Manhattan School of Music

Manhattan School of Music is dedicated to the personal, artistic, and intellectual development of aspiring musicians, from Precollege through postgraduate studies.

Founded as a community music school by Janet Daniels Schenck in 1918, today MSM is recognized for its more than 960 superbly talented undergraduate and graduate students who come from more than 50 countries and nearly all 50 states; a world-renowned artist-teacher faculty; and innovative curricula.

True to MSM’s origins as a music school for children, the Precollege program continues to offer superior music instruction to young musicians between the ages of five and 18. MSM Summer gives talented musicians aged 5-15 a change to study at MSM during the summer.

The School also serves some 2,000 New York City schoolchildren through its MSM Outreach Program, and another 2,000 students through its critically acclaimed Distance Learning Program.

MSM inspires and empowers uniquely talented and musically gifted individuals to realize their potential. Our motto at Manhattan School of Music is “Those Who Excel, Reach the Stars” — everything we do is tied to our deep commitment to excellence in education, performance, and creative activity; to the humanity of the School’s environment; and to the cultural enrichment of the larger community.

A premier international conservatory, MSM inspires and empowers highly talented individuals to realize their potential. We take full advantage of New York’s abundant learning and performance opportunities, preparing our students to be accomplished and passionate performers, composers and teachers, and imaginative, effective contributors to the arts and society.

Financial aid is available in the form of grants, scholarships, loans, and student employment. The Office of Financial Aid will help you create your personalized financial aid package. It is our goal to provide the best financial aid package (within regulations and availability of funds) to each and every student who attends or has been accepted to MSM.

At Manhattan School of Music (MSM) we realize that your college education represents a significant investment in your future. We applaud you for pursuing your education at a premier conservatory to fulfill your goals and dreams. While the primary responsibility of meeting all educational expenses lies with you as the student, and possibly your family, the Office of Financial Aid is committed to making your education at MSM as affordable as possible.

We are dedicated to providing exemplary service to our students and their families. The goal of the Office of Financial Aid is to help you navigate through the many financial aid options available, if you qualify, to maximize your funding options. You will be treated with personalized service taking into consideration your individual needs and unique circumstances.

Manhattan School of Music (MSM) welcomes students from over 50 countries around the globe, making the school a diverse and dynamic learning community. If your first language is not English, you will be required to take our in-house English Assessment during audition week. This requirement applies to US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and international applicants alike. To determine your English proficiency level, the one-hour English Assessment is comprised of 3 parts: listening, reading, and an interview. If you are eligible for a Recorded Audition, you will be required to complete the Assessment with the Director of our ESL program via Skype. TOEFL or IELTS scores are highly recommended.

Our digital education programs connect students, educators, and distinguished artists around the globe. Manhattan School of Music launched its groundbreaking Distance Learning program in 1996, the first of its kind at a major conservatory. Since then, using state-of-the-art interactive videoconference technology to enhance MSM students’ curriculum, we have also developed programs to connect students, educators, and distinguished artists around the globe. Additionally, our live webstreamed concerts and master classes, featuring MSM student ensembles and acclaimed faculty, now attract a worldwide audience.

MSM Distance Learning’s award-winning programs, including the Global Conservatory for higher education, and Music Bridges for the K-12 & Community audiences, offer master classes, private instruction, and seminars for music students and educators; standards-based classical and jazz programs for K-12; and a variety of selections for lifelong learners.

Manhattan School of Music offers a foreign exchange program for current students to study abroad at any of our ten partner schools, such as the Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen. Studying and traveling abroad is an irreplaceable experience in your education that prepares you to perform and engage as a global citizen.

Foreign Exchange allows the students to study abroad at MSM’s partner institutions while earning credits and paying tuition at MSM. Students on exchange switch places with students at the partner institution as per agreement between MSM and the partner institution.

With over 900 students from nearly 50 countries, our students enjoy a diverse campus with a sense of community in the heart of the vibrant culture of New York City. The Student Affairs Team helps organize a wide variety of social, service, and educational activities for you to get involved in.