Music Lessons Program at Yale

Lessons are available in flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, percussion, harp, harpsichord, piano, organ, guitar, voice, violin, viola, cello, double bass, and jazz saxophone. YSM does not provide instruments for lessons, so students must have access to their own instruments. 

Note reading ability is required to take lessons.

Students interested in composition, choral conducting, and orchestral conducting can find classes in the Department of Music and in the School of Music. 

AUDITION INFORMATION FOR Fall, 2025

Auditions will be held during the first week of school for lessons. Applicants will be notified of audition procedures in late August.

Audition schedule:

• Piano: Tuesday, September 2nd
• Voice: Friday, August 29th
• Cello: Friday, August 29th
• Violin: Thursday, August 28th
• Jazz Saxophone: September 3rd
• All other instrumental auditions will be by video submission

Lesson information for Fall 2025 

*No lesson applications will be accepted after September 15, 2025.

All students wishing to apply for music lessons must first submit a Music Lesson Application.

Undergraduate music lessons for credit

Pending the results of online auditions and faculty availability, YSM will grant credit lessons to select students. Students may be required to play a final jury each semester and will receive a narrative final grade report along with a P or F grade. There is no additional charge for lessons for credit; students enrolled in lessons for credit are also required to enroll in an eligible course offered by the Department of Music. Students may choose from courses in Groups I, III, and IV of the music major as well as introductory (1000-level) MUSI courses. These courses may be taken prior to or concurrent with credit music lessons, and two semesters are required. Guidance for music theory placement is available on the Department of Music’s web page.

Students wishing to apply for credit lessons must first fill out an application for lessons. Students approved by YSM faculty for lessons for credit must have returned the lesson request form in addition to registering for the course with the Yale College Registrar.

Non-credit lessons

Non-credit-lesson students are not required to take any music theory courses, are not required to play a final jury, and do not receive a final grade. Students can choose to receive six hours of non-credit instruction per semester ($350) or 10 hours of instruction ($550). 

Undergraduate students who demonstrate musical potential and financial need are eligible for a scholarship from the Cynthia Redding White Dixon Memorial Fund through the Department of Music. For information about applying for a scholarship, please contact Ms. Kristine Kinsella.  

There is no refund for lessons missed, and the full year will be charged unless students drop the lessons before the deadline using the Lesson Drop Form. 

Returning undergraduate students

Returning students must also complete a Music Lesson Application. Returning students do not need to re-audition unless requesting a new teacher or a change in lesson type. All students taking lessons for credit must also register for the class in their regular schedule as well as any music theory co-requisites needed. Please contact Professor Kyung Yu (kyung.yu@yale.edu), Director of the YSM Lessons Program, for specific audition requirements for your instrument

Lessons information for Fall 2025 

All students interested in taking lessons must submit a Music Lesson Application.

*No lesson applications will be accepted after Sept. 14, 2025.

Access to individual practice rooms in Hendrie Hall will be available by reservation through ArtsVision.

Private lessons are available to all graduate students. The type of lesson enrollment, cost, and credit are determined by the student’s school:

School of Music and Institute of Sacred Music concurrently enrolled at the School of Music
Students may take one Music Lesson Program instrument each semester as per their major.  No audition is required. There is no charge for the six hours of instruction per semester, but students may be required to play a final jury. To receive lessons and get credit students must complete the following: 

1. Request secondary lessons using the Music Lessons Request Form. 
2. Register for the proper course along with their other regular classes. 

Each lesson term is one semester; students must repeat both steps 1 and 2 above for each semester enrolled in the Music Lessons Program. If you drop your lessons, you must use the Lessons Drop Form before the stated deadline. 

 

Yale Divinity School, Yale School of Drama, and Yale School of Art 
Students may take one Music Lesson Program instrument each semester. No audition is required. There is a $200 fee for six hours of instruction per semester, and students may be required to play a final jury. To receive lessons and get credit students must complete the following: 

1. Request secondary lessons using the Music Lessons Request Form 
2. Register for the proper course in the school along with their other regular classes. Please check with your school’s registrar for the proper course. If you do not register for the Music Lesson Program through your school your lessons are considered non-credit, and you will be charged $350 per semester. 

Each secondary lesson term is for one semester; students must repeat both steps 1 and 2 above for each semester enrolled in the Music Lesson Program. If you drop your lessons, you must use the Lesson Drop Form before the stated deadline. See your registrar for procedures and charges specific to your school. 

All Other Yale Graduate and Professional Schools It is not possible to take private music lessons for credit. Students may select non-credit lessons of six hours ($350) or 10 hours ($550) per semester. Registration for graduate non-credit lessons is available only once per year. Auditions occur prior to the start of the fall semester. Lesson students are required to be enrolled in the lesson program for the entire academic year. An audition is required for placement. All students wishing to take lessons need to fill out the Music Lessons Request Form. 

There is no refund for lessons missed, and the full year will be charged unless students drop the lessons before the deadline using the Lesson Drop Form.

Teaching arrangements are made in the fall for the entire academic year. The Lesson Drop Form must be submitted if the student does not intend to continue studying in either the fall or spring semester.

There is no charge for dropping lessons by the following dates:

Fall: Sept. 29, 2025

Spring: Jan. 30, 2026

Students who drop lessons after this date will not be reimbursed.

Refunds are not issued on a per-lesson basis for missed lessons. Lessons cannot be rolled over from one semester to the next.

Please report to Professor Kyung Yu immediately if your instructor fails to keep lesson appointments.