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. Our private lesson area 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 graduate students. We supplement the private lesson experience with other musical opportunities such as group music theory. 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. Students in the program have access to the Shepherd School of Music’s top-notch concert halls and many inspiring musical activities. All instruction takes place exclusively at the Shepherd School of Music building, primarily at Alice Pratt Brown Hall, on Rice University campus. We currently have no openings in our program and are not holding auditions or accepting new students.
The Michael P. Hammond Preparatory Program does not offer summer music camps.