Yes. Bloomingdale offers rolling admissions, which allows students to register at any time during the year.

• Yes.  Enrollment is based on three main semesters: Fall (17 weeks long), Spring (17 weeks long), and Summer (6-8 weeks long). Consistent weekly lessons and classes are important for the development and progress of musical learning. When you register, you are committing to the current semester. 

Yes, we offer our adult students a flexible lesson package option. A Season Ticket allows you to purchase a package of 60-minute lessons (minimum of 6) per semester arranged around your schedule. Once registered, simply schedule your lessons directly with your instructor and complete your lessons before the end of the semester.

Find more information here.

No. There is an additional cost for music books and/or other study materials. Most teachers will recommend a study series (Suzuki, Alfred, Faber, etc) that can be purchased online or at a local music or book store. Select books and materials such as manuscript books and primer level books for beginner group classes may be purchased through the front office.

No, students will not learn how to play an instrument in an Early Childhood class. However, early childhood classes at Bloomingdale prepare students for group and private instrument study. In these classes students learn musical concepts such as tempo, dynamics, rhythm, pitch, and use specially designed children’s percussion instruments. All the skills gained in Bloomingdale’s early childhood classes will help young children have a successful and smooth transition into instrumental study.

Parents should register their children for the class that is age-appropriate at the beginning of the semester. If a baby who is 15 months in September outgrows Baby’s and Toddler’s First Music Class, for example, faculty members will recommend that the student switch into Music and Movement. However, since the age ranges of all Bloomingdale’s early childhood classes are relatively small, children mature and develop together over the course of the semester and are generally well matched.

The age to begin private study differs from child to child and instrument to instrument. The youngest age we recommend private lessons to is 4 years old on select instruments. However students this young are recommended to take a trial lesson first. Contact registration if you have questions about starting your child in private lessons.

While there is no definite answer to this question, some instruments do have certain physical requirements. Piano, recorder, string instruments, and voice are good choices for younger children, as young as 4 years old depending upon the instrument and child maturity. Contact registration if you have questions about starting your child in private lessons.

In most cases, students need to have the instrument that they are studying in order to practice between lessons. Bloomingdale studios, all with pianos, are available free-of-charge for current students of the school, subject to availability.

Private lesson students must supply their own instruments. For new students, families are encouraged to discuss the student’s needs with the teacher before purchasing or renting an instrument. A list of rental recommendations is available from the Registration office upon request.

Bloomingdale has a limited supply of rental instruments with availability on a first-come, first-served basis for enrolled students. Students are responsible for maintenance of instruments (e.g., string and reed replacement, cleaning) and any repair costs due to damage. A rental fee of $50 per semester is required, as well as a security deposit which is returned to the student upon completion of the semester rental. Security deposits range between $50 for small instruments such as Violin to $100 for large instruments such as Cello. For more information on Instrument Rentals, please reach out to registrar@bsmny.org.

The piano faculty strongly recommends that every BSM piano student have regular access to a standard and well-maintained acoustic piano. Important reasons for this include the need for students to have a closer physical connection to their sound production, as well as the fact that most lessons, rehearsals, and performances inside and outside Bloomingdale will take place on acoustic pianos. If access to an acoustic piano is not possible, we recommend one or a combination of the following:

• Students may discuss with their faculty member if a digital keyboard may serve as an alternative. Piano faculty will have specifications and best practices to consider before purchasing or renting a keyboard.
• Occasionally, generous members of the Bloomingdale community express interest in donating a Piano to students currently studying at BSM. Interested students should reach out to Brandon Vazquez at bvazques@bsmny.org to inquire about any recent Piano donations.
• Practice rooms at Bloomingdale are available for current students, and all are equipped with acoustic Pianos which are tuned on a regular basis. To sign out a practice room, please visit the Registration office located in the building’s lower level or email registrar@bsmny.org.

Yes, Bloomingdale offers trial lessons for private instruction. Any student is welcome to take a trial lesson if they are unsure of committing to a particular instrument, or would like to consider different teachers before committing to a full semester of lessons. Students may only take one trial lesson per teacher. The cost for a 30-minute trial lesson is $30, and payment must be made in advance.

To set a trial lesson up, please speak with someone at the registration office (212) 663-6021 or email registrar@bsmny.org. The registration office can coordinate a teacher, time, and day. 

In many cases, an alternate class or lesson can be arranged and will improve a child’s learning experience. In the unlikely event you need to withdraw from classes, please check the registration guidelines.

Auditions are never required for private lesson study at Bloomingdale School of Music. However, auditions or playing samples may be required for select music programs and ensembles. We believe that all people have musical ability and our doors are open to all who wish to study here.