Advance your artistry this summer with New England Conservatory’s summer session courses. This curated selection of course offerings allow you to explore your interests, engage with faculty, and earn credit toward your degree. Summer session courses are designed for current NEC graduate students, graduate-level students from other institutions looking to earn transferable credit, and lifelong learners interested in experiencing NEC.
2024 Course Offerings
Taught by NEC’s esteemed faculty, summer session courses allow students to explore a variety of subjects. Courses take place between June 24 and August 9, and each course is worth three credit hours. 2024 courses include:
- HP 551S (G) – Baroque Performance Practice with Guy Fishman (6 weeks)
- INTGS 531S – Sensor-based Instrument Prototyping with John Mallia (4 weeks)
- JS 572S – Applied Modal Analysis with Benjamin Schwendener (4 weeks)
- JS 577S – Advanced Jazz Theory with Benjamin Schwendener (4 weeks)
How to Apply
The application deadline for summer session courses is May 1, 2024, or when the course is full. Seats will be allotted on a first-come, first-served basis, and tuition payment is required to reserve a spot.
Follow the link below to submit your application through NEC's application portal. If you are a current NEC student, you may use the same account you used to apply to the conservatory previously. If you are not a current NEC student, please create a new account. Once logged into the application portal, click "Start New Application" and select "NEC Summer Credit Programs" from the dropdown menu. Select "Summer Credit Programs 2024" from the subsequent menu, then click "Create Application" to start your application.
Cost of Attendance
- Graduate Tuition*: $3,600/course
- Application Fee: $50
- Limited housing may be available upon request.
*Students requesting refunds before May 1 at 5 p.m. ET will receive a full refund. For requests made between May 2 and 27, 80% will be refunded, while requests made between May 28 and June 3 will be refunded at 60%. No refunds will be granted on or after June 4, 2024.
Graduate Course Information
HP 551S | BAROQUE PERFORMANCE PRACTICE WITH GUY FISHMAN
June 25–August 2, 2024 | Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6:30–8 p.m.
This course explores repertoire and historically-informed performance practice issues in vocal and instrumental music, on both period and modern instruments, from the 17th to the middle of the 18th century. Practical and theoretical topics such as ornamentation, improvisation, vibrato use, articulation, rhetoric and expression, basso continuo, and — most importantly — the role of language in the composition and performance of this music are discussed through primary sources and audio/visual materials. The discussion is then put to practical use through in-class playing and exploration, coaching, and some out-of-class rehearsal, culminating in a final performance. NEC's collection of period instruments (strings and bows, winds, trumpets, keyboards) will be available for use, but standard instruments can also be used. Experienced singers and players, as well as those new to historically-informed performance, are welcome to join!
INTG 531S — SENSOR-BASED INSTRUMENT PROTOTYPING WITH JOHN MALLIA
May 29–July 10, 2024 | Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 3-4:30 p.m.
This course takes place in a lecture/maker-lab environment and will provide students with an understanding of how sensor-based microcontroller systems may read physical data and generate controlled responses in the form of sound, light, image, vibration, and movement. In each class, students will assemble electronic circuits using solderless breadboards and work with introductory programming techniques, Arduino microcontrollers, and provided audiovisual software sampling and synthesizer templates to create working prototypes of sensor-driven controller instruments. Existing sensor control systems used by a variety of musicians working in the field will be examined. Beginning with projects that utilize only a few simple electronic components, students will work toward the creation of a final prototyping project combining sensors, actuators, indicators, and haptics in a manner that results in an engaging interaction between the user/performer and the controller instrument.
JS 572S | APPLIED MODAL ANALYSIS WITH BENJAMIN SCHWENDENER
July 16–August 9, 2024 | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 10 a.m.–12 p.m.
"Advanced Modal Analysis" is a music theory class presenting a different yet complementary perspective to traditional Western music theory. Although originating from jazz, AMA applies to all styles of music. Essentially based on organizational relationships of melody to the circle and ladder of fifths, musicians gain an understanding of creative modalities for improvisation through analysis, ear training, and the realization of their own new works. This course is open to students of any department.
JS 577S | ADVANCED JAZZ THEORY WITH BENJAMIN SCHWENDENER
July 16–August 9, 2024 | Tuesdays and Thursdays | 1–3 p.m.
Created by George Russell, the Lydian Chromatic Concept has been taught consistently at NEC since 1969, when Gunther Schuller began the first Jazz department at a conservatory in the U.S. This course is open to students from any department. Although originating from jazz and in large part responsible for its Modal Period, the LCC applies to all styles of Western-based music. Classical composers such as Takemitsu, Stockhausen, and others have been influenced by this theoretical perspective and the enormous spectrum of modalities and creative choices it embraces. This is a lecture/performance class where all students create original works demonstrating the principles discussed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will financial aid or scholarships be made available for the summer courses?
Unfortunately, scholarships and financial aid are not available for summer session courses.
Can international students apply?
International students in valid F-1 status (from NEC or any other school) who will remain in valid status throughout the time of their enrollment in a summer class at NEC are eligible to enroll in (a) summer class(es). F-1 students sponsored by NEC are eligible to enroll without requiring any change in their current visa status or SEVIS record. F-1 students sponsored by institutions other than NEC are encouraged to consult with their school’s DSO prior to enrollment to ensure their eligibility to enroll in NEC’s summer programs.
NEC will NOT sponsor an application for a new F-1 visa or issue a new I-20 to students enrolling in summer programs. Therefore, any international students applying to our summer programs must provide proof of valid F-1 status and a current I-20 before an application to our summer programs can be considered.
Is housing available?
Limited housing may be available upon request.
Can students take more than one course?
Yes, students may take as many courses as their schedule allows. However, it's important to note that during the summer, some courses may have overlapping schedules which may result in conflicts.
Can an undergraduate student take a graduate-level course?
No, undergraduate students cannot take graduate-level courses. These courses are only open to students who have completed their undergraduate studies and meet the necessary requirements for admission into a graduate program.
Are there any prerequisites for the courses being offered?
There are prerequisites for some of the summer courses being offered. Please check the course descriptions for specific prerequisites and requirements.
Can students who do not attend NEC take summer courses?
Yes, matriculated students at institutions outside of NEC are eligible to take any of the summer courses offered. However, please note that some courses are exclusively available to students from other institutions and may not be open to NEC students.