Course Catalog 2005-2006 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]
The Conservatory of Music
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General Educational Guidelines
General. The Conservatory provides pre-professional training in music performance, composition, music education, music technology, music theory, and music history. Students may earn one or more of the following undergraduate and graduate degrees: Bachelor of Music, Performance Diploma, Artist Diploma, Master of Music, Master of Music in Teaching, or Master of Music Education.
These programs are designed to develop the sensitivity, understanding and insights, as well as the knowledge, skills, and technical competence essential to professional musicians. Conservatory graduates pursue music careers as performers, conductors, composers, directors, music theorists, historians, and educators. They are employed in major symphony orchestras, opera houses and companies, regional and municipal orchestras, jazz groups, youth orchestras, chamber music ensembles, major film studios, churches, primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, conservatories of music, and as free-lance artists, both in the United States and abroad.
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General Information
The Conservatory of Music was founded in 1865 as a private music school. Two years later it became part of Oberlin College. It currently has an annual enrollment of over 550 music students.
Relation to the College of Arts and Sciences. The Conservatory of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences share the same campus. As a result, Conservatory students may take courses in both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Conservatory and can simultaneously pursue majors in both divisions, earning a Bachelor of Music degree and a Bachelor of Arts degree within a five-year program.
Many College of Arts and Sciences students pursue Conservatory courses, study music, and perform in Conservatory ensembles.
Concerts and Recitals. The Conservatory offers an extraordinary array of performances; over four hundred concerts and recitals are presented annually. In 2002-2003 there were 67 recitals by faculty and guest artists, 220 Senior and Junior recitals, and 104 concerts by student ensembles and other groups. The Conservatory also presents an annual series of faculty chamber music concerts.
Artist Recital Series. The Oberlin Artist Recital Series has, over the past century, brought to Oberlin an impressive array of internationally acclaimed solo performers, outstanding chamber ensembles, and major orchestras. Celebrating its 125th season, the Artist Recital Series continues to offer rich musical experiences to the Oberlin community.
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Facilities
Buildings. The Conservatory is housed in a complex of three contiguous buildings designed by Minoru Yamasaki. These include a large classroom building, rehearsal spaces, concert halls, a music library, and a practice facility. An additional space houses the Conservatory Admissions office and several other administrative areas.
Bibbins Hall, the teaching building, contains 40 studios, 10 classrooms, and 16 offices. Private instruction, ensemble coaching, and classroom instruction take place in this building. The Deans’ offices, and the TIMARA (Technology in Music and the Related Arts) complex, including a recording studio, are also housed here.
The Central Unit, the rehearsal and concert hall building, houses two concert halls, the orchestra rehearsal room, choral rehearsal room, two small ensemble rehearsal rooms, the percussion teaching studio, the Conservatory Library—one of the largest academic music libraries in the country—including DVD, compact disc, tape and record listening rooms, the Conservatory instrument collection storage room, the Audio Services recording facilities, and the student lounge.
Robertson Hall, the practice building, contains 182 rooms including 150 practice rooms, the Otto B. Schoepfle Vocal Arts Center, the Career Resource Center, the Kulas Organ Center, reedmaking rooms, two networked micro-computing labs, faculty studios, and staff offices.
Concert Halls. Warner Concert Hall seats 645. New seating and other renovations took place in 2004. Kulas Recital Hall, especially suited to chamber music concerts, seats 144. Finney Chapel seats 1250; Artist recitals, orchestra, and other large ensemble concerts are performed there.
Conservatory Annex. East of Bibbins Hall, the Conservatory Annex is located on the second floor of the Oberlin Book Store and houses offices for Conservatory Admissions, Public Relations, the Associate Dean for Technology and Facilities, and the Business Manager. Two meeting rooms with media resources are available for use by the Conservatory community.
Hales Jazz Facility. Located in the Hales Gymnasium complex are seven rooms dedicated to Jazz Studies. In addition, the Jazz program uses the Cat in the Cream Coffeehouse for much of their solo and small ensemble performances. The program also uses six dedicated practice rooms in Robertson Hall and five faculty studios within the Conservatory.
Electronic and Computer Music. Eight acoustically isolated and optimized electronic music studios are located in the Conservatory. The TIMARA complex is equipped with a wide selection of state-of-the-art digital synthesizers and Macintosh computers, including a lab with Power Mac computers connected to the network, each with synthesizer keyboards and a full complement of music software. Production facilities include multitrack digital recording, historical analog synthesizers, and a wide variety of signal processing gear.
The Otto B. Schoepfle Vocal Arts Center is the first of its kind to be incorporated into a program of vocal instruction in the United States. Named for a long-time supporter of the Conservatory, this laboratory includes stroboscopic and fiber-optic instrumention that can display four types of vocal analyses concurrently, allowing examination of both the function and the timbre of the artistic singing voice. The laboratory also houses a sonagraph workstation that transforms the phonations of the voice into electrical signals and displays them as waves on a computer screen; a computerized system for analyzing, synthesizing, and manipulating vocal sounds; a nasometer, which measures nasality in the voice; a laryngograph, which determines the accuracy of pitch and vocal onset; a spirometer, which tests critical pulmonary functions to determine vital capacity and flow rate; and a system to measure levels of air flow, air pressure, and sound pressure. Students use the sophisticated audio and video equipment to record, play back, and analyze their performances.
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Instrument Collection
Pianos. Warner Concert Hall, Kulas Recital Hall, classrooms, and teaching studios are all equipped with Steinway grand pianos, as are most of the practice rooms in Robertson Hall and the rehearsal rooms in the Central Unit. Altogether there are 232 pianos in the Conservatory, 199 of which are Steinway pianos, with the remainder of the collection including acoustical vertical pianos, historical pianos, a Yamaha Disklavier and two Electronic Piano Labs.
Orchestral Instruments. The Conservatory has a large collection of orchestral instruments for use by students, including all stringed and wind instruments, and six Lyon and Healy harps. Through the generosity of the Kulas Foundation, Oberlin owns two Gagliano violins and other performance-quality stringed instruments.
Organs. The Kulas Organ Center, in the Robertson Hall practice building, is comprised of fourteen practice rooms equipped with organs of various designs, both mechanical action and electro-pneumatic. Of the mechanical action tracker organs, six are Flentrops, one a Brombaugh, and two are Noacks. Of the electro-pneumatic organs, six are Holtkamps.
