The New England Conservatory of Music (NEC) in Boston, Massachusetts, is the oldest independent school of music in the United States, and it is widely recognized as one of the country's most reputable music schools. NEC is especially known for its strings, woodwinds, and brass departments, and its prestigious chamber music program. NEC is the only music school in the United States designated as a National Historic Landmark and it is a pending Boston Landmark. Its primary concert hall, Jordan Hall, hosts approximately 600 concerts each year.