PRACTICE ROOMS

Fall 2025/Spring 2026 Practice Room Sign-up Form

Current University of Minnesota students can purchase per-semester or hourly access to Ferguson Hall's music practice rooms. 

Fees will be billed to your student account. Cancellation refunds are available until the second week of the semester. 

Music majors, music minors, and those enrolled in music courses qualify for a discounted price.  

Music majors and music minors may purchase both fall and spring access beginning three weeks before fall-start.  

Non-Music Majors can purchase access on a per-semester basis up to three weeks before a semester starts.

Access Dates

For the purposes of this policy, each “semester” is defined as:

• Fall: One week prior to the first day of Fall classes through the last day before Spring classes.  Fall practice room access includes winter break.    

• Spring: One week prior to the first day of Spring classes through the last day of Spring finals week.  

• Summer: One week prior to the last day of Spring finals through the last day before Fall classes.

Lost 10-Hour Punch Cards will not be replaced.  

Keys are available for checkout at the Monitor Station (Ferguson Hall room 44) with a valid U-Card.

Individual Practice Rooms

• Individual practice rooms are non-reservable, and available to eligible students on a first come, first served basis.  

• Students studying piano, percussion, harp, harpsichord, or organ at the U of MN qualify for access to specialized rooms and equipment. 

Small Ensemble Rooms (03, M61, 72, 81)

• Room 03 requires prior authorization from the Jazz ensemble faculty, and must be reserved in advance.   

• Any student with a valid practice room card can reserve small ensemble rooms M61, 72, and 81. 

• Rooms can be reserved up to three weeks in advance and for a maximum of 3 hours.

• Rooms must be used for a school-related group or reason (chamber ensemble rehearsal or coaching, recording, jazz combo rehearsal, composition reading, etc.)

• Music Majors may use rooms M61, 72, and 81 on a first-come first-served basis, but a reservation always takes priority over an unreserved use of the space, regardless of who was there first, so a prior reservation is strongly recommended. 

• Keys may be picked up at the Monitor Station (room 44) by the individual who reserved the room.  You must be able to present your U-Card to borrow keys.  

Large Ensemble Rooms (85, 90, 95, 225)

• May be reserved by TAs for assigned course purposes only (e.g.: sectionals, break-out sessions, sight-singing auditions, study sessions, etc.) 

• May be reserved by music majors for recitals. Review the Recital information located on the School of Music Intranet.

• May be reserved by music majors for chamber ensemble rehearsals with the written permission of their applied instructor.  

Classrooms 

• May be booked by music majors for rehearsals if no small ensemble rooms are available and no classes are taking place nearby. These bookings are subject to the availability of the rooms requested. Rooms reserved under this circumstance may not be reserved as a recurring reservation.

• May be booked by music majors for recitals. Review the Recital information on the School of Music Intranet for more information.

• May be reserved by TAs for teaching and lesson purposes. 

Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall

• May be reserved for curricular recitals or recital rehearsals.

• Available to students for personal use on a limited basis. Review the Personal Use policies on the School of Music intranet.

• To request a reservation of Ultan Recital Hall, complete the request from on the Recitals page of the School of Music Intranet

• For information about the features of the recital hall, procedures for recital hall use, and instructions for how to use the recording system, projector, and other technology, see the Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall User Guide.

Prepared Piano 

Students performing work involving 'prepared piano' are required to consult with the School of Music Facilities and Operations Manager prior to attempting to prepare the instrument.  Failure to get approval prior to preparing a piano may result in a loss of facility access; the student may be responsible for any cost associated with damage to a piano because of a preparation that was not approved may be billed to the individual who caused the damage.  

• You will not be allowed to prepare any piano if it will cause permanent damage to the instrument and any repair required to return instruments to performance standards will be charged to your student account.

• It is the school’s prerogative to require alternate preparation methods from those prescribed by the composer and/or the use of a specific instrument that can be prepared.