The teaching studios in Bibbins Hall contain organs by Flentrop. Warner Concert Hall houses a splendid three-manual Flentrop organ of forty-four stops, built entirely in classical North European style; it was installed in 1974. A new Fisk Opus 116 organ has been installed in Finney Chapel. This magnificent instrument, a symphonic organ in the Romantic tradition, compliments the Flentrop in Warner. Two continuo organs, one by Flentrop and one by Byrd, are available for use in the performing halls. In 1981 a two-manual Brombaugh organ in mean-tone temperament was installed in the gallery of Fairchild Chapel. Located in the front of Fairchild Chapel is a positiv organ by Flentrop.
Harpsichords. The collection of harpsichords, available for instruction, practice, and concerts includes: three French doubles, one by Keith Hill, one by William Dowd, and one by Kingston; two Italian singles, one by William Dowd and one by Anderson Dupree; a German double by Keith Hill, a Flemish single and Flemish virginal by Willard Martin, and a clavichord by Hugh Gough.
Other Instruments. The Conservatory owns three fortepianos: five-octave instruments by Wolf and Hester, and a six-and-one-half octave by McCobb. Oberlin’s collection also includes a mid- 19th century grand piano by Erard, which was completely rebuilt by David Winston in the fall of 1993.
The Conservatory has a large collection of viols for use in its Baroque ensemble and viol consorts. Oberlin owns enough Baroque instruments to form a complete Baroque orchestra: eight Baroque violins, one Baroque viola, two Baroque cellos, and a violone, as well as Baroque flutes, recorders, oboes, bassoon, and natural horns.
The Collegium Musicum has at its disposal replicas of historical instruments including, among others, vihuela, gamba, krummhorns, recorders, and cornetti.
Oberlin has a Javanese gamelan (metallophone orchestra), complete with both slendro and pelog tuning systems, a large collection of Gambian Mandinka koras and xylophones from West Africa, and a representative selection of classical instruments from China, Japan, Korea, Turkey, and India.
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Degree and Diploma Programs
General. The Conservatory offers the following degree and diploma programs of undergraduate and graduate study. (For information on specific majors see below under Major Study.)
Bachelor of Music Degree (BMus)
Most Conservatory undergraduates pursue a four-year degree program with one or more majors leading to the BMus degree. Majors are offered in
- Performance: piano, organ, voice, strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, harp), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), percussion, early instruments (harpsichord, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello/viola da gamba).
- Music Education.
- Composition.
- Music History.
- Technology in Music and Related Arts.
- Jazz Studies (in Composition or Performance).
- Individual Major.
- Music Theory (as part of a double major).
- Double major in Piano Performance and Vocal Accompanying.
Performance Diploma
This four-semester program, offered only in certain performance departments, is designed for the very small number of gifted performers who have not yet completed the BMus or its equivalent and who are seeking a very narrowly focused program of study leading to a performance-oriented career. Performance Diploma students may apply to transfer to the Bachelor of Music program before the end of the first year of the program. Students seeking admission to the BMus degree must demonstrate skills necessary to complete both the performance and academic coursework required for the BMus.
Students who have completed requirements for both the BMus degree and the Performance Diploma will receive only the BMus degree.
Master of Music Education (MME)
The MME degree program is available only as part of a five-year program integrated with undergraduate study at Oberlin.
Majors in
- Music Education, instrumental emphasis, integrated with an Oberlin Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Music Education
- Music Education, vocal emphasis, integrated with an Oberlin Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Music Education.
Master of Music in Teaching (MMT)
The MMT degree program is available only as part of a five-year program integrated with undergraduate study at Oberlin. Major in Music Education, integrated with an Oberlin Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Performance or Composition.
Master of Music (MM)
MM degree programs in Conducting and Opera Theater are available only as part of five-year programs integrated with undergraduate study at Oberlin.
Majors in
- Conducting, integrated with an Oberlin Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Performance, Composition, Music Education, or Music History.
- Opera Theater, integrated with an Oberlin Bachelor of Music degree with a major in Voice Performance.
Master of Music (MM) in Performance on Historical Instruments
This program is intended for a limited number of students who have acquired skills on historical instruments and who wish to pursue practical study in performance in combination with the study of performance practice and musicology. Concentrations are offered in harpsichord, fortepiano, organ, Baroque violin, Baroque flute, recorder, Baroque cello/viola da gamba, historical keyboard instruments (harpsichord, fortepiano, and organ, combined), and historical oboes (Baroque, Classical, and other oboes). This program requires four semesters for completion, and is available to both Oberlin alumni and graduates of other music programs.
Artist Diploma
This four-semester program, offered only in certain performance departments, is intended for a limited number of exceptionally gifted performers who have completed the BMus or its equivalent, and who have acquired extensive musical background through institutional or private studies, or through unusual performing experiences, and who wish to concentrate on private applied study without additional course requirements. Oberlin Conservatory Bachelor of Music graduates are only allowed to apply to the Artist Diploma program with the recommendation of the department and approval of the Office of the Associate Dean of the Conservatory. Students who enroll in and/or complete the Artist Diploma program may not transfer to the Bachelor of Music degree program.
The Individual Major
An Individual Major leading to a Bachelor of Music degree may be designed with a concentration in a single Conservatory department or among two or more Conservatory departments. In some cases Arts and Sciences courses may be an integral part of a student’s major. Examples of possible concentrations include African American music, liturgical music, Suzuki violin pedagogy, fortepiano, arts management, etc.
Programs of study for an Individual Major must be based on teaching and course resources available at Oberlin, or at other schools transferable to Oberlin. Private reading courses may not be planned for key areas of the major, and only a small amount of course credit central to the major may be earned away from Oberlin. See the Conservatory Individual Major’s Handbook (available from the Office of the Associate Dean) for guidelines and policy.
The Double-Degree Program
A five-year program of study leading to both the Bachelor of Arts and the Bachelor of Music degrees is offered. Students must be admitted to both divisions and complete a major in each. The program is described in the section of the catalog entitled “The Double-Degree Program.”
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
The College of Arts and Sciences offers a major in Music in which students may choose one of four emphases: Music History and Theory, Performance, Composition or Technology in Music and Related Arts (TIMARA). These majors meet the needs of students who wish to major in music at Oberlin without the professional orientation of Conservatory majors. The majors are described in the College of Arts and Sciences’ Music section of this catalog.
