Because the acoustics for bands and orchestras are similar, these ensembles can share a space if schedules permit. Choirs require their own space because the acoustics of choral music differ significantly from instrumental. Therefore, a minimum of two large rehearsal rooms with accompanying office and storage space is necessary for the basic suite. The most common supplement to the basic music suite is the practice room, which can be found in schools dating back to at least the 1960s. Practice rooms provide spaces for individual rehearsal and instruction and can be used by students during their free periods as well as before and after school.
Teachers can arrange lessons with students during their free periods and before or after school.
In these cases, instruction is typically private because the financial arrangement is between teacher and student. In schools where such arrangements exist, practice rooms may be found in use from dawn to long after school, with barely an empty hour in between. Practice rooms should be situated so they can be shared by all the disciplines in the music program. Many schools arrange them along a hall that separates the instrumental and choral rehearsal rooms. While this arrangement makes sharing convenient and provides the necessary sound insulation between the two rehearsal rooms without a great deal of structural enhancements, it is difficult to supervise, creating a prime destination for vandals and others.