Student conductor, brown hair in a bun, black button up collared shirt, directing concert ban with baton against dark background.

Lessons

Criteria

Who can take lessons?

All UC Davis students are welcome to take intermediate to advanced music lessons through the Department of Music.

How to Enroll

To enroll in lessons, first contact the lessons instructor that corresponds to your area of study. Each instructor will have a conversation with you about your previous experience and may or may not choose to ask you for audition material.

Course Information

  • MUS 131
  • Schedule arranged with instructor
  • CRN given by instructor
  • 2 units

Lesson Fees

Costs

  • Lesson fees are $300 per quarter for the equivalent of ten half-hour lessons and are 
  • due by the 10th day of instruction or before your second lesson, whichever comes first. 
  • Payments must be made in person at the music office, paid in cash or check only (see “How to Pay” below for further details).
  • Non-majors who participate in orchestra, chorus, or band may be eligible for a rebate on lessons. Please contact the director of your ensemble to request this and fill out the “Lesson Scholarships for Music Majors” form.

Limitations

  • Non-majors may take lessons throughout their studies at UC Davis. However, they may only take one set of lessons in a given quarter. 
  • Lesson scholarships are available to music majors only (see “Lesson Scholarships for Music Majors” below on how to apply for a scholarship).

Scholarships for Music Majors

Lesson scholarships are only available to music majors, who may apply for a scholarship each quarter. This scholarship provides rebates of the full $300 paid back to the student’s account before the end of the quarter. Unfortunately, the lesson fee must be paid before the rebate is credited back to the student account. Complete the "Request a Scholarship" webform by the 5th day of instruction of the quarter (further instructions are found on the form).

Request a Scholarship 

Criteria
  • By “Active/Declared” music major, we mean declared majors who have enrolled in or have completed the core music major courses.
  • Students who request support are expected to enroll in the corresponding course number.
  • We regret that we are not able to provide scholarships for non-majors.

How to Pay 

Option 1

Pay Thomas Dean in person during normal business hours (with cash or check, again no credit card options) in Room 112, Music Building (Main Office)

Option 2

Please mail — or have your financial institution mail — the checks or money orders, made payable to “UC Regents,” to the following address:

Attn: Thomas Dean
One Shields Ave.
Music Building <–This line of the address is critical–>
Davis, CA 95616

Important Notes
  • Payments must be made by made or postmarked by October 10. 
  • Fee waiver applications are due October 1 by midnight. 
  • Make checks payable to “UC Regents”
  • Make sure “Music Building” appears in line 2 of the address or it will be held up at the campus mail center.
  • If someone is paying on your behalf, be sure to write the student’s name in the memo field.
  • Again, we cannot accept credit cards.

Practice Rooms

Practice rooms in both the Music Building and the Pitzer Center are only available to students who are enrolled in a course relevant either to the music major or music minor at UC Davis — or are enrolled in one of our performance ensembles or music lesson courses. (Please see the list of courses and ensemble names via the General Catalog here.) If you feel you meet this criterion, please email Caitlin Sapunor-Davis via [email protected] for information on how to reserve one of these practice rooms.