Students receive two years of private instruction in their major field. This includes 14 lessons per semester. In some instances teachers may be out of town for an extended period of time and will have to miss some of these lessons. In that case, the student may be asked to take a lesson with the teacher's assistant (if there is one) or the teacher may simply owe make-up lessons.

It is possible to change major teachers at the end of any semester if necessary. This is accomplished only with the approval of the dean of faculty and performance.