• No substances can be applied directly on the strings and hands should be thoroughly washed and dried to remove any oil, cosmetics or moisture potentially harmful to strings.

• No adhesives can be applied to the dampers. You will be provided with a substitute method for identifying notes.

• When Student Services receives positive confirmation of approval you will be permitted to reserve rehearsal times.

• It is your responsibility to remove all preparation from the piano immediately after your recital or rehearsal. When all appliances are removed from the piano, it may be inspected by the piano technician.

Per-Semester Access

Music Majors, Music Minors, & Music PSEO

• Basic Practice Rooms – $89

• Grand Piano, Percussion, Organ / Harpsichord, or Harp Rooms* – $106

Non-Music Majors** enrolled in a music class, ensemble, or applied lesson

• Basic Practice Rooms – $158

• Grand Piano, Percussion, Organ / Harpsichord, or Harp Rooms* – $180

Non-Music Majors**

• Basic Practice Rooms – $306

10-Hour Punchcard

Music Majors, Music Minors, & Music PSEO

• Basic Practice Rooms – $35

• Grand Piano, Percussion, Organ / Harpsichord, or Harp Rooms* – $41

Non-Music Majors** enrolled in a music class, ensemble, or applied lesson

• Basic Practice Rooms – $89

Non-Music Majors**

• Basic Practice Rooms – $143

*Specialized practice rooms are reserved exclusively for performance majors in piano, percussion, harp, or organ. Students not enrolled in required lessons or coursework for their performance degree, such as those with "All But Degree" status, are not eligible to use these spaces. Music minors and non-majors must be enrolled in an appropriate for-credit instrumental lesson through the School of Music during the current semester to qualify.

**During Fall and Spring semesters, non-music majors can't use the practice rooms from 10am – 3pm, Monday – Friday. This restriction doesn't apply in Summer or breaks.

Breaks shouldn't exceed 15 minutes. If you'll be absent for longer, clear your belongings and return the key. Rooms unattended for 15+ minutes become available to others and unattended items may be removed. Violations will result in:

• 1st: Written warning.

• 2nd: Another written warning, and faculty advisor notified.

• 3rd and following: Two-week access suspension with no prorated fees.

No food allowed. Beverages in sealed containers are okay, but may never be set on pianos, organs, harpsichords, or other instruments.

Windows and doors must remain unblocked. Staff may interrupt if obstructed.  

Non-music majors can't use rooms from 10am-3pm, Mon-Fri, during Fall and Spring. This doesn't apply in Summer or breaks.  

Rooms may only be used during the hours that the practice room monitor station is open and staffed.  Students may not use the facility during restricted hours. 

Do not move the pianos, organs, or harpsichords. 

The practice, rehearsal, and performance facilities are strictly for music practice, not eating, studying, personal storage, or sleeping, and all use must adhere to University and School of Music policies. 

University facilities can only be used for teaching when the teaching is related to your student coursework or duties as a University employee; teaching for personal profit on University property is prohibited.

The School of Music staff and Monitor Station attendants have the authority to judge reservation and facility use appropriateness, reassign rooms, terminate usage, eject disruptive individuals, and confiscate items violating policies.

Users should leave rooms tidy, returning chairs, stands, and accessories to their original positions as indicated by posted diagrams. 

Do not try to modify or repair University property; report issues to staff or on-duty monitors. 

“Prepared Piano” activities require prior Facility Manager approval.

Key borrowers are solely responsible for key safekeeping and usage; keys should not be transferred to other people or leave Ferguson Hall. 

Return keys immediately after room use; an after-hours drop box is at the Monitor Station. 

Lost keys cost $50 to replace and any rekeying costs due to loss or theft may be charged to the borrower.

Key borrowers are responsible for securing the facilities and property they use. The University and the School of Music aren't liable for lost, stolen, or damaged personal items.

Some students may be granted personal U-Card access to specific spaces depending on their needs. They can access these spaces without checking in at the Monitor Station.