BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — Young musicians can hone their skills through individualized lessons with Illinois Wesleyan University’s School of Music faculty as part of the 2025-26 Preparatory Programs.
The registration deadline is Aug. 4, 2025, for lessons in piano, string, woodwind and brass instruments. A limited number of students are accepted and paired with professors for private instruction in music performance and musicianship skills. Lessons begin the week of Aug. 25 and continue once a week through the spring semester. Each session is tailored to the needs of the student and the programs also include recitals.
“The programs are geared toward pre-college age students, but we are happy to work with all ages and levels, including absolute beginners. Faculty are excited to work with students who are receptive to developing their musical skills and are eager to learn,” said Lisa Nelson, Director of the IWU String Preparatory Program and Associate Professor of Music.
The goals for each student are different, said Nelson, with IWU faculty encouraging the young musicians to “push towards something that is achievable and challenging.” Lessons will feature warmup techniques like scales and finger dexterity, building new skills, musical expression, and repertoire, while rehearsing for performances.
While many students above fifth grade can participate in school music programs, Nelson said those lessons typically happen in larger ensembles.
“Having private lessons is a great way to work on their individual playing. At recitals, students can also watch peers play a whole variety of instruments, and the families have a chance to interact with each other,” she said.
The music preparatory programs at Illinois Wesleyan have a rich history, with the piano program dating back 150 years. Over the decades, Nelson said the programming has brought local youth through the grand entrance of Presser Hall where they develop an appreciation for music while building personal connections with faculty. She said this sometimes leads to students choosing to enroll at IWU after high school.
“Music itself is a personal expression. It helps students develop new skills, building character and discipline — something they may not easily gain otherwise due to social media and the immediacy of our world.” said Nelson. “Our hope is that they can carry these skills and a love of music with them through the rest of their life.”
Scholarships are available for IWU’s Music Preparatory Programs through the Pratt Music Foundation and the David and Kay Williams Woodwind Scholarships. Additional information about the Preparatory Programs is available here.