Private Lessons

2000-level

All students must enroll at the 2000-level for their first semester of lessons. Available in subsequent semesters for students playing at a beginner to intermediate level, or with limited time to practice. Half-hour or one-hour lessons, credit/no-credit (pass-fail), ½ or 1 credit. Optional performance opportunities may be available, and individual instructors may set definite performance requirements for their students. No jury required. Scholarships are typically not available at this level.

3000-level

Advanced Performance. Prerequisite: at least one semester of 2000-level study and a successful audition. Auditions take place during fall or spring juries. One-hour lessons, graded, 2 credits. Practice requirements are set by individual instructors, and typically reflect a larger time commitment than 2000-level lessons. Students must play a jury at the end of the semester. Scholarship support may be available by audition, but is always contingent on availability of funds.

4000-level

Honors Performance. Taken for two semesters by fourth year music majors preparing a degree recital. Prerequisite: 3000-level study, successful written application and audition in the semester before enrolling. One-hour lessons, graded, 2 credits. Jury at the end of the first semester, recital in the second semester. Students are typically on scholarship, but scholarship support is always contingent on availability of funds.

Fees

There is a fee for private lessons, which is in addition to regular tuition:

Lesson Credit | Cost

• ½ Credit (2000-level) | $447.50
• 1 Credit (2000-level) | $895
• 2 Credits (3000- & 4000-level) | $895

PAYMENT FOR LESSONS: Private Lesson fees will be billed for collection by Student Financial Services. Students can view and pay account balances online for private lessons.

Please see Student Financial Services website for information regarding the University’s Refund Policy 

Enrollment Dates

Enrollment Deadline — September 8, 2026
Late enrollment must be approved by student's Association Dean

Drop Deadline — September 9, 2026
Prorated charges will apply

Withdrawal Deadline — October 20, 2026
Prorated charges will apply

Enrollment Procedure for Full-Time UVA Students

INSTRUCTOR PERMISSION: Contact the instructor in your area of interest as early as possible to ensure there is availability in their studio.

ENROLL IN LESSONS: After obtaining approval from the instructor, log into your SIS account to request enrollment for the private lessons. The instructor will approve your enrollment request in SIS. Once permission is granted, you will receive an automatic email with an expiration date by which time you must accept the permission. Often, the expiration date is 24 hours after permission is granted.

AUDITIONS: Instructors may require auditions.  All students taking lessons through the Department of Music for the first time must enroll for 2000-level lessons, a credit/no-credit (pass/fail) class that carries either 0.5 or 1 credit. Only students who have successfully auditioned for the 3000-level will be allowed to enroll in 3000-level study, which is a graded course (2.0 credits). If you have taken at least one semester of lessons with the Department of Music and wish to audition for the 3000-level, inform your instructor as soon as possible so that an audition can be arranged before the enrollment period ends.​

Piano Auditions

Classical Piano
Classical piano lessons are offered by audition on a space-available basis. Auditions are normally held at the beginning of each semester. For more detailed information and to express your interest in auditioning, please follow this link: https://bit.ly/uva-piano

Jazz and Non-Classical Piano
Contact Calvin Brown. 
In Jazz and Nonclassical Piano we will: Study the masters; Learn standard jazz repertoire; Learn to play songs by ear; Learn about improvisation; Ideas for playing in group settings.  If you have questions or want more information about Jazz and non-classical piano lessons please contact Calvin Brown (calvinebrown@gmail.com). More information about Calvin Brown.

Voice Auditions

Classical / Musical Theatre Voice | Fall 2026

General Info:

The University of Virginia Department of Music holds placement auditions each semester for study with members of the Classical / Music Theater Voice faculty. Students may request a specific teacher in the space provided on the audition form. Biographical listings for all voice faculty can be found on the departmental website. https://music.virginia.edu/faculty-lessons

When and where are the auditions?/How do I sign up for an audition?

• Auditions will be held FRIDAY, August 8 beginning at 1:00PM in Old Cabell Hall Room TBA
• Students interested in auditioning should contact Vocal Coordinator, Pamela Beasley at pbb2c@virginia.edu to secure a time slot.
• Students unable to audition in person on this date may send a video submission link to the email above between August 22-August 27

What to sing at auditions?

You should prepare a selection: an art song, aria, music theater selection, folk song, hymn or anything else you are comfortable singing. A pianist will be available for the auditions and students should bring proper printed sheet music to their auditions for the pianist. If not memorized, bring 2 copies.

Please note: Although we do our best to place as many students as possible, an audition does not guarantee placement into private lessons as studio space is a factor.

Any questions or concerns? Please contact Pamela Beasley at pbb2c@virginia.edu

Jazz / Popular Voice | Fall 2026
No audition is required - contact Stephanie Nakasian at nakasian@virginia.edu to schedule a mutually convenient timeslot for your live in-person lessons.

Students learn safe vocal technique to open up a natural powerful voice and to increase breath, range and flexibility from a teacher with 40 years of touring and recording experience all over the world. Vocalists will use the text "You already know how to sing: Voice lessons - Life lessons" (available at the UVA Bookstore or from Stephanie Nakasian's website). Once a student has selected their songs for their lessons, they have the choice to accompany themselves on guitar or piano, purchase a commercial track, or ask Ms. Nakasian to prepare tracks to accompany them.

Students learn how to go from practice to learning a song to performance. There is an optional voice recital at the end of the semester.

Lesson Scholarships

Through the generosity of private donors and the College of Arts and Sciences, the Department of Music has limited funding available for lessons scholarships. With some very rare exceptions, only students who performed a jury at the end of the semester are eligible for a scholarship, which would be awarded the following semester.

If a scholarship is awarded, the student will be notified via e-mail regarding the scholarship amount. Students awarded a partial scholarship must enroll in at least a one-credit lesson in order to apply their scholarship.

Enrollment Procedure for UVA Employees and Community Members

University employees and community members may enroll in private performance lessons, subject to teacher availability and to the following policies:

• Email the faculty member offering the desired music lesson to seek permission to enroll.  The email must include the student’s reasons for applying for private lessons, any relevant music experience, and any prior involvement with the UVA Department of Music.
• If faculty member permission is received, the student must forward that email to the Department of Music Chair Ted Coffey ejc3q@virginia.edu (and copy Tina Knight trk4n@virginia.edu) asking for the Chair’s approval.
• If both instructor and Department of Music Chair approval are received, the student must upload those emails as verification to the SCPS Community Scholar online registration form.

Pre-college students are subject to the SCPS policy on High School and Home Schooled Students. Only juniors or seniors in high school are eligible to request to enroll in private performance lessons. Copies of the required documentation (high school transcript, Parent/Guardian Permission Form, letter of recommendation from the high school) must be submitted along with the instructor and chair emails in the instructions above for community members.

Full-time UVA students receive priority to enroll in private performance lessons each semester.

Juries

Please download the Jury Form and fill out the top section prior to your performance. You will need to provide a copy of the form for each juror. If you prefer, bring one completed copy of the form to the Administrative Coordinator in the Department of Music office, and he/she will make copies for you. If you would like to have copies made, please bring your originals before the day of your jury.

Blank copies of the Jury Form are also available in the Department of Music office.

For questions, contact Tina Knight, Academic Programs Coordinator - 434-924-1435.