Private Lessons
Each student receives four lessons in their major area of study with an acclaimed faculty member.
Students should bring at least three pieces of music in their major field to study:
- One thoroughly polished and ready to perform.
- One that can be prepared for performance.
- One that is new.
A specific teacher may be requested, and every effort will be made to facilitate the request. Practice coaches are available upon request to assist students. All students are assigned practice rooms and a minimum of two practice sessions daily. All piano majors are assigned to practice rooms with Steinway grand pianos.
- String Students
- Piano Students
- Wind, Brass, and Percussion Students
- Voice Students
- Composition Students
- Guitar Students
Secondary Lessons and Areas of Study (Minors)
For an additional fee of $250, students may add an additional specialization, or “minor”. Each offering provides three 45-minute classes or lessons to the student during their time at LSA.
Please note that a secondary area of study is required for voice, composition, & guitar majors.
Secondary areas of study, or minors, are broken into two categories:
- Performance minors which include three 45-minute lessons on a secondary instrument, voice, or composition, or jazz lessons on a student’s primary instrument.
- Classroom minors which include three 45-minute classes on a variety of topics listed below.
Performance Minors:
Secondary Instrument Lessons: Being a versatile performer is a true 21st century skill. Vocalist need piano skills. Woodwinds often need to double. Violinists will sometimes be asked to play viola. Or maybe your interests just can’t be kept to one instrument. This is for you.
Composition: Creating your own music, and making arrangements of existing pieces should be part of every musician’s toolkit. A composition minor is good for those that want to receive training but still prefer an instrument as their primary area of study.
Jazz on your primary instrument: 21st century musicians should be able to play across genre. These lessons allow you to try your hand at jazz without having to do so in an ensemble setting.
Classroom Minors:
Performance Anxiety and Success: Learn to cope with nerves, maximize your focus, and play with confidence.
Alexander Technique: Alexander Technique teaches how to prevent and recover from injury, alleviate the effects of nervousness in performance, increase breath capacity, prevent tension, and improve technique, ease and sound in playing.
Conducting: For students wanting to build their current conducting skills or to explore the option of including conducting as a component of their musical career. During the three sessions, students will learn basic movements and strategies to achieve the beginnings of an elegant and artistic approach to instrumental conducting. Philosophies and challenges for the modern conductor will be discussed as well as an introduction to rehearsal planning and score study.
Film Scoring: Great for composition majors or any musician. A project-based look at the musical and technical aspects of syncing music to video.
Electronic Music: In this class, students will learn audio clip triggering, drum programming, and MIDI basics to create digital music using Ableton Live, one of the most powerful and popular music software applications today.
Electronic Press Kit/ Basic Web for Musicians: Part of our Professional Development & Entrepreneurship series, these three classes will introduce young musicians to writing professional bios, developing a value proposition, and the basic tools for a simple but functional web site.
Double Minor: It is possible for a student to take two minors: one performance minor, and one classroom minor. This option is offered at a discounted rate of $400 instead of the normal $500 two minors would normally cost. Please email us at lamontacademy@du.edu with any questions.
Ensembles
Auditions: All students (except composition majors) will audition for the faculty at the beginning of week one. Instrumental auditions will be for seating placement in orchestra and wind ensemble. Pianists, vocalists and guitarists will audition as a preliminary hearing for the master classes and honors recital before lessons commence. (See Academy Guidebook for information regarding audition repertoire.)
- Chamber Music: Instrumental and vocal chamber groups rehearse daily, receive four or more coaching sessions, and may have the opportunity to perform in a master class. Participation in chamber music at this level is an exceptionally rewarding experience for the advancing musician. Students will receive their chamber assignments well in advance of the L.S.A., and are required to come fully prepared with their part thoroughly learned. Chamber groups will perform in the final recitals.
- Vocal Chamber: Voice students (majors and minors) participate and perform in small ensembles where they will prepare short scenes from an operetta or musical
. - Orchestra: Instrumental majors participate in orchestra and perform works for both full and string orchestra. Seating is determined by audition on the first full day of the session. Composition and piano students who are skilled at playing an orchestral instrument may audition to participate as well.
- Choir: All students participate in an hour of choir daily. Through singing, students refine musical skills such as sight-reading and phrasing, and are exposed to repertoire of many styles.
- Wind Ensemble: Woodwind, brass and percussion majors may participate in wind ensemble, focusing specifically on instrumental techniques and repertoire for wind ensemble.
- Modern Music Making: 21st century musicians should strive to be stylistically nimble and be able to play across genre. We offer a variety of ensembles to help build those skills.
- Steel Drum Ensemble: Students have the opportunity to explore new musical horizons as they learn to play and perform on the steel drums.
- Soundpainting Ensemble: Soundpainting is a hand gesture based composition language. Soundpainting has become one of the most entertaining and fun performances of the academy. Students learn the gestures and then are put in charge of the group for an often theatrical performance on the New Music Concert.
- Flex Jazz Ensemble: Open to any singer or instrumentalist that wants to explore jazz and improvisation. Great for students that already have jazz experience.
All major ensembles are featured on the final afternoon concert.
Recitals & Performance Classes: With their teacher's/coach's approval, students have the opportunity to participate in performance classes throughout the session and may be eligible to perform on the Honors Chamber Recital and/or Honors Solo Recital, held in the second week of summer academy. Performance in frequent informal classes is highly encouraged and a collaborative pianist is available for rehearsal. Final instrumental and vocal chamber music recitals, including small ensembles, take place on the second to last day of academy. The final concert, featuring the large ensembles, takes place on the final day of academy so that families may attend. All performances are held in the beautiful facilities of the Robert & Judi Newman Center for the Performing Arts, Lamont School of Music.
Master Classes & Honors Recital: The selection of students for master classes and honors recitals is by recommendation of the private instructor or coach. Ensemble auditions will serve as a preliminary hearing for selection. Students who wish to be considered for one of these opportunities must inform their instructor during their first lesson, and demonstrate at that time that the piece they wish to perform has been sufficiently prepared. Memorization is required for piano, strings, and voice; memorization is preferred for woodwinds and brass.
Classes
Theory & Musicianship: All students participate in a music theory class. A theory placement test will determine class level. Students that score high enough on the placement test may opt for more practice time. These theory classes alternate with musicianship classes (Basic Composition, Listening and Artistry)
Voice Class: Voice students participate in daily voice class, focusing on healthy singing techniques, vocal production, diction, dramatic movement/presentation and vocal repertoire.
Piano Class: Pianists participate in daily piano classes, which provide an informal atmosphere for performance and include instruction in collaborative piano, piano literature, healthy playing, practice techniques and memorization, among other topics.
Guitar Class: Guitar students will focus on technique, sight-reading, and musicianship, as well as explore injury prevention, Alexander Technique, guitar literature and understanding different traditions of classical guitar playing.
Stretching & Yoga Class: Offered as an optional class for all students, this class focuses on exercises to maintain a healthy, injury-free musician, both mentally and physically.
