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Conservatory of Music
Conservatory of Music
Concert Artist Program
In 1998, world-class performance was established at the university with the unique Concert Artist Program. Performers of national/international distinction now teach music majors and minors at Kean, and also perform on campus as well as area schools. Visit the concert artist website at www.keanconcertartists.com
NASM Accreditation
The Kean Music Dept. is fully accredited by the prestigious National Association of Schools of Music and recently received the renewal of its accreditation from 2000-2010.
An Outstanding Music Education Program
Kean's Conservatory of Music has a strong reputation for the preparation of music teachers and boasts an excellent record for placing its graduates in public school teaching jobs.
A Mid-Sized conservatory
The Conservatory of Music has eight Resident faculty, eight concert artists and thirty-two adjunct faculty. These professors are dedicated to developing the talents of the sixty to seventy music majors/minors enrolled each semester, as well as their general music students. Thus, although the faculty and the program are large enough to offer a full range of undergraduate courses and thorough training, students also receive a generous amount of faculty attention as well as solos and other performance opportunities they might not get in a school with 200-400 music majors. The music students at Kean University are a close-knit, supportive group of talented musicians. Because the learning environment in our department is friendly and professional, it is gratifying to see students making a great deal of progress from year to year.
Classical Concert Series
Recent performances at Kean include concerts by Emerson String Quartet, Empire Brass Quartet, Los Romeros, Vienna Choir Boys, soprano Harolyn Blackwell, cellist Daniel Lee, guitarist Sharon Isbin, violinist Leila Josefowicz and pianists Misha Dichter and Jeffrey Siegal.
Location and Concerts in NYC
Kean is 10 miles from NYC, and the Conservatory of Music offers frequent bus trips to Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. With a train stop across from the university, it takes about ½ hour to get into “the city.” Kean is also centrally located in the state, and has unsurpassed access to New Jersey's highways as it is a short driving distance from the Garden State Parkway, New Jersey Turnpike, Routes 22, 78, 24, and 1/9.
New Instruments and Technology
All of Kean’s practice rooms and classrooms are equipped with new Kawai and Yamaha pianos, including a number of grands. Students and faculty also regularly make use of a Steinway 7’ grand and two 9’ Steinway concert grands. In 2000, the department also acquired a number of new band instruments to support the instrumental program. In addition, the music department boasts a state-of-the-art computer music facility with Macintosh G4 computers, high-end Kawai digital pianos with 88 full-weighted keys, and a myriad of other digital audio and MIDI-related hardware. Recently, several music classrooms were technologically enhanced with capabilities for Power Point presentations, DVD/CD, internet access, etc.
Long Class Periods
Whereas many of the New Jersey state schools hold 50 minute classes, Kean University classes meet for 1 hour and 20 minutes, allowing the students and professors a much more in-depth educational experience. The atmosphere is also decidedly less hurried than in a traditional 50-minute class meeting, allowing more time for questions and faculty-student interaction.
Rewarding Ensemble Experiences
The Kean Concert Choir has performed many major works with orchestra and student soloists. The choir toured Boston in 1999, Washington D.C in 2000, and Montreal in 2001 and 2004. The Kean Concert Band is directed by Dr. Thomas Connors, most recently the director of the 140-piece marching band at Kent State University in Ohio. The Kean University Jazz Ensemble is directed by jazz great Andy Fusco, and is extremely popular on and off campus. Our Chamber Ensembles also provide students with an invaluable experience in musical growth, as does the Kean-affiliated Livingston Symphony in which Kean University students perform.
Value
Even with its many advantages, Kean¹s tuition is among the least expensive of the New Jersey state universities. In addition, Kean has no applied music fee, whereas many other schools charge up to $600 per year above tuition for private lessons saving Kean music students up to $2,400 over 4 years. We are proud that even with its exceptional quality, our music education is the most affordable of New Jersey’s four-year baccalaureate programs.
