Individual Instruction Program (IIP)

Through courses in the Individual Instruction Program (MUS 53-58), student musicians receive weekly private lessons with some of the region's finest instructors. IIP courses are open by audition to all Dartmouth students, regardless of major.

MUS 53-58

Registration

Please consult the Registrar's Individual Instruction Program Guide for up-to-date information about how to register for IIP courses. The first part of the course number (before the decimal) is determined by your instrument, while the decimal is determined by your progress in the three-term course sequence, regardless of the current term (fall, winter, or spring). For example, if you are a trombone student on your second term of IIP lessons, you will register for MUS 55.02. In order for you to register for Term 1 of an IIP course, the instructor must first issue a permission override for you in Banner. Instructor permission is not required for Terms 2 and 3 of IIP courses, except during the second week of the schedule adjustment period (add/drop).

Course numbers

  • MUS 53: Keyboards (classical piano, jazz piano)
  • MUS 54: Woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, classical saxophone, jazz saxophone)
  • MUS 55: Brass (horn, trumpet, trombone, euphonium, baritone horn, tuba)
  • MUS 56: Strings (classical guitar, jazz and pop guitar, bass guitar, harp, violin, viola, cello, double bass)
  • MUS 57: Voice
  • MUS 58: Percussion
  • MUS 58.1: Sound Engineering

Please note: Within the three key areas of study described in the requirements for the music major and minor, MUS 53–58 belong to the performance area, but MUS 58.1 falls under the creative practice area. 

Decimals

  • Term 1 (.01): Student's first term of IIP
  • Term 2 (.02): Student's second term of IIP
  • Term 3 (.03): Student's third term of IIP

Credit

One course credit is offered for the combined three terms of instruction and will be granted only after successful completion of all three terms of study. The course is included as part of a student's official course load only in the third term and the grade is given upon completion. All courses in this sequence (MUS 53-58) are offered only on a graded basis; under College regulations the policy must be announced prior to each initial term.  A student may repeat the course if satisfactory progress has been made, within the conditions stated following this description.

Students may take courses within the Individual Instruction Program more than once. To initiate a new three-course sequence, they again receive instructor permission for the initial course.

No more than four course credits from IIP courses (MUS 53-58) may be counted by any student toward the Dartmouth degree.

Dist: ART.

Grading

Credit and a letter grade for the courses will be given only upon successful completion of all three terms. Students are reminded to register for each term of the three-term IIP sequence.

At the end of the first and second terms of enrollment, students will receive the grade of "ON," indicating that the student is in the process of completing three terms of IIP courses (the "ON" grades will remain on the transcript). At the end of the third term, the student will receive one course credit and a final grade from the instructor. The course will count in the course load the third term only. Students are reminded to manage their course loads, recognizing that the IIP course will count in the third term of enrollment. See course load regulations for more information.

Students will receive a "W" on their transcript if they drop Term 3 of an IIP course per the standard course withdrawal regulations for each term.

Other Individual Instruction Options

  • For beginning piano lessons taught by student instructors (not for credit), see Dartmouth Piano Exchange.
  • For beginning guitar lessons in a small-group setting, see MUS 9.01: Introductory Guitar, a one-term, one-credit course.
  • For advanced individual instruction in one-term, one-credit courses with double-length lessons, see MUS 60-65: Studies in Musical Performance.
  • Students not accepted into an IIP course may, at the discretion of the instructor, make private arrangements for study with music department faculty members, or they may study off-campus with teachers in the area. No academic credit will be given for private or off-campus study and the fee is the responsibility of the student.