Auditions and Placement
The NEC Preparatory School offers open enrollment. Lessons and classes are available for students at any level, including beginners. Auditions for large ensembles (orchestras, choruses, and wind ensembles) take place in May for the following September; students who miss the May auditions may audition in September for any remaining openings. Auditions for all other programs (private lessons, theory, piano seminars, small ensembles and chamber music) take place in early September. Private lesson placements may be made throughout the year, depending on the availability of teachers.
Bookstore
Although NEC does not run an institutional bookstore, Music Espresso, located at 295 Huntington Ave, carries a wide selection of sheet music, music theory textbooks, and NEC logo items. For more information, please visit their website at http://www.musicespresso.com/.
Bulletin Boards
All information about room assignments for lessons, coachings, rehearsals, workshops, and recitals is posted each Saturday on the Preparatory School bulletin boards located near the entrance of the Jordan Hall building and the St. Botolph building. Please check these bulletin boards each week as you arrive for up-to-date information about all Preparatory School activities.
Catalog
Download a copy of the NEC Preparatory Catalog by clicking here.
Instruments
There are many options for renting and purchasing instruments in the Boston area. Please consult your child’s private teacher for specific recommendations if you are considering acquiring an instrument. Childsized double basses (for students taking lessons) and violas and certain auxiliary wind instruments (for students assigned to play these parts in an NEC ensemble) are available for students to borrow free of charge. Please contact the Concert Ensemble manager, Lisa Husseini, for more information.
Libraries
The Harriet M. Spaulding Library (located on Gainsborough Street, directly across the street from Jordan Hall) houses 75,000 volumes of music and books, and over 275 journals, newsletters, and newspapers. The Isabelle Firestone Audio Library (located in the basement of the Jordan Hall Building near Brown Hall) contains over 35,000 recordings on LP, CD, tape, and videotape. Use of the materials and listening rooms is available to all Preparatory students with a current ID.
NEC Career Services Center
New England Conservatory’s acclaimed Career Services Center is available to Prep School students and parents. The Career Services Center has a wealth of information on competitions, summer programs, music study abroad, college programs in music, etc. The Career Services Center is located in St. Botolph Room 226, and is open Monday - Friday, 9 AM - 5 PM. Please call (617) 585-1118 for more information.
NEC Undergraduate Admissions Information
The NEC Admissions Office is located on the first floor of the St. Botolph building. The Admissions Office is closed on Saturday. If you would like information about undergraduate admission to NEC, to schedule a tour, or arrange an audition, please contact the Admissions Office by calling (617) 585-1101 between 9 AM - 5PM, Monday - Friday, or e-mailing them at ADMstaff@necmusic.edu.
Office Hours
Academic Year (September - May):
Tuesdays - Thursdays, 9 AM - 5 PM
Fridays, 10 AM - 6 PM
Saturdays, 8 AM - 6 PM
Sundays and Mondays, CLOSED
Summer (June - August):
Mondays - Thursdays, 9 AM - 5 PM
Fridays, 9 AM - 12 PM
Saturdays and Sundays, CLOSED
Parking
Due to limited parking availability near the NEC campus, we recommend using public transportation.
Special discounted parking
Christian Science Center
The
underground garage of the Christian Science Center (at the intersection
of Massachusetts and Huntington Avenues, a short walk from NEC) will
now offer discounted parking to Prep families and Continuing Education
students on Saturdays between 7:30am and 6:10pm and on weekdays between
5pm and 10pm. Tickets are sold at the Prep office in SB120 and the CE
office in SB108 (cash or checks only).
There are two kinds:
(1) parking for up to 5 hours: $12 (or $110 for a book of 10 tickets)
(2) parking for up to 8 hours: $14 (or $130 for a book of 10 tickets)
The garage is accessible from both Massachusetts Ave. and Huntington Ave.
For more information on Boston parking laws and regulation, please visit cityofboston.gov/parking.
Other parking garages
Gainsborough Garage
10 Gainsborough Street
From
Copley: West on Huntington Avenue. Cross Massachusetts Avenue, passing
Symphony Hall on the right. Left at the first traffic light onto
Gainsborough Street. Pass NEC on the right. Uptown Garage is the next
building on the right.
Westland Avenue Garage
35 Westland Avenue
From
Copley: West on Huntington Avenue. Turn right onto Massachusetts
Avenue. Take the first left onto Westland Avenue. Circular parking
garage is on the right, above Whole Foods supermarket.
Metered parking
Very limited street parking is available on Gainsborough Street, St. Botolph Street, Huntington Avenue, and St. Stephen Street.
