The Department of Music offers private instrumental/vocal lessons to undergraduate and graduate students from across. Up to 350 slots are available each semester for any Princeton University undergraduate and graduate students to request extracurricular lessons.
Because space in the program is limited, priority for lessons is given to students in the following order:
- Undergraduate Music Majors
- Undergraduates enrolled in the Minor in Music Performance
- Graduate Students in Musicology or Composition
- Undergraduate and graduate students participating in faculty-led ensembles who are taking lessons in the instrument applicable to the ensemble
- Undergraduates enrolled in the Minor in Music
- Any other undergraduates
Although it may not be possible to honor every request for lessons in each semester, best efforts are made to place as many interested students in lessons as possible.
Lessons are offered in the following instruments. Please click here to see our complete roster of Studio Faculty
- Bassoon
- Cello (Baroque & Modern)
- Clarinet
- Double Bass (Classical & Jazz)
- Flute
- French Horn
- Guitar (Classical & Jazz/Contemporary)
- Harp
- Harpsichord
- Jazz Saxophone
- Oboe
- Organ
- Percussion (Classical & Contemporary)
- Piano (Classical & Jazz)
- Trumpet (Classical & Jazz)
- Trombone (Classical & Jazz)
- Viola
- Viola da Gamba
- Violin (Baroque & Modern)
- Voice (Classical & Jazz/Contemporary)
- Tuba
Students who are new to lessons at Princeton may request lessons by completing the application form found here. In that form, students will be asked about any prior experience in their chosen instrument(s), their goals for musical instruction, preference for which faculty member they’d ideally like to work with, and a brief, informal recording to help facilitate possible teacher pairings.
Students in some instruments may also be asked to undertake a brief placement audition in the first week of classes. Applicable students will be notified separately of any audition procedures.
Students may request lessons in more than one instrument by simply completing a separate application for each instrument for which they seek instruction.
Students are typically required to be able to read music or lead sheets.
Students are required to supply their own instrument for lessons. The Department of Music is not typically able to supply instruments in use for regular lessons and practice. Exceptions to this include:
- Students studying keyboard instruments, who will be will be given access to instruments for lessons;
- Occasionally students studying Baroque instruments.
10 lessons are given per semester**. Costs for 2025-2026 are as follows. Rates may change year-to-year:
| Lesson Duration | Cost |
|---|---|
| 60 minutes | $1,564.68 |
| 45 minutes* | $1,173.51 |
| 30 minutes* | $782.34 |
**Students enrolled in the Minor in Musical Performance will receive 10 lessons, plus 2 lesson equivalents each semester. Lesson equivalents may be traditional lessons, special coachings, attendance at a dress rehearsal, or other options as determined by the student and teacher.
By accepting any lessons that are offered by the Department of Music, students accept responsibility for the full cost of the set of lessons. Details on applicable costs and subsidies will be provided along with the official offer of lessons to allow full consideration.
A combination of departmental subsidies and financial assistance may be available to help defray the cost of private lessons:
Students who are receiving Princeton Financial Aid will receive a 100% subsidy for lessons, meaning a confirmed, available set of lessons will be free of charge to these students.
- Undergraduate Music Major Subsidy: Declared Music Majors are eligible to receive one set of lessons per semester free-of-charge.
- Undergraduate Minors in Music Performance (MPP): Because lessons are required for students enrolled in the MPP Minor, lessons in their primary instrument are free-of-charge.
- Music Graduate Students: Graduate students in musicology and composition, G1-5, may elect to use their available research funding to pay for lessons.
- Ensemble Participation Subsidy: Students who are members-in-good-standing in one of these departmental ensembles may be eligible to receive a 50% subsidy for one set of lessons per semester. Eligible lessons must be for the instrument with which they participate in their ensemble. While this subsidy cannot be guaranteed for every eligible student, in practice most will enjoy this benefit.
Students enrolled in the Minors in Music Performance program are eligible to enrolling in MPP 298 (fall semester) and MPP 299 (spring semester) in either their junior or senior years. Students who take and complete this two-semester course will earn one (1) course credit. This course does not fulfill any course requirements for the Minor in Music Performance.
All students taking lessons for credit must also register for the class through the regular course selection process.
Each semester, students who were enrolled in lessons may be offered the opportunity to renew for the next one. Music Department Staff will contact these students directly to share the procedure. Returning students do not need to re-apply or audition unless requesting a new teacher or a change in instrument.
Access to lessons can change semester to semester based on a variety of factors, including:
- Dropping out of a music degree program
- Dropping out of lessons in the prior academic year
- Dropping out of a faculty-led ensemble in the prior academic year
- Violation of any the student obligations for lessons, outlined below
Students enrolled in studio lessons have access to practice rooms in the Woolworth Center and the Effron Music Building. Instrument lockers may also be available to students enrolled in studio lessons, by request and subject to availability.
If you are already enrolled in lessons and would like to change studios, click here:
Offers of lessons come with a deadline by which students must accept or decline. Students may decline by the deadline provided without any charges.
If a student would like to drop out of lessons partway through the semester, they must contact the Program Manager for Performance Activities as soon as possible. Once lessons are accepted, there is typically no refund for missed lessons, and applicable charges for the full set of lessons will be applied.
By confirming the terms offered, and beginning lessons in a given semester, you are accepting full financial responsibility for the maximum total cost of these lessons as outlined below. Once confirmed, there is typically no refund for missed lessons and applicable charges for the full set of lessons will be applied.
Students must provide their own instrument(s) for lessons. Instruments are not typically made available for loan from the Department of Music solely for lessons.
Students are expected to coordinate lesson scheduling directly with their assigned instructor.
Students are expected to attend their lessons as scheduled individually with their assigned instructor.
Students are expected to give adequate notice (typically at least 24 hours) directly to their assigned instructor for illness or unexpected conflicts. Music Department staff will not pass messages, except in emergency situations.
Wherever possible, assigned instructors will attempt to makeup missed lessons. However, it may not be possible to make up each/every missed lesson.
Please note that instructors are NOT required to makeup lessons that students cancel or no-show.
Students who routinely miss, arrive late, and/or consistently come unprepared for lessons and/or applicable departmental ensembles may lose eligibility for lessons and/or subsidies the following semester. Determinations regarding eligibility will be made by a designated faculty committee and will factor for the recommendation of studio instructor.
Students are expected to adhere to the Princeton University Rights, Rules, and Responsibilities.