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Requirements for Graduation
Institutional Requirements for Conservatory Degrees. The degree of Bachelor of Music is awarded upon completion of:
- Course and non-course requirements for one or more majors leading to the BMus degree.
- 124 semester hours of course credits, 62 of which must be earned at Oberlin or in Oberlin College programs, 76 of which must be earned in Oberlin Conservatory courses (excluding those entitled “Liberal Arts”) or in music courses completed elsewhere for which transfer credit has been awarded, and at least 24 of which must be in Arts and Sciences courses.
- The residence requirement.
- Three Winter Term credits.
- For students matriculating Fall 2004 and later, a minimum GPA of 1.67.
The degrees of Master of Music Education, Master of Music in Teaching, or Master of Music in Conducting and Opera Theater are awarded upon completion of:
- The requirements for a specified undergraduate major.
- The course and non-course requirements for the graduate major.
The degree of Master of Music in Performance on Historical Instruments is awarded upon completion of:
- The requirements for the specified undergraduate major.
- The course and non-course requirements for the graduate degree.
The Performance Diploma is awarded upon completion of:
- Specified course and non-course requirements.
- 48 semester hours of course credits.
- Four semesters of residence.
The Artist Diploma is awarded upon completion of:
- Specified course and non-course requirements.
- 24 hours of course credits.
- Four semesters of residence.
Residence Requirement. No student in an undergraduate Conservatory degree program or diploma program may graduate without at least four semesters of residence at Oberlin or in Oberlin College programs. At least 24 of the last 30 hours of credit required for the BMus degree must be earned in residence at Oberlin.
Expository Writing Proficiency. Students with an SAT verbal score below 580 or an ACT score below 24, or a TOEFL score below 600 must complete one course chosen from the RHET 111- 119 series in the Rhetoric and Composition Department. All double-degree students must adhere to the College of Arts and Sciences writing requirements, found under “Requirements for Graduation” in the College of Arts and Sciences section of this catalog.
Finish Away. A student in an undergraduate degree program who lacks not more than six hours of the amount required for graduation may request approval for Finish Away status from the Assistant Dean in the Conservatory in order to complete these hours at another institution; if any of these six hours are requirements for the student’s major, the major department must also be petitioned for approval of Finish Away status.
Eligibility for Commencement. A student must be registered for work sufficient to complete, by the end of the last semester in residence, all requirements for the degree(s) sought, in order to be eligible to participate in the annual Commencement exercises following that semester. In addition, students must complete all non-course requirements by the end of classes prior to the Commencement in which they wish to participate. Students who have permission to finish their work away from Oberlin may participate in Commencement exercises only after all requirements have been met.
Winter Term. Students in the BMus degree program are required to earn three January Winter Term credits. No course credit may be earned for Winter Term study. Participation in January Winter Term programs at other institutions may be counted toward the Winter Term requirement only if that program corresponds to the Oberlin Winter Term in spirit, duration, and format, and if no academic credit is earned. Transfer students are required to participate in all remaining Winter Terms up to three. (Please see “Winter Term” in the “Academic Life” section of this catalog for a list of requirements.)
Meeting with an Advisor. Before selecting Winter Term projects, Conservatory students must meet with their Conservatory advisors to discuss objectives and goals for Winter Term. Following that discussion, students should be prepared to suggest projects that fulfill the expectations identified in conjunction with their advisor.
Role of the Sponsor. The primary role of the sponsor is to ensure the quality of a student’s project. Interaction between the sponsor and student during the course of winter term is variable, dependent upon the specifications and requirements of the project. All projects should result in a report, capstone event, performance, or product that allows the sponsor to determine that the requirements have been met.
The Concert/Recital Attendance Policy. All Conservatory students are strongly encouraged to attend three Honors Recitals and at least nine Conservatory-sponsored concerts and recitals each year, one selected from each of the nine categories below, chosen to represent a broad spectrum of the Conservatory’s offerings.
- An orchestral concert. (A concert by the Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, or an Artist Recital Series orchestra concert.)
- A concert by the Oberlin Wind Ensemble or the College-Community Winds.
- A chamber music concert. (A concert by an ensemble from trio to octet, one player to a part.)
- A vocal recital, choral concert, opera, etc.
- A concert sponsored by the Jazz Studies Department or the Ethnomusicology Department.
- A new music concert. (A concert by the Contemporary Music Ensemble or the Oberlin Percussion Group; a TIMARA concert, or a Student or Faculty Composers’ concert.)
- An early music concert. (A concert of music before 1750, or concert performed on original instruments, or an organ recital of music before 1750.)
- A full-length faculty or student recital by a member of a department other than that in which the student is enrolled.
- A guest performer or guest composer concert, including an Artist Recital Series concert.
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Academic Advising
Faculty Advisors. For students in the Performance majors the principal private study teacher is the student’s faculty advisor. For students in all other majors, a faculty member from the major department or program is assigned as advisor. See the double-degree section for advising resources available to double-degree students.
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Academic Standing
General. The Conservatory of Music Academic Standing Committee reviews the academic progress of Conservatory students, including double-degree students, at the end of every semester. The Committee is chaired by the Assistant Dean in the Conservatory.
Conservatory students are expected to be enrolled full time in the Conservatory in each semester of study, to pass a minimum number of course credit hours, and to be working toward completion of one or more Conservatory majors at a rate suggested by the recommended distribution of requirements for each major.
Double-degree students are expected to be enrolled full time in both divisions in each semester of study, to pass a minimum number of course credit hours, and to be working toward completion of majors in both divisions.
Good Academic Standing. Students who pass the required minimum number of credit hours for their year and who are progressing satisfactorily toward completion of a major are considered in good academic standing.
- Students who enter Oberlin with fewer than 14 hours of transfer credit and are in their first year of enrollment must earn 10 hours of credit each semester.
- After the first year, students must earn 12 hours every semester.
- Students who at the beginning of a semester need fewer than 12 hours to graduate are required to complete only the hours necessary for graduation (see “Enrollment Part Time” below).
- Students transferring to Oberlin with at least 14 hours of transfer credit will be required to complete 12 hours each semester.
- Students who matriculated Fall Semester 2004 and later must also maintain a minimum GPA of 1.67 in addition to the required minimum credit hours.
The following courses of action are available to the Committee for cases where a student fails to achieve good academic standing.
