Resources for:
The following policies and procedures describe the spaces to which students have access and for what purpose, as well as how access is gained. Every effort has been made to meet the needs of all students as equitably as possible while preserving the integrity of our state-of-the-art facilities.
Regenstein, Floor 1 & Ryan Center, Floor 2 Ryan Center, Floor 3
It is the Bienen School’s general policy that all individual practice is expected to take place in a practice room.
All practice rooms in the Ryan Center for the Musical Arts are accessible only by Bienen music majors. Practice rooms in Regenstein Hall are available to music majors as well as to non-majors during any quarter they’re enrolled in lessons and/or an ensemble.
All practice rooms are available 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week. Most rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Some rooms may only be reserved for specific purposes; see individual room descriptions below.
Access to all practice rooms requires a registered HID-enabled Wildcard, and student cards are programmed with different access to certain rooms depending on a student’s area of study. Questions about Wildcard access should be directed to Music Facilities staff via email at musicfacilities@northwestern.edu.
Below is a comprehensive list of all practice rooms and their designated access groups:
Non-Major Rooms (26)
Any Northwestern student who has been granted non-major practice access, and all Bienen School music majors
Regenstein, Floor 1: 101, 102, 104, 118, 120, 122, 124, 126, 130, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144, 146, 148, 150, 152, 154, 156, 158, 160, 162
Non-major access is only valid during quarters of active enrollment in lessons and/or an ensemble, and students receive access instructions directly from their instructor.
Instrument / Voice Rooms (61)
Bienen School music majors
RCMA, Floor 2: 145, 175C, 177 (A-B-C), 179 (A-C), 181A
RCMA, Floor 3: 116 (A-B-C), 118 (A-B-C), 120 (A-B-C), 122B, 124 (B-C), 126, 128, 130, 132, 134, 135, 139, 146, 154, 165 (A-B), 167 (A-B-C), 169 (A-B-C), 171 (A-B-C), 173 (A-B-C), 175 (A-B-C), 177 (A-B-C), 179 (A-B-C), 181 (A-B-C), 183 (A-B-C), 185A
Collaborative Practice Rooms (10)
Bienen School music majors
RCMA, Floor 3: 143, 144, 145, 147, 148, 149, 151, 152, 153, 155
Rooms may only be reserved for collaborative practice between Bienen performance majors and an accompanist/collaborative pianist, or by any student chamber ensemble that includes a pianist. Otherwise, rooms are available on a first-come, first-served basis; however, occupants must yield to collaborative practice, even if no reservation is in place.
Percussion Rooms (9)
Bienen School percussion majors
Regenstein, Floor 1: 106, 108, 110, 112, 114, 116, 121
RCMA, Floor 2: 175(A-B)
Jazz Percussion Room (2)
Bienen School jazz percussion majors
RCMA, Floor 2: 181B, 2-179B
Piano Rooms (14)
Bienen School piano majors
RCMA, Floor 3: 160, 162, 164, 166, 168, 170, 172, 174, 176, 178, 180, 182, 184, 186
Duo Piano Rooms (2)
Bienen School piano majors
RCMA, Floor 3: 141, 142
Rooms may be reserved by Bienen School piano majors only. They are intended for duo-piano practice or for small chamber ensembles that include a pianist. They should not be used for individual practice or by chamber ensembles that do not include piano.
Non-Major Lesson Rooms (2)
Any graduate student enrolled to teach non-major lessons
RCMA, Floor 3: 156, 157
These rooms are reserved for the exclusive use of graduate students teaching non-major lessons, and they may be accessed by those students on a first-come, first-served basis whenever the room is not in use for a lesson.
Access hours for all practice rooms and locker rooms are 7 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week
Student Wildcards allow varied access depending on major and area of study
Contact Music Facilities (musicfacilities@northwestern.edu) with any questions or problems related to Wildcard access
The Bienen School recognizes the value for Bienen students to practice and make recordings in a performance venue. As such, students can reserve up to a total of eight (8) hours each quarter in either the McClintock Choral and Recital Room (RCMA 1-190) or Regenstein Master Class Room (REG MCR).
Students who want to make recordings undisturbed should post signage to this effect on all doors leading into the venue.
During academic breaks and the summer, students may submit requests that occur between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, and these hours are subject to change depending on the university’s schedule. Students are permitted to reserve up to four (4) hours a day and up to eight (8) hours each week in any performance room.
WHO?
Bienen School music majors
WHAT?
Four large rooms with a grand piano that may be reserved for chamber ensemble rehearsals. When not reserved, these rooms are available to Bienen performance students for open rehearsal on a first-come, first-served basis; however, individuals must yield to ensembles, even if no reservation is scheduled.
WHERE?
Regenstein, Floor 1: 117, 119, 137, 139
WHEN?
Requests may be submitted for reservations that occur between 7 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week. Reservations may not exceed two (2) hours, and groups are limited to one reservation per day in a chamber ensemble room.
HOW?
