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Learning to Play

Many North American carillonneurs also teach others to play the instrument, through either classes offered by an academic institution or private lessons. While students of the carillon typically have had previous study in applied music - it is helpful, for example, to have learned to play another keyboard instrument such as the piano or organ, and to have skill in reading music in both the treble and bass clefs - each program or instructor will have a different set of prerequisites.

Practice is also essential to learning to play the carillon. The carillon student can practice without disturbing the public by playing a practice clavier - a carillon keyboard that sounds notes either on chimes or through speakers in an electronic sound system rather than on bells that can be heard outdoors. A practice clavier is not available at every carillon installation, so finding a carillon that also has a practice clavier is important for the beginning student.

The Guild offers two levels of examinations to evaluate carillonneur proficiency: the Associate Carillonneur Exam and the Carillonneur Exam.

The following is a list of North American institutions and organizations providing carillon education. The Guild does not accredit or evaluate these offerings; however, many carillon educators are Guild members. Associate members are identified by (A), while Carillonneur members are identified by (C).

Formal Carillon Education

Some academic institutions in North America provide formal (i.e., for-credit) education related to the carillon.

California

  • University of California at Berkeley (technical data)
    • Coursework: The General Catalog of UC/Berkeley includes group carillon lessons for beginning students and private carillon lessons for beginning, intermediate and advanced students.
    • Instructor: Jeff Davis (C), University Carillonist
  • University of California at Riverside (technical data)
    • Coursework: private lessons. If the student is enrolled in a music department ensemble the lessons can be subsidized by the department. Any student on campus can enroll for lessons, but if not subsidized by the music dept., they are responsible for the lesson fees.
    • Instructor: David Christensen (C), University Carillonneur

Colorado

Florida

  • University of Florida, at Gainesville (technical data)
    • Coursework: private applied lessons with carillon faculty. Carillon may declared as one's primary performance instrument. Students may pursue a music performance minor, with carillon as their instrument.
    • Instructor: Laura Ellis (C), Associate Professor of Music and University Carillonneur

Illinois

  • Principia College, at Elsah (technical data)
    • Coursework: carillon instruction, campanology, carillon history; a BA in carillon is possible.
    • Instructor: Carlo van Ulft (A), carillonist and adjunct faculty

Michigan

  • Michigan State University, at East Lansing (technical data)
    • Coursework: for academic credit, at both undergraduate and graduate levels (but no degree in carillon is offered).
    • Instructor: Ray McLellan (C), University Carillonneur
  • The University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor (technical data)
    • Coursework: for academic credit, individual carillon instruction and a weekly carillon studio. A Master's degree in Carillon Performance is offered.
    • Instructors:
      Steven Ball (C), Assistant Professor and University Carillonneur
      Jenny King (C), Lecturer in Carillon and Assistant University Carillonneur

Missouri

  • Missouri State University, at Springfield (technical data)
    • Coursework: The Music Department offers carillon instruction at the undergraduate and graduate levels to majors and non-majors. In addition, there are a number of courses in carillon pedagogy, carillon literature, and carillon ensemble. At the undergraduate level, there is a BM in carillon performance. Additionally, students can elect carillon as their major instrument for the BA or BME degrees. At the graduate level, MSU offers a Master of Music degree in two tracks: Carillon Performance and Carillon Pedagogy.
    • Instructor: Jeremy Chesman (C), University Carillonist and Associate Professor of Music

Ontario

  • Carleton University, at Ottawa (technical data)
    • Coursework: B.M. and M.A. degrees in carillon are offered.
    • Instructor: Andrea McCrady (C), Dominion Carillonneur of Canada

Texas

  • Baylor University, at Waco (technical data)
    • Coursework: for academic credit, at both undergraduate and graduate levels (but no degree in carillon is offered).
    • Instructor: Lynnette Geary (C), University Carillonneur

Utah

  • Brigham Young University, at Provo (technical data)
    • Coursework: private lessons for credit and noncredit. Two assistantships are available.
    • Instructor: Don Cook (C), Associate Professor of Music (organ) and University Carillonneur

Informal Carillon Education

Informal education includes private lessons from a music teacher, group or individual lessons through non-academic organizations, and not-for-credit courses offered by academic institutions.

Illinois

  • University of Chicago: Non-credit individual instruction is available for students and selected area residents from University Carillonneur Wylie Crawford (C) and Assistant Carillonneur Jim Fackenthal (C).
  • Naperville Park District: Non-credit individual instruction is available from City Carillonneur Tim Sleep (C) and Music Director Wylie Crawford (C).
  • Glencoe, Chicago Botanic Garden: Non-credit individual instruction is available Resident Carillonneur Wylie Crawford (C).

Massachusetts

  • Wellesley College: Margaret Angelini (A) instructs the student carillonneurs there and offers private lessons.

Michigan

  • Michigan State University: Through the Community Music School, which is an outreach institution of the College of Music, members of the general community may enroll for carillon lessons with Ray McLellan (C), University Carillonneur (see above).

New Jersey

  • Princeton University (technical data)
    • Coursework: Weekly individual and group lessons are offered free of charge to interested students, faculty and staff as well as community members.
    • Instructor: Robin Austin (C), University Carillonneur

Other Options For Carillon Education

Besides the carillons associated with the institutions listed above, there are many others in North America where a carillonneur might be willing to take on students. To contact a carillonneur and to find out which carillon installations have practice keyboards, check the GCNA Carillon Directory and the technical information pages.