Academic Warning. An academic warning will be given to students who receive C+, C, or C- in their principal private or composition study, or who receive a majority of unsatisfactory grades on the First Major Committee Examination.
Academic Probation. A student who fails to pass the minimum number of credit hours will normally be placed on academic probation. A student will be removed from probation when, in the subsequent semester, the minimum number of credit hours is earned.
Denial of Continuation in a Major. Students who receive below a C– in their principal applied or composition study in any semester, or who receive a C+, C, or C– in two consecutive semesters, will not be permitted to continue in that major without the permission of the department concerned.
Students who receive a grade below C– for two consecutive semesters in their principal applied or composition study, or who receive a majority of unsatisfactory grades in the Second Major Private Study Committee Examination, are not permitted to continue in that major.
Suspension. A student who fails to pass the minimum number of credit hours and who was on academic probation in any previous semester is normally suspended for one or two semesters; in cases of extenuating circumstances, the Committee may elect to place the student on academic probation a second time. A student who has been suspended for one or two semesters, by action of the Academic Standing Committee, may appeal this decision in writing to the Dean of the Conservatory.
Readmission from Suspension. Reinstatement to the Conservatory following suspension is petitioned through the Registrar’s office. Students who have been suspended are normally required to submit a record of successfully completed coursework at another institution prior to readmission.
Required Withdrawal (Dismissal). A student who has previously been on academic probation or suspension and who fails to maintain good academic standing may be required to withdraw permanently from the Conservatory. The student may appeal this decision, in writing, to the Dean of the Conservatory.
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Enrollment
Enrollment Deadline for Conservatory Students. A Conservatory student who wishes to enroll later than the official deadline set by the Office of the Registrar must have the approval of his/her Conservatory advisor(s), division director, and the Assistant Dean. Students will not be allowed to enroll later than the last day of the Add/Drop period. In order to receive special permission to enroll later than the end of the Add/Drop period, students must present evidence of a sound musical or educational reason for late enrollment.
Enrollment Status. A student’s class is determined by the number of credit hours earned toward graduation. For Conservatory BMus students it is as follows:
Class Credit Hours
Freshman 0-23.99
Sophomore 24-56.99
Junior 57-89.99
Senior 90-124.00
5th-Year 124-152.00 (double-degree students)
124-155.00 (graduate students)
Enrollment Full Time. For students in the BMus and Performance Diploma programs, carrying a course load between 12 and 17 hours constitutes full-time enrollment in the Conservatory. A full-time schedule of 15-16 hours is considered normal; this schedule permits a student to complete the 124 hours required for graduation in eight semesters. For students in the Artist Diploma program, a course load of six hours constitutes full-time enrollment in the Conservatory. For students in the Master of Music program in Historical Performance, a course load of nine to twelve hours constitutes full-time enrollment in the Conservatory.
Students wishing to carry more than 17 credit hours may do so if they have previously demonstrated the ability to carry heavy loads successfully, and if they have the approval of their principal advisor as well as that of the Assistant Dean in the Conservatory. Students taking more than 17 credit hours will be charged extra tuition. (See “Tuition” in the “Expenses” section at the beginning of the catalog.)
Enrollment Part Time. For students in the BMus and Performance Diploma programs, carrying a course load under 12 credit hours constitutes part-time enrollment. Ordinarily part-time status is permitted only in cases of second-semester seniors requiring fewer than 12 hours to graduate, or in cases where medical circumstances dictate a smaller than normal load.
Approval of part-time course loads in the Conservatory is given by the Assistant Dean.
Students receiving financial aid who contemplate requesting part-time status should discuss with the Office of Financial Aid how this might affect their eligibility for aid.
A student enrolled part time is charged tuition at a per-credit-hour rate; in addition, for applied study or composition study beyond the authorized maximum, extra tuition will be charged. (See “Tuition” in the “Expenses” section at the beginning of the catalog.)
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Grading
PLEASE NOTE: Students matriculating at Oberlin College beginning fall 2004 are covered by a new grading policy. For specific information regarding deadlines for course and grade options, please see the calendar on the back cover of the catalog.
For students matriculating fall 2004 and later, the following grading policies are in effect:
General. Two grading options are offered: letter grades, or Pass/No Pass. Individual choice of grading options is subject to the limitations listed below.
Letter Grades. The grades recorded and their equivalents in quality points (used in computing grade-point averages) are listed here:
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D F W
4.33 4.00 3.67 3.33 3.00 2.67 2.33 2.00 1.67 1.00 0 0
Quality Points. To obtain the quality points earned in a course, multiply the numerical equivalent of the grade by the number of hours for which the course was taken.
Grade-Point Average. This is computed by dividing the total quality points by the total number of hours for which letter grades are recorded.
Pass/No Pass. To exercise the Pass/No Pass option, students must file a card, signed by the principal advisor, in the Office of the Registrar by the last day of the eighth week of classes for semester-long courses, or by the last day of the fourth week of classes for a module course. Once the deadline has passed no change in the grading option may be made.
All passing work (work otherwise graded A+ to C–) is given the uniform grade P (Pass). Work below C– is considered not passing, and is given a grade of NP (No Pass). Individual departments determine if a course taken P/NP will satisfy the requirements of the major. A student electing a course for Pass/No Pass may not later request a grade equivalent.
Written Evaluation. Upon request, a student may receive a written evaluation of his or her work taken under the P/NP option. Students desiring such an evaluation should obtain the necessary forms from the Office of the Registrar and follow the instructions for submitting them.
Repeating Courses with a D or F grade. A student may repeat once a course for which a grade of D or F is received. Both grades and both courses count in calculation of the GPA. Only one of the courses counts as credit toward graduation.
Withdrawal Grades. A student may withdraw from a class between the end of the Add/Drop period and the last day of the eighth week of classes (last day of the fourth week of classes for modules). If a student withdraws from a class, the notation “W” (Withdrawn; no indication of passing or failing) will be entered on the student’s transcript. After the end of the eighth week of classes (fourth week for module course), a letter grade or P/NP will be awarded if a withdrawal has not been processed.
Minimum GPA Required for Graduation. In order to graduate a student must have a GPA of at least 1.67. P and NP grades do not enter in the GPA calculation.
