Information for Current Students

Individual Music Lessons:

Interested in taking Individual Music Lessons on your voice/instrument through Lafayette? For an additional fee, our Music Department is proud to offer lessons with outstanding professional musicians. Anyone can register for private lessons either for ¼ credit (MUS 141) or not-for-credit (MUS 941).

If you would like to register for private lessons, and need a little help affording those lessons, please consider applying for a Sheng Family Music Lessons Scholarship. See below under Forms and applications.

Lesson Scheduling

Registering for lessons is a two-step process:

1. During the first week of school, register for either MUS 141 (1/4-credit) or MUS 941 (no credit). In the Drop/Add periods, you will need Permission of Instructor in order to complete your registration. Contact the Department Head for Music Jennifer Kelly (kellyjw@lafayette.edu) to obtain this permission. Note that you may also need to submit an online overload petition if you are choosing MUS 141 and that brings your total credits to 4.5 or higher. After your advisor endorses your overload petition, you will be able to register. Lessons begin in the second week of school, so be sure to register in the first week of school to ensure that you have all of your lessons.
2. When you have completed your registration process in Banner, your lesson instructor will contact you through your Lafayette email to schedule your lessons. If you register for MUS 141 for credit, you will have a “Jury” at the end of the semester, where you will present for your teacher and one other faculty member an example of what you have learned this semester.

To summarize: 1) register in Banner; 2) look for an email from your lesson instructor; 3) enjoy your lessons!

Reserve Classrooms

1) No food or beverages of any kind may be brought into the room. Closed water bottles are permitted, but must be removed when you leave.

2) No personal items or equipment may be stored in the room without prior authorization from the Department of Music.

3) The room must be returned to its default state (posted on the door) before you leave. This means that all trash is disposed of properly, all chairs and stands are returned to their racks, all equipment is powered off, and all instruments are stored in their proper location.

4) Use of the room  is reserved for individual student practice, rehearsals related to Department of Music ensembles and lessons, private lessons, and other Department-sponsored events. No non-Departmental rehearsals are permitted. Non-curricular ensembles (i.e. Rock Bands, etc.) are asked to secure practice space in Hogg Hall. Contact the college radio station for more information.

5) Students who play large string instruments (Cello, Double Bass, Harp) may store their personal instruments in the room with the permission of Department faculty. They must be kept on the provided racks and not on the floor.

6) Requesting a room does not guarantee that permission to use the room will be granted. The room may not be available when you need it. The Department of Music has sole authority with respect to granting permission to use the room.

Failure to adhere to these polices will result in the loss of the use of the room for the remainder of the semester.

Ensemble Information:

Chamber Orchestra

Rehearsals:  Wednesdays, 6:30-9:00 pm, Williams Center 123

The first rehearsal will be on Wednesday, August 27 at 6:30 pm in the Williams Center, room 123.  Additional information on scheduling auditions and repertoire will be posted on the Orchestra website.

Dr. Lewis Baratz, Conductor
Email
Website

Chamber Singers

Rehearsals:  Mondays & Wednesdays, 5:30-6:15 pm, plus additional sectionals. Williams Center 123

Chamber Singers are selected from members of Concert Choir. Placement audition is required for Chamber Singers. All interested students should attend the first rehearsal of Concert Choir, August 25, 4:15pm, for audition information.

Dr. Jennifer Kelly, Conductor
Email
Choir Website

Concert Band

Rehearsals: Tuesdays & Thursdays 4:15 – 5:45 pm, Williams Center 123
Rehearsals begin on Tuesday, August 26 at 4:15 pm
Only incoming players will have a seating audition:  auditions will be scheduled as needed.  Schedule this audition via the LCCB website.

Contact: Dr. Kirk O’Riordan for more information:
Email
LCCB Website

Concert Choir

Rehearsals:  Mondays & Wednesdays: 4:15 – 5:30 pm, Williams Center 123

First rehearsal is Monday, August 25. All are welcome!

Dr. Jennifer Kelly, Conductor
Email 
Choir Website

Contemporary Music Ensemble

Rehearsals: Thursdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Williams Center 123

Membership in LCCME is by audition/invitation of the Director only. The core instrumentation is Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Cello, Piano, and Percussion, though other instruments, such as oboe, saxophone, viola, horn, and electronics are used frequently. Rehearsals are scheduled as needed throughout the semester.

Dr. Kirk O’Riordan, Conductor
Email
LCCME Website

Jazz Combo

Rehearsals: Mondays, 4:15 – 6:00 pm, Williams Center 215

First Rehearsal is Monday, August 25.

Tom DiCarlo, Director
Email

Jazz Ensemble

Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Williams Center 123

Acceptance into the Ensemble will be determined by past performance results for previous members and auditions may be held for incoming players at the discretion of the director.

First Rehearsal is Tuesday, August 26

Jeff Watts, Director
Email
Jazz Ensemble Website

Latin American Ensemble

Rehearsals: Wednesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Williams Center 215

Interested instrumentalists and singers should contact Professor Torres for more information.

First rehearsal is Wednesday, August 27

Dr. Jorge Torres, Director
Email

Marquis Consort

Rehearsals: Tuesdays, 7:00 – 9:00 pm, Williams Center 215

The Marquis Consort is a chamber ensemble that performs Early Music and Traditional Music. Interested instrumentalists and singers should contact Professor Baratz about auditions.

First rehearsal is Tuesday, August 26

Lewis Baratz, Director
Email
Marquis Consort Website

Pep Band

The Pep Band performs at all home football games, as well as at home games for both Men’s and Women’s Basketball. Rehearsals occur prior to the games.  Additional rehearsals are scheduled throughout the semester as needed, and attendance is expected at all functions. There is a four-day camp for all players at the beginning of the College’s Orientation Week.

See the Pep Band Website for additional information.

Dr. Kirk O’Riordan, Advisor
Email
Website

Percussion Ensemble

Rehearsals: Mondays from 6:20 – 8:00pm, and
Fridays from 4:15—5:15 pm in Williams Center 123

First rehearsal is Monday, August 25

Matt Wells, Director
Email

Website

Forms and Applications

Sheng Family Lessons Scholarship

The Sheng Family Music Lesson Endowment provides a limited number of scholarships to qualified students wishing to take private lessons for academic credit (MUS 141). In order to qualify you must be an active member of a Music Department Ensemble. While preference is given for students currently receiving financial aid from the College, any interested ensemble member is encouraged to apply.

If selected, you must register your lesson for credit (MUS 141) and are expected to demonstrate commitment and progress throughout the semester and at your end-of-semester jury. At the conclusion of the semester, you will complete a brief online self-evaluation including a statement indicating whether you wish to be considered for an additional semester of Sheng sponsored lessons.

Application deadline is 11:59 pm Sunday, August 31, 2025.

Scholarship notifications will be sent out by Tuesday, September 2.

To apply for consideration of a Sheng Family Music Lesson Scholarship, please fill out the online application: Sheng Family Lessons Scholarship Application

Practice Rooms in South College:

• South College Practice Space Access

The practice rooms in South College Hall are open until midnight. Please access the practice rooms via the west entry door: the door on the parking lot side closest to Marquis Hall.