New England Conservatory of Music
| New England Conservatory educates and trains musicians of all ages from around the world, drawing on the talent and deep reservoir of experience of our distinguished faculty. We are dedicated to inculcating the highest standards of excellence and nurturing individual artistic sensibility and creative growth. Understanding that music is one of the transcendent expressions of human civilization, NEC aspires to ensure it a central place in contemporary society. “We believe that the study of music builds human capacity, elevates the soul, and prepares our students for lives that enhance the public good.We believe our students must have a supportive and collegial learning environment that maximizes the individual attention they receive from their teachers, and allows them to explore and develop their unique artistic personalities. We believe in the critical importance of mutual support among faculty that encourages the highest standards of excellence and accommodates innovation, individual teaching philosophies, and a broad range of disciplines.We believe that we have a responsibility to reinforce and expand the position of music in society by educating the next generation of music leaders, incubating new work, and sharing our sublime art with the widest possible audience.” |
Degree
| Undergraduate Programs | |
| Bachelor of Music Degree Most undergraduates at NEC pursue the Bachelor of Music degree (BM), a four-year program of immersive training in performance or composition, thorough instruction in music theory and music history, and an education in the liberal | Brass: Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba Composition Contemporary Improvisation Jazz Composition Jazz Performance Percussion Piano Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Guitar Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone Vocal Performance |
| Entrepreneurial Musicianship (EM) | NEC fosters a proactive mindset of that will be your foundation in creating a life in music. The EM department provides individualized resources including advising, workshops, internships, fellowships, grants, and gig opportunities to help each student build a creative career. In addition, all undergraduates take a required course, The Entrepreneurial Musician, usually in the junior year, to develop a toolkit for professional success. |
| Five-year dual degree programs | NEC offers rigorous 5-year programs with both Tufts University and Harvard College. These programs allow students who have dual passions in both music and another field to have access to the world’s best resources for both pursuits. |
| Undergraduate Diploma | The Undergraduate Diploma consists of three years of full-time undergraduate study in performance or composition. It does not include the general education and liberal arts study required to earn a bachelor’s degree. It therefore does not serve as a qualifying degree for entry into master’s degree programs. This program is usually most appropriate for students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree in another field but want to now pursue serious musical study. Please contact the Admissions Office for information about applying to the Undergraduate Diploma. |
| Graduate Programs | |
| Master of Music Degree. Most graduate students at NEC pursue the Master of Music degree (MM). This is a two-year program of immersive training in performance, composition, or research, supplemented by graduate-level academic courses in musicology and musi | Brass: Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba Composition Contemporary Improvisation Jazz Composition Jazz Performance Percussion Piano Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Guitar Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone Vocal Performance |
| Graduate Diploma The Graduate Diploma (GD) program consists of two years of full-time study in performance or composition. GD students work closely with a studio faculty mentor to refine technique while taking elective courses from across our many departments, exploring new areas of curiosity or revisiting areas of interest in greater depth. GD students perform frequently and participate in NEC’s incredible series of masterclasses with guest artists. | Brass: Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba Composition Contemporary Improvisation Jazz Composition Jazz Performance Percussion Piano Strings: Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp, Guitar Woodwinds: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone Vocal Performance |
| Three-year MM/GD for NEC alumni Students who graduate from NEC’s MM program may petition to apply one year’s work from their MM toward a GD (12 credits maximum with grades of B or better). The GD may then be completed in one additional year. Students seeking this track must submit a new application and audition. A new financial aid award will be made for the one-year GD, and this award is not guaranteed if the student chooses to complete the second degree in two years rather than one. | |
| Doctoral Study at NEC. | The Doctor of Musical Arts degree (DMA) is a rigorous and extremely selective program intended for musicians who combine the highest levels of achievement in their major area with thorough knowledge of musicology and music theory.Each fall, NEC aims to bring in a cohort of 8 to12 DMA students across all areas of study. This small, select group then proceeds through the first two years of doctoral seminar study together, sharing perspectives and ideas across a wide range of musical influences. There is no established departmental breakdown for this cohort, although it typically includes only one or two students from each of the departments. The cohort-based model and the very high standards for both entry and graduation make NEC’s DMA program among the most respected in the world. |
| Entrepreneurial Musicianship | In addition to the amazing musical resources available to graduate students, Entrepreneurial Musicianship (EM) at NEC fosters a proactive mindset of that will be your foundation in creating a life in music. The EM department provides individualized resources including advising, workshops, internships, fellowships, grants, and gig opportunities to help each student build a creative career. |
| Artist Diploma | The Artist Diploma (AD) is the highest-level performance designation offered by NEC. It is currently awarded in three categories: Instrumental Performance, Opera, and Orchestral Conducting. The program is extremely selective, with one candidate typically admitted to each of the programs per year. AD students are given a full tuition scholarship and a $10,000 annual stipend. |
| Certificate Programs | NEC’s School of Continuing Education offers a variety of credit-bearing programs: the Certificate of Merit and Professional Studies Certificate in composition, performance, or jazz, as well as studies in Music-in-Education. Weekday evening and Saturday classes make SCE certificates ideal for adults who want a conservatory education and have busy lives to accommodate. |
Area of Specialization