Limitations on Grading Options. 1) Conservatory majors will be allowed to register for Introduction to Music Theory, Music Theory I-IV, Introduction to Aural Skills, Aural Skills I-IV, Introduction to the History and Literature of Music, and any class which is taken to satisfy a requirement in secondary applied study for letter grades only; 2) students who must take Aural Skills V to meet their degree requirements will be allowed to register for a letter grade only; 3) all private applied study taught by faculty and all composition instruction are offered for letter grades only; 4) voice lessons with supervised student teachers are offered for Pass/No Pass grading only; 5) small ensembles are only offered for Pass/No Pass at the discretion of the individual coach; 6) Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Wind Ensemble and Contemporary Music Ensemble are offered for letter grades only.
Incomplete Grades. An incomplete grade is an option for satisfactory coursework which cannot be completed by the end of the semester. Normally such approval is granted only for reasons of illness or personal or family emergencies. The missing work must be completed within three weeks after the end of the semester, unless otherwise specified.
Incompletes in Conservatory courses are granted by the faculty member involved, with the final approval of the Assistant Dean, regardless of the division in which the student is enrolled.
During his or her time at Oberlin a Conservatory student may have up to two incompletes in Arts and Sciences courses authorized by a course instructor for educational reasons.
No incomplete grade will be given in private study or ensemble participation.
Asterisk Grade. An asterisk grade is used at the end of the first semester to indicate that the work of the course covers two semesters and no grade can be recorded until the course is completed. When the final grade is given at the end of the second semester the asterisk is removed and the grade earned is recorded for both semesters.
Grade Reports. Semester grade reports are available to students via the online student record system. Paper copies of the grade reports are not printed as a matter of course, but students who need such copies may make arrangements with the Office of the Registrar to obtain them. Federal law prohibits student grade reports from being sent to parents unless the student signs a form releasing this information. If a student opts to release grades to his or her parents, either the student or the parents must request a copy of the grades each semester from the Office of the Registrar.
Committee Exams. A copy of the faculty evaluations of a student’s departmental hearing and committee exam each semester is made available to him or her within a few days of the committee performance.
For students who matriculated prior to fall 2004, the following grading policies are in effect:
General. Two grading options are offered: letter grades, or Credit/No Entry. Subject to limitations stated below, a student may choose which grading option he or she wishes to have apply for one or more courses.
Letter Grades. The grades recorded and their equivalents in quality points (used in computing grade-point averages) are listed here:
A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- No
4.33 4.00 3.67 3.33 3.00 2.67 2.33 2.00 1.67 Entry
Quality Points. To obtain the quality points earned in a course, multiply the numerical equivalent of the grade by the number of hours for which the course was taken.
Grade-Point Average. This is computed by dividing the total quality points by the total number of hours for which letter grades are recorded.
Credit/No Entry. (CR/NE) To exercise the Credit/No Entry option, students must file a card, signed by the principal advisor, in the Office of the Registrar by the last day of the eighth week of classes for semester-long courses, or by the last day of the fourth week of classes for a module course. Once the deadline has passed no change in the grading option may be made.
All passing work (work otherwise graded A+ to C–) is given the uniform grade CR (Credit). Work below C– is considered not passing, and is given a grade of NE (No Entry). A student electing a course for Credit/No Entry may not later request a grade equivalent.
Limitations on Grading Options. 1) Conservatory majors will be allowed to register for Introduction to Music Theory, Music Theory I-IV, Introduction to Aural Skills, Aural Skills I-IV, Introduction to the History and Literature of Music, and any class which is taken to satisfy a requirement in secondary applied study for letter grades only; 2) students who must take Aural Skills V to meet their degree requirements will be allowed to register for a letter grade only; 3) all private applied study taught by faculty and all composition instruction are offered for letter grades only; 4) voice lessons with supervised student teachers are offered for Credit/No Entry grading only; 5) small ensembles are only offered for Credit/No Entry at the discretion of the individual coach; 6) Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Wind Ensemble and Contemporary Music Ensemble are offered for letter grades only.
No Entry. Whether a course is taken for a letter grade or Credit/No Entry, work below a C– level is considered not passing, and no entry is made on the student’s permanent record. Thus, if a student does not pass a course, there is no indication on the official transcript that the course had been attempted.
Incomplete Grades. An incomplete grade is given only for satisfactory coursework which cannot be completed by the end of the semester. Normally such approval is given only for reasons of illness or personal or family emergencies. Normally the missing work must be completed within three weeks after the end of the semester.
Incompletes in Conservatory courses are granted by the faculty member involved, with the final approval of the Assistant Dean, regardless of the division in which the student is enrolled.
During his or her time at Oberlin a Conservatory student may have up to two incompletes in Arts and Sciences courses authorized by a course instructor for educational reasons.
No incomplete grade will be given in private study or ensemble participation.
Grade Reports. Semester grade reports are available to students via the web. Paper copies of the grade reports are not printed as a matter of course, but students who need such copies may make arrangements with the Office of the Registrar to obtain them. Federal law prohibits student grade reports from being sent to parents unless the student signs a form releasing this information. If a student opts to release grades to his or her parents, either the student or the parents must request a copy of the grades each semester from the Office of the Registrar.
Committee Exams. A copy of the faculty evaluations of a student’s departmental hearing and committee exam each semester is made available to him or her within a few days of the committee performance.
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Major Study
General. Students in a Conservatory degree program are required to pursue full time one or more Conservatory majors in every semester of enrollment, and are expected to work toward completion of the requirements of a major at a rate suggested by the recommended distribution of major requirements shown for each Conservatory major. Recommendations regarding major study are somewhat different for double-degree students, and are described in the double-degree section of this catalog.
Major Requirements. Requirements for each major are described in this catalog each year. Conservatory students must complete the requirements for their Conservatory major which were in effect upon entering Oberlin. Should the requirements for a major change while a student is enrolled, the student may elect to follow the requirements in effect when entering Oberlin or those in effect in any subsequent year. However, the student must elect to follow a complete set of requirements in effect in one of these years.
When determining whether a Conservatory student has completed requirements for a major, the Registrar assumes that the student is following requirements described in the course catalog for the year the student entered Oberlin; if the student elects to follow requirements of another catalog, he or she must notify the Registrar of this intent.
For students who have withdrawn from Oberlin for more than four semesters and who wish to return to complete a major, the requirements in effect at the time the student reenters Oberlin, or in any subsequent year of enrollment, are those which must be followed.
The regulations governing major requirements for double-degree students are somewhat different, and are described in the double-degree section of this catalog.
