exam. This exam will be taken online in August. The exact date and time of your exam will be sent to you later in the summer.
All incoming MM students are required to take the Master of Music Theory Competency Exam. This exam will be taken online in August. The exact date and time of your exam will be sent to you later in the summer.
You can find instructions for the online practice exam here.
We recommend the following materials for those of you who would like additional practice for the placement exam.
- Tonal Harmony by Stefan Kostka and Dorothy Payne (published by McGraw-Hill). The book’s first section includes exercises in musical fundamentals, with answers at the back of the book.
- John Clough, Joyce Conley, and Claire Boge, Scales, Intervals, Keys, Triads, Rhythm, and Meter (published by W.W. Norton & Company). This programmed text briefly explains all the topics listed in the title and includes drills to help you learn the material. The text includes a CD that also gives you some ear training practice.
- For ear training, we strongly recommend MacGamut, a computer program considered one of the best on the market. This program drills both aural and written skills and is cross-platform, allowing you to use it on either a PC or a Mac. You can purchase MacGamut at macgamut.com.
- MacGamut also includes “Written Drill” exercises that enable you to practice writing scales, intervals, and chords without identifying anything by ear.
All incoming MM students are required to take the Music History Competency Exam. This exam will be taken online in August. The exact date and time of your exam will be sent to you later in the summer.
These three tests are designed to evaluate your Italian, German and/or French language abilities. You should only be taking this test if you have prior experience with these languages. You will be tested on grammar, reading comprehension, and writing. Answer as many questions as you can. This exam will be taken online in August. The exact date and time of your exams will be sent to you later in the summer.
The placement exam in diction will be in two parts: spoken and written. The scoring of the exam will determine whether or not a student will need to take a certain class in diction, and/or into which section the student will be placed. This exam will be taken online in August. The exact date and time of your exam will be sent to you later in the summer.
More
Other Orientation Information
The link to purchase a discounted T-Pass will be made available on this site in mid-August. Quantities of discounted passes are limited. We will not be able to accept late forms.
Living on campus next year? Get answers to your questions and meet the Residence Life staff. We cannot wait to meet you.
