Carillon Instruction

Play the Bells

The University’s carillon is played daily by students and faculty. All Rochester-area community members are eligible to learn to play the carillon, either for academic credit or not. Learning takes place on so-called practice keyboards, duplicates of the tower keyboard that don’t play the real bells.

Lessons for Current Students

For-credit carillon instruction is available to current University students by audition through the Arthur Satz Department of Music on the River Campus. Auditions consist of a brief introductory workshop and an interview; no previous carillon or keyboard experience is expected. All lessons are taught by University Carillonist Carson Landry.

Two classes are available:

• MUSC 104: Carillon (2 credits, weekly 30-minute private lessons)
• MUSC 204: Carillon (4 credits, weekly 60-minute private lessons, prerequisite MUSC 104)

Students from all backgrounds are enthusiastically welcome to apply for admittance into the carillon class. Although all applications will be given consideration, please note that the ability to read treble and/or bass clef and prior musical experience on any instrument is typically required. Students in need of introductory music education are encouraged to take MUSC 116–Keyboard Skills I before applying to the carillon studio. In order to lessen turnover, students with three or more school years remaining before their expected graduation are generally given priority consideration.

To apply for an audition, complete this form.

Lessons for Community Members

Non-credit carillon instruction is available to any community member through the Eastman Community Music School (ECMS), subject to instructor availability. The posted tuition costs are for a default of 16 lessons per semester, but students may enroll for 4, 8, or 12 lessons at a prorated tuition rate, for as little as $154! Generally, 8 or 12 half-hour lessons per semester are preferred. Note that only instructor-level teaching is currently available for carillon.

Ability to read treble and/or bass clef and prior musical experience on any instrument is typically required. Individuals in need of introductory music education are encouraged to first enroll in private piano lessons through ECMS.

Current University students who are not accepted into the for-credit carillon studio are welcome to apply for non-credit lessons through ECMS.

To indicate interest in ECMS lessons, complete this form.