Change of Major. Requests for change of major or for addition of a second major are initiated in the Office of the Associate Dean in the Conservatory.
Changes to a different Performance major, or the addition of a second Performance major, involve an audition before a committee of the department of the new major, arranged by the Conservatory Admissions Office.
Changes involving majors other than Performance involve an interview with the appropriate division director.
If a student is denied continuation in a major by action of the Academic Standing Committee, he or she is permitted to enroll for the following semester without a major for the purpose of finding a new major; more than one semester of enrollment without a major is not permitted.
Major Status. In addition to Enrollment Status, which is a function of the number of credit hours completed toward graduation, the Conservatory also recognizes Major Status, a function of the number of requirements for a major a student has completed in a given semester. Major Status for each major is defined in the section of the catalog where that major is described.
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Minor Study
General. Minors are offered in music education, music history, community music, piano pedagogy, music theory, ethnomusicology, composition, and in the following performance areas: piano, organ, voice, trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba, harpsichord, fortepiano, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, and Baroque cello/viola da gamba.
To be eligible for a minor, a student must be a degree student in the Conservatory. If a student is admitted to a minor program which did not exist in the year of the catalog that governs his or her major requirements, he or she will follow the requirements for a minor in a subsequent catalog.
The specific requirements for each minor are described below along with the description of requirements for each major.
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Transfer of Credit
The Conservatory permits music credit earned at accredited collegiate institutions to be applied toward the BMus degree provided the following two criteria are satisfied:
- The student has done C-level work or better.
- The coursework falls within the scope of a Conservatory curriculum. Music credit which meets these qualifications will be transferred by the Registrar in accordance with specifications outlined below.
In cases where the eligibility of a particular course is unclear, the final decision is made by the appropriate Conservatory division director or other designated faculty member. Refer also to the section “Transfer of Credit” in the College of Arts and Sciences portion of this catalog.
Transferred music coursework does not count toward fulfilling requirements in the student’s major unless it is approved by the appropriate Conservatory division director(s), the Assistant Dean, and is forwarded to the Office of the Registrar. Work not approved in this way will count only as music-elective or free-elective credit toward the BMus degree.
The following policies govern all transfer credit in music:
The maximum amount of transfer credit granted normally will not exceed the amount of credit a student would receive at Oberlin were such work taken on campus. When determining amounts of credit for private lessons or ensemble work, the divisional faculty evaluates the work in comparison with Oberlin’s expectations in terms of repertoire, progress, and instructional time.
Credit is usually granted only for work taken after the student matriculated in college, except for advanced placement (AP) credit administered by the College Board, as outlined below. For advanced credit earned prior to matriculation in college, see below.
For Conservatory and double-degree students, transfer credit from other institutions is limited to 17 hours per semester or 34 credits per academic year.
Oberlin will not grant more than 30 semester hours credit for work (including Advanced placement credit and credit for work done in “13th year” programs such as the International Baccalaureate and French Baccalaureate programs) done before a student has matriculated in a college program.
A student on personal-leave-of-absence from Oberlin may transfer no more than six semester hours for each semester or four semester hours for each quarter or trimester of leave.
Students withdrawing from Oberlin may not transfer credit for courses taken at other institutions unless an appropriate office of Oberlin College has required or recommended that work be taken elsewhere.
After enrolling at Oberlin to begin undergraduate work, students may transfer up to 36 credits toward a degree.
Transfer students may apply up to 62 semester hours from other institutions toward the 124 required for the BMus degree.
One credit of work taken at an institution operating on the quarter system is equivalent to 2/3 semester hour credit at Oberlin.
Students who wish to pursue language study at another institution to fulfill a Conservatory requirement should seek approval from the appropriate divisional faculty member.
Time Limits. Currently enrolled students may not transfer credit for courses completed more than one calendar year before the date of the request for transfer of credit.
New or transfer students have a time limit of one calendar year from their date of entry into Oberlin to request transfer of credit, Advanced Placement, or International Baccalaureate credit and to have appropriate documentation received by Oberlin.
Coursework. All Conservatory majors and College of Arts and Sciences music majors require completion of the music theory sequence through Music Theory IV and Aural Skills IV or V (depending upon major requirements), as well as coursework in music history beginning with Introduction to the History and Literature of Music. Students must begin coursework in music theory and music history at the introductory level unless they demonstrate proficiency beyond that level by passing placement examinations. Placement examinations are administered in music theory and in music history during the fall Orientation period. Once the student has begun work in these divisions at Oberlin, coursework taken elsewhere (during the summer or a semester away) must be approved in advance by the appropriate division director and the Associate Dean.
Overall, any coursework specifically required for the student’s major—e.g., secondary piano, language diction for singers, or music education coursework—must be approved by the division director or other designated faculty member in whose division the course would be offered at Oberlin.
Private-Lesson Credit. Students wishing to transfer private-lesson credit toward their major requirements must perform an audition for the appropriate department. In the case of new transfer students, the department will assign each student an appropriate level that describes progress toward the typical eight semesters of principal applied study. The audition should take place no later than the fourth week of enrollment.
Students already enrolled at Oberlin who wish to take private lessons during the summer or while on an extended leave from the campus must secure the approval of their private study teacher prior to the commencement of the lessons. A form for this purpose may be obtained from the Office of the Associate Deans in the Conservatory. When study is done in a private studio or summer program for which there is no official transcript, the form described above, filled out and signed by the teacher, must be presented when credit is sought. A letter from the teacher may be presented in place of the form. This form or letter must include the number of lessons, their length, and the repertoire covered. It ultimately is submitted to the Office of the Registrar.
Ensemble Credit. All ensemble requirements must be fulfilled at Oberlin. Transferred ensemble credit counts only as elective work. To receive credit for ensemble work done in summer programs for which there is no official transcript, students must provide a letter or other documentation from the program that describes the duration of the session, the number and length of rehearsals, the repertoire studied and performed, and, in the case of chamber music ensembles, the amount of coached and uncoached rehearsal time. Forms for transferring ensemble credit are available in the Office of the Associate Dean in the Conservatory. Students must present this form, along with the documentation, to the appropriate division director. Normally, only one credit is granted per ensemble for summer work. No transfer credit is granted for work done in a professional group for which the student has been reimbursed.
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Advanced Credit
General. Credit for study completed prior to matriculation at Oberlin College or at another college may be granted under the following guidelines.
