Private Lessons

Exclusive, one-on-one instruction with Berklee's world-renowned faculty.

Overview

Music Composition, Guitar Performance, Voice Performance and Piano Performance students in the bachelor’s degree programs complete nine levels of private lessons. Each level of private lessons is 12 weeks in duration and involves a weekly, one-hour, live webcam session with a faculty member of your choosing.

Private lesson instructors will share their practical knowledge, demonstrate exemplary technique, and coach you through lesson material at a pace individually tailored to your needs. 

When course registration opens for the semester, you will be able to register for the appropriate private lesson course level, and then select a day, time, and instructor. Students will earn two credits for the successful completion of each level of private lessons, for a total of 18 credits.

Lesson Placement

Guitar Performance and Piano Performance major students should begin their program with the level 1 private lesson. During the first week of the semester, your guitar or piano private lesson instructor will assess your proficiency and determine if you should be placed in a different level. If you have completed undergraduate-level private instruction at a regionally accredited institution, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit for the levels you place out of. If you do not have credit-bearing private instruction in your major discipline or your coursework does not meet the necessary criteria for transfer, you will be awarded prior learning credit for the levels you place out of. There is a $75 fee per credit ($150 per lesson level) awarded.

Students in the Voice Performance and Music Composition majors will not be allowed to skip any private lessons. Students who have completed private lessons on campus through Berklee College of Music will be awarded transfer credit for any levels successfully completed prior to acceptance into their BA program.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for private lessons follows the same per-credit cost of a Berklee Online course (note that private lessons are two credits instead of three credits). In addition, there is a $500 per semester fee for each of the nine levels of private lessons to cover the cost of one-on-one instruction.

For information on drop/add, medical withdrawal, administrative withdrawal, and other policies, consult the Degree Program Policies Handbook.

Music Composition Reading Sessions

During the first five levels of Music Composition Private Lessons, students will work one-on-one with their instructor on specific compositions, all while preparing to have them performed as part of a live reading session with one or more professional musicians over Zoom. Facilitated via a partnership with Musiversal, the focus of this session is to hear these compositions played live with an opportunity to receive feedback directly from the performer(s).

You will need to share your first name, last name, and email address with Musiversal to help schedule and run these sessions. Musiversal will communicate directly with you via email to confirm your scheduled session and send you the appropriate links to run your session. Once your session is complete, Musiversal will then send you your audio and video recordings via email. More details about these reading sessions, including deadlines and assignments, will be provided within each Music Composition Private Lesson class.

FAQs

Can I take private lessons if I am not in the degree program?
No. At this time, private lessons are only available to students who are accepted into the online Bachelor of Arts degree in guitar performance, piano performance, and voice performance.
Can I take more than one level in the same semester?
No. Students must complete each level of private lessons consecutively. Lessons cannot be taken concurrently. During the first week of the semester, your private lesson instructor will assess your proficiency and determine if you should be placed in a different level. If you have completed undergraduate-level private instruction at a regionally accredited institution, you may be eligible to receive transfer credit for the levels you place out of. If you do not have credit-bearing private instruction in your major discipline or your coursework does not meet the necessary criteria for transfer, you will be awarded prior learning credit for the levels you place out of. There is a $75 fee per credit ($150 per lesson level) awarded.
How do I move on to the next level of private lessons?
You must attend ten out of the twelve weekly sessions, meet all proficiencies, and earn a passing grade to move on to the next level.
How do I schedule private lessons with an instructor?
Private Lesson registration opens a month before the semester start. Enrolled guitar performance, piano performance and voice performance major students will receive an email with a link to register for the appropriate private lesson course level. This link will bring students to the private lesson scheduling tool where they will be able to select a day, time, and instructor.
Can I change the instructor I study with?
You can change your instructor for a particular semester during the drop/add period. Any changes are subject to the availability of the instructor(s) who you would like to switch to. You can choose to change your private lesson instructor from level to level.
What happens if I need to change the time of my lessons?
When you enroll in a lesson with an instructor, you are agreeing to a weekly day and time for your one-on-one sessions. In order to make a change to your lesson schedule, you must request and receive approval from your instructor in advance.
What happens if my instructor is unable to attend a lesson?
Sessions missed by the instructor will be made up by the end of the semester. Barring emergency situations, the instructor must give the student at least 48 hours' notice in the event they need to reschedule a session, as well as provide suitable alternatives for making up the session.