Houghton music students are encouraged to study and perform chamber music in a variety of combinations. Students form groups at the beginning of the year and/or semester and receive weekly or bi-monthly coachings in a variety of combinations such as string duos, trios, quartets, woodwind quintets, brass quintets, and piano trios. Chamber groups include homogeneous studio choirs such as Clarinet Choir and Horn Quartet as well as mixed ensembles. Chamber music-making is not only indicated by our accrediting agency, the National Association of Schools of Music, but is pedagogically based on the idea that chamber music (defined as various groups of musicians with one person to a part) is an important part of the development of whole musicians who can rehearse and perform in a collaborative atmosphere with their peers. In addition chamber groups often render a service to the surrounding community by performing in churches, rest homes, and other community settings. Some Houghton College chamber groups have a more formal existence. The String Quartet, Harmonie en Bois woodwind ensembles, and Houghton Brass are groups made up of top Houghton instrumentalists.