Private Applied and Composition Study. No credit in private applied composition study is granted for work completed before the student has matriculated at Oberlin College or another college.
Eligibility for exemption from a required secondary private applied study will be established by audition when secondary auditions are held during the first week of classes each semester.
Music Class Work. Credit toward an Oberlin College degree for music class study completed prior to matriculation at Oberlin College is usually granted only under the Advanced Placement program, administered by the College Board. For students matriculating at Oberlin College in August 1993 or later, Oberlin College will grant credit for non-performance music courses taken while enrolled in high school, for which credit appears on the transcript of an accredited college or university. Transfer credit for acceptable music history or music theory courses will count toward the major only upon successful completion of the Oberlin Conservatory music history or music theory placement tests, as appropriate. The number of transfer credits awarded will not be greater than the actual number of credits completed at the other institution.
If the required scores on these placement tests are not achieved, transfer credits will count only as electives. Other non-performance courses may also be counted as elective credit, on approval of the appropriate Conservatory department and the Associate Dean.
A Conservatory or Arts and Sciences student is granted credit for Advanced Placement Examinations in Music Theory on the following basis: 1) the student scored a four or five on the examination, 2) the credit granted is three hours, 3) the credit is entered on the transcript as “AP-Music Theory,” 4) the credit may be counted only as free elective credit toward requirements for majors leading toward Conservatory degrees.
Eligibility for advanced standing in a music course may also be established when a student enters Oberlin. While no credit toward an Oberlin degree is granted, a student may, by this means, be eligible to enter an advanced course, or may have a requirement waived.
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Student Solo Concerts and Recitals
General. Scheduling of all student solo concerts and recitals is through the Conservatory Concert Production Office.
All recitals will be scheduled to occur before the beginning of the reading period of each semester. Requests for rescheduling must have the approval of the appropriate principal applied teacher.
Concerts are scheduled Tuesdays through Fridays at 4:30, 6:30, and 8:00 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sundays at 1:30, 3:00, 4:30, 6:30, and 8:00 p.m. No concerts are scheduled on Mondays.
Honors Recital Series. A series of four concerts are scheduled each year, two each semester. Performers are chosen by the divisional faculties. The series is intended to acquaint the entire student body with the highest standard of student performance. Attendance at three Honors Recitals is required.
Senior Recitals. For the fall semester and the Winter Term, required senior recitals are scheduled upon request in the order received, beginning the previous May.
For the spring semester, required senior recitals are scheduled by lottery; requests for spring semester senior recitals must be received in the Concert Production Office by 4:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to fall break to be included in the lottery. A maximum of one hour and twenty minutes, including intermission, will be allotted to each senior recital.
Students not majoring in Performance or Composition may, with the approval of their private applied or composition study teacher, give a non-required senior recital. Two previous appearances on departmental or studio recitals, or honors recitals, are required.
Students must register for private study in the semester during which they are to give the senior recital. In addition, a student’s aural skills requirement must be completed before the senior recital can be scheduled. Students who complete all of the requirements for graduation in December of a given year with the exception of their senior recital or who are eligible to enroll part-time in their final semester, and who wish to continue their private study and perform their senior recital during the subsequent semester, must register for a minimum of two credit hours of applied study at the credit hour rate in effect during that academic year.
Late Senior Recitals. Students are expected to perform their senior recital during the last semester of enrollment at the latest. Students who need to give their senior recital beyond the last semester of enrollment must do so on campus during a subsequent period when the Conservatory is in session, either a fall or spring semester, or during a Conservatory summer school session. They must register for hourly private study lessons during the period of time leading up to the recital unless the recital is given during the first two weeks of the semester following the final semester of enrollment.
Junior Recitals. Students presenting a junior recital in December or during the second semester are required to share a program; a maximum of 35 minutes performing time is allowed for each student. Non-shared recitals occurring before Thanksgiving or during Winter Term are not subject to the 35-minute maximum, but may not exceed 70 minutes total hall time. For the fall semester and for the Winter Term, junior recitals are scheduled upon request in the order received, beginning the previous May. For the spring semester, junior recitals are scheduled by lottery; requests for spring semester junior recital dates must be received in the Concert Production Office by 4:30 p.m. on the Friday prior to fall break, to be included in the lottery.
Division Recitals. Division and studio recitals may be scheduled by divisions and studios in Kulas Recital Hall or Warner Concert Hall at any available time, using the regular weekly signup procedure. Long-term advance scheduling of these events is also possible through the Concert Production Office.
Recording. All Junior Recitals, all required and non-required Senior Recitals, and all Honors Recitals will be recorded by the Conservatory Audio Department. High quality CD recording units installed in Kulas Recital Hall and Warner Concert Hall may be used to provide recordings of performances in division and studio recitals.
Concert Recording. All concerts by Oberlin Conservatory organizations are recorded. These recordings are available for class work and private listening, and many are available for purchase through the Conservatory Audio Department. Oberlin Conservatory reserves the right to use these recordings to promote the school and raise money for the scholarship fund. All students who participate in performances and recordings release Oberlin Conservatory from any obligation, financial or otherwise.
Programs. Printed programs for junior recitals, for required and non-required senior recitals, and for honors recitals will be provided by the Conservatory; copy for these programs must be submitted to the Concert Production Office at least one week before the recital date.
Programs for division and studio recitals will be typed and copied by the Applied Studies administrative assistant; these programs must be submitted at least three working days prior to the recital date. No dedications or personal messages may be printed on official programs.
Other. Ushers and stage crews will be provided for all degree-required recitals and concerts except division and studio recitals.
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Miscellaneous Information
Auditing. Students may audit courses with a lecture or modified lecture format, with the consent of the instructor. Auditing of courses where emphasis is on student participation and skill development (e.g., private applied or composition instruction, ensembles, aural skills courses) is not permitted.
Private Reading. For students enrolled in Oberlin degree programs who wish to study individually and in-depth a topic not covered in the regular curriculum, the option of a one-toone tutorial is available. This work is at an advanced level in a specific field and is coordinated with a member of the faculty who has agreed to supervise the study, and who possesses expertise in the area in which the private reading is being undertaken.
Approval for a private reading course depends on the following conditions:
- The student shall have completed the basic courses pertinent to the subject matter of the private reading. As a rule, only juniors and seniors are eligible to undertake private reading courses.
