We currently accept Prep Program inquiries and visitors by appointment only. No walk-ins at this time. For appointments, please email Preparatory Program Administrator, Julia Jalbert, at juliaj@rice.edu.
Welcome!
The Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program, a division of The Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, is a small and selective music program serving Houston and surrounding neighborhoods. The Prep Program offers weekly not-for-credit one-on-one individual lessons to the admitted students in piano, violin, and cello. Our Preparatory Program Instructors are primarily locally contracted professionals and selected current Shepherd School of Music doctoral students. We supplement the private lesson experience with the opportunity to perform in the Shepherd School of Music Duncan Recital Hall. While the minimum age requirement for private lessons is age six, the program is primarily aimed to serve advanced middle school and high school students.
Our environment is small yet personalized, catering to exceptionally gifted students and educating them in the art of traditional classical music performance. All instruction occurs exclusively at the Shepherd School of Music, primarily at the Alice Pratt Brown Hall building on the Rice University campus. We currently do not have openings in our program and are not holding public auditions or accepting new students. Please complete Interest Form below to be on a waitlist for future available openings.
The Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program does not offer summer music camps.