In addition to regular private lessons with our outstanding faculty, students may take advantage of the following opportunities to further develop their musical skills and engage with the WCM community.
Student Recitals
Any student, with his or her teacher’s approval, may perform in regularly scheduled Sunday recitals throughout the year. Pianists will have the opportunity to perform on our nine-foot Blüthner concert grand. Adult students may perform in regular student recitals, adult-only recitals, and at informal parties. Faculty members may also schedule studio class recitals. WCM provides a staff accompanist for the recitals and up to 30 minutes of rehearsal for each soloist or ensemble prior to the recitals. Additional rehearsal time is paid for by the student. Students who choose an outside accompanist are responsible for the entire payment.
Juried Recitals
At the end of each semester, students have an opportunity to perform before faculty panels in a recital setting and receive written evaluations of their performance. Nominal jury fee applies.
Honors Recitals
Each year teachers are invited to nominate their most outstanding students (grade school through high school) to audition for the Conservatory’s culminating student recital: the Honors Recital. Students audition before a panel of judges. Those selected by the judges to perform receive certificates of achievement at the recital. It is the responsibility of students who audition to provide their own accompanist for the audition. For the recital, students are provided an accompanist, in accordance with standard WCM recital procedures.
Student Evaluations by Private Instructors
After the end of the spring semester, private lesson students receive written reports from their teachers of their musical progress. Informative and instructive to learning goals, WCM considers feedback an important part of the learning process. Evaluations can show students methods they can use to monitor or evaluate their own performing for greater independence and control of their learning, and help to advance skill levels which makes music participation more rewarding.
Studio Classes
Each semester, an individual teacher may arrange for his/her students to meet together to explore in depth some aspect of the instrument and/or to perform for each other in an informal learning environment. Depending on the student’s needs, studio classes can be used as preparation for or in lieu of regular student recitals. Studio classes are free to students registered for individual lessons; however, a minimal accompanist fee may be applied.
Free Admission to Concerts
WCM students are encouraged to attend concerts at the Conservatory by faculty members and guest artists such as the Shanghai String Quartet, John O’Conor (piano), Alexander Paley (piano), and many others. These listening opportunities are presented as part of the Conservatory’s Professional Concert Series and provide an invaluable part of the student’s learning process.