Handicapped parking
There are city-designated handicapped parking spaces near NEC. Because of the large number of music and theater presentations in the area, these spaces may not be available to NEC patrons. During construction projects, some of these spaces may move or become temporarily unavailable.
- Two spaces next to the entrance to NEC's Jordan Hall building at 290 Huntington Avenue
- Two spaces on Huntington Avenue outside the Cohen entrance to Symphony Hall
- One space on St. Stephen Street next to the backstage entrance to Symphony Hall
Photo Release
Preparatory School activities and students are often photographed for use in NEC promotional materials and publicity efforts. These photographs may be used in a publication, print ad, direct-mail piece, electronic media (e.g. video, CD-ROM, Internet) or other form of promotion. All Preparatory School students and their parents release NEC from liability for any violation of any personal or proprietary rights in connection with such use.
Photocopies
There are two coin-operated photocopy machines at NEC. One is located in the Spaulding Library; the other is located in the basement of the St. Botolph building outside of Room G03. The other photocopy machines at NEC require a departmental code, and are not available for student or faculty use.
Practice Rooms
Rooms at NEC may only be reserved by Preparatory School faculty for lessons, coaching, or classes. Preparatory School students may not reserve rooms for practicing or ensemble rehearsals. Students may practice in any vacant unlocked studio or classroom on Saturday, 8 AM – 6 PM, but must vacate the room immediately if it is needed for a lesson, coaching or class.
Public Transportation
NEC is easily accessible by T or bus. The nearest public transportation options are the Symphony stop (Green Line “E” train), Massachusetts Avenue stop (Orange Line), and buses 1, 39, and CT1. For more information, please visit http://mbta.com.
Registration
All students participating in NEC classes, ensembles, and lessons are required to register and pay the applicable fees. Attending classes or informing instructors of the intent to register does not constitute as registering for courses. Registration is complete only when the registration and payment have been processed online or in person. Payment is due at the time of registration. Invoices will not be mailed. All students may register online or in person. Phone registrations are not accepted. Please call (617) 595-1314 or click on Registration for more information.
School Closings
The Conservatory may be closed in some cases of inclement weather. The following radio and TV stations and website will announce school closings: WBZ 1030 AM and Channel 4; WRKO 680 AM and Channel 7; WCVB TV Channel 5; WLVI TV Channel 56; and www.wbur.org. Announcements will be updated regularly on the automated attendant at the NEC main number, (617) 585-1100. If school is cancelled due to bad weather, every effort will be made to make up lessons and classes.
Security and Safety
Security personnel are located at the entrance of the Jordan Hall and St. Botolph Street buildings. All safety concerns should be reported to them. Parents, please note that events and concerts are open to the public. Students are advised to carry their instruments and valuables at all times. Parents must supervise small children, and may not leave them unattended in libraries or other common areas. Identification cards must be shown to security personnel when entering the NEC buildings or upon request. NEC is not responsible for any lost or stolen items (including instruments). Our lost and found is located at the main security desk at Jordan Hall.
To contact the main Jordan Hall security desk, please call (617) 585-1290.
Student IDs
All NEC Preparatory students must send in a photo to pictureid@necmusic.edu to receive a Prep School photo ID, the Penguin Pass, after registering for classes. This ID card allows access to the NEC campus and libraries. Students should be prepared to show their ID card in order to enter NEC buildings. IDs can be picked up at the security desk in the St. Botolph Street building.
Student Lounge
The Howard Student Lounge, located near Brown Hall, is available for use by Preparatory students on Saturdays. Use of the lounge is a privilege contingent on maintaining an atmosphere which is welcoming to all members of the NEC community. Use of the computers in the student lounge by Preparatory students is strictly limited to checking email and doing web research. There is a 15-minute time limit on computer use by Preparatory students.
Withdrawals and Refunds
Students may withdraw from courses and ensembles within the first three weeks and receive a partial refund (please see detailed refund schedule). Students must request withdrawal from a class in person or in writing to the Registrar. Informing an instructor of a decision to withdraw from a course, stopping or withholding payment, and not attending classes do not constitute withdrawal from a course. There is no refund for year-long Preparatory School courses dropped mid-year. Exceptional refund requests will be reviewed when the request is made in writing with adequate documentation. Because private instructors set aside time slots on the basis of registrations and often refuse other students, the amount refunded to a student who wishes to withdraw from lessons mid-semester must be agreed upon by both the instructor and the student.
DUKE ELLINGTON