Online: Requests must be made at least 48 hours and no more than three (3) weeks in advance, and weekend requests must be submitted before 9 a.m. on the Friday before to be approved. Reserve time using Northwestern’s 25Live Room & Event System (RES). See Making Reservations at the bottom of this page for more information.
Email: Email room requests to musicfacultysupport@northwestern.edu. Please specify the day, time, room, and reason for the request.
In-Person: Reserve time at the Faculty Support Center (RCMA 2-000) during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekend requests must be made before the end of the day on Friday, as the office is not open on weekends.
ACCESS?
Chamber ensemble rooms remain unlocked and available to Bienen performance students between 7 a.m. and midnight, seven days a week.
The Bienen School’s two large ensemble rehearsal rooms, the Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room and Regenstein 011, are primarily for use by the Bienen School’s performing ensembles and conducting classes. These curricular activities, as well as occasional use of the rehearsal room by organizations that have rented Pick-Staiger Concert Hall, are given priority access to the space. Managing the schedule of daily activities in these rooms is intricate and complex, and availability is very limited.
However, the Bienen School understands the benefit to students to have access to large practice spaces. To allow the use of these rooms, policies have been established for each as described below.
Bienen students are welcome to practice in the Pick-Staiger Rehearsal Room and Regenstein 011 on a first-come, first-served basis when the space is not in use and only when the building is open. Operating hours for Pick-Staiger Concert Hall are 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week, whenever classes are in session, and hours vary during academic breaks and the summer. Operating hours for Regenstein 011 are 7am to midnight, seven days a week.
Each day, a schedule of activities is posted outside the room so students can see when the space is available. However, these schedules are subject to change without notice, and students are expected to vacate at the request of Concert Management Office or Band Office staff, including student house managers.
Bienen large rehearsal rooms are busy spaces, often involving a significant amount of set-up prior to the start of classes and rehearsals. It is critical all students ensure these spaces remain clean and any equipment used is returned to its proper storage location. If use of large rehearsal rooms results in unreasonable inconvenience for curricular ensembles or other tenants, access will no longer be provided to students.
Classrooms are available to students when all chamber rooms and other rehearsal spaces are in use. Additionally, student requests for classrooms may be allowed for mock auditions or recordings. Users of classrooms are expected to ensure the space is left clean and in order. Users who fail to reset and clean the classroom after use will lose classroom use privileges.
How to Request
Online: Requests must be made at least 48 hours and no more than three (3) weeks in advance, and weekend requests must be submitted before 9 a.m. on the Friday before to be approved. Reserve time using Northwestern’s 25Live Room & Event System (RES). See Making Reservations at the bottom of this page for more information.
Email: Email classroom use requests to musicfacultysupport@northwestern.edu. Please specify the day, time, room, and reason for the request.
In-Person: Reserve time at the Faculty Support Center (RCMA 2-000) during business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Weekend requests must be made before the end of the day on Friday, as the office is not open on weekends.
Access Cards
Students must pick up an access card during business hours, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Access cards should be returned after use to the drop box located in the vending area on the first floor of RCMA (see map), and they must be returned no later than noon the following business day.
Use by Student Organizations
Student organizations/groups seeking a venue for a meeting, presentation, or other non-musical activity may request a classroom with Music Facilities staff via email at (musicfacilities@northwestern.edu). All such requests are subject to availability and are granted at the discretion of the Music Facilities office.
Classrooms available for reservation by students are:
Use Northwestern’s 25Live Room & Event System (RES) to place requests for chamber ensemble rooms, classrooms, and McClintock / MCR.
Refer to the PDF below, which includes screen images, to download the detailed instructions above.
Q. My Wildcard won’t grant me access to a practice room I should be able to access based on my major/area of study. Who should I contact?
A. Check the expiration on your card, if it has expired, contact the Wildcard Office. Additional questions regarding your Wildcard access should be directed to Music Facilities at musicfacilities@northwestern.edu.
Q. Why am I limited to just eight hours in McClintock and MCR each quarter?
A. The limit on venue use allows all students the best chance of securing a performance space when they need it most. Whether it’s recording a demo for auditions or scheduling additional rehearsal time prior to a recital, these limitations help to ensure a performance venue is available when students need one for specific purposes.
Q. Does my recital dress rehearsal count toward my total performance room reservation hours in a quarter?
A. No, recital dress rehearsals do not count toward the eight-hour limit on performance room reservations in that quarter.
Q. If I need to trade my personal Wildcard for a special Millennium access card to enter a performance venue, can I still access my locker?
A. Yes, the Millennium access cards for performance venues will also work wherever a Bienen student’s Wildcard typically works.
Q. Is there another performance space on campus where I can make a reservation?
A. Yes, students may consider using Lutkin Hall, a 286-seat venue located at 700 University Place, which has a Steinway “B” (7-ft.) piano. Separate rental fees may apply and are the responsibility of the student.
Lutkin is managed by Norris University Center, and more information can be found by calling (847) 491-7285 or sending an email to lutkin-hall@northwestern.edu.