- The subject matter of the private reading course may not duplicate the work of a regular course.
- The student is limited to one private reading course per semester for no more than three credit hours.
- Private applied and composition study lessons, ensemble playing, other forms of musical performance, and work in elementary and intermediate aural skills may not count as a private reading course.
- Normally, the faculty supervisor for a private reading course should be a faculty member other than a student’s own applied or composition study teacher.
- Approval for a private reading course must be given by the student’s advisor, the faculty member supervising the project, and the Assistant Dean in the Conservatory.
Studio Change Policy. Any student in a multi-studio department who wishes to request a change of studio must first schedule an appointment with the Assistant Dean in the Conservatory to discuss the rationale for such a request. If a possible change seems warranted, the Associate Dean will request that the student meet with the current teacher to attempt to resolve any conflicts, and, if both the student and teacher agree that the teaching relationship cannot continue, the teacher will sign the change of studio form. The student will take the signed form to the Office of the Associate Dean. The Associate Dean will make every attempt to place the student in another studio on a space-available basis. Students should not approach another faculty member with a request to change into his or her studio until the above steps have been taken. Normally, studio changes take effect only at the beginning of a semester. Studio Change Requests for the fall semester must be made by June 1.
Supervised Student Teaching Program. Each semester a number of students are recommended by their private study teachers to participate in this program. Students selected give private instruction to Conservatory and Arts and Sciences students who have been approved following an audition for secondary private study. The Associate Dean in the Conservatory administers the program in consultation with the Applied Studies administrative assistant. The work of the student teacher is closely supervised by his or her own private study teacher or an appointed faculty member. The student teacher receives a remuneration of $7.50 per weekly half-hour lesson.
Student teachers of piano are required to have completed or be currently enrolled in APST 210 (Intermediate Piano Pedagogy).
The faculty supervisor is expected to meet with his or her student teachers and the students assigned to them during the first two weeks of the semester. After hearing students perform, the faculty supervisor discusses with them and their student teachers what goals might be realistic for the semester’s work.
The faculty supervisor is expected to hear the students assigned to student teachers in his or her studio at least once later in the semester. This hearing may take the form of an appearance in the regularly scheduled studio class or in a special meeting with students and student teachers.
At the close of the semester, students and student teachers meet with the faculty supervisor to perform some material prepared during the course of the semester. This would logically take place during the examination period.
Grades are assigned by the student teacher in consultation with the faculty supervisor. Voice lessons with student teachers are offered for Pass/No Pass grading only.
Approved Student Teaching Program. The Applied Studies administrative assistant maintains a list of students recommended by their private study teacher as qualified to give instruction in voice or on their instrument. These students are authorized to give private instruction to interested Conservatory and Arts and Sciences students, as well as individuals not connected with Oberlin College, using Conservatory facilities in Robertson Hall.
No credit is offered for such study. The remuneration, paid directly to the student teacher, is $7.50 per half hour. This rate must be charged and may not be exceeded.
Student Teaching. Only students in the Supervised Student Teaching program or the Approved Student Teaching program are permitted to give instruction using Conservatory facilities.
Extracurricular Performances. Before engaging in any extracurricular performances a student must secure permission from his or her principal advisor. This rule applies to all solo performances, special ensemble work, and accompaniments within the Conservatory as well as outside activities.
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Summer Programs
Oberlin Summer School. The Conservatory offers both a six- and an eight-week session of private applied study on a limited number of instruments. Credit for such work is granted only to students who have completed high school. Six-week session - May 31 to July 2, 2004
3 credits 2 hours of lessons per week
2 credits 1-1/2 hours of lessons per week
1 credit 45 minutes of lessons per week
Eight-week session - May 31 to July 16, 2004
4 credits 2 hours of lessons per week
3 credits 1-1/2 hours of lessons per week
2 credits 1 hour of lessons per week
Tuition for the summer session is $565 per credit hour. Application and $25 registration deposit are due at the Office of the Registrar by May 17, 2005. For further information and application forms, contact the Office of the Associate Dean, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, 77 West College Street, Oberlin, OH 44074. Phone: (440) 775-8293.
Summer Programs. The Conservatory offers a series of workshops and institutes which provide high-school and college students, teachers, and accomplished amateurs with an exceptional opportunity to develop performance and teaching skills, expand repertoire, build technique and generally enjoy music-making and performances in a supportive and collegial atmosphere. Participants will study with members of the Conservatory’s distinguished resident and guest faculty and will have full use of the Conservatory’s exceptional facilities. In addition, participants may be eligible to receive college credit.
Previous workshops and institutes have included the following:
Baroque Performance Institute (Kenneth Slowik, Director)
Institute of Voice Performance Pedagogy (Richard Miller, Director)
Oberlin Flute Institute (Michel Debost, Director)
Oberlin in Italy (Daune Mahy, Director)
Oberlin Piano Festival and Competition (Robert Shannon, Director)
Oberlin Percussion Institute (Michael Rosen, Director)
Oberlin Summer Academy for High School Organists (David Boe and James David Christie)
Vocal Academy for High-School Students (Daune Mahy and Gerald Crawford, Co-Directors)
Workshops in Electronic and Computer Music (Gary Lee Nelson, Director)
For a brochure and information on current workshops and institutes, contact the Office for Outreach Programs, Oberlin Conservatory of Music, 39 West College Street, Oberlin, OH 44074-1576. Phone: (440) 775-8044. Web address: www.oberlin.edu/con/summer.
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Undergraduate Programs: Bachelor of Music
Majors are offered in:
- Performance: piano, organ, voice, strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), percussion, early instruments (harpsichord, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello/viola da gamba)
- Music Education: Instrumental Emphasis
Music Education: Vocal Emphasis
- Composition
- Technology in Music and Related Arts
- Jazz Studies (in Composition or Performance)
- Music History
- Individual Major
- Music Theory—offered only as part of a double major
- Double major in Piano Performance and Vocal Accompanying
Minors are offered in:
- Performance: piano, organ, voice, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, harpsichord, fortepiano, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, viola da gamba
- Composition
- Community Music
- Ethnomusicology
- Music Education
- Music History
- Music Theory
- Piano Pedagogy
A description of each Conservatory major and minor follows, ordered by division.
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Undergraduate Programs: Performance Diploma
Major: Performance (offered only in certain departments
1)
Course Requirements: 48 Total Hours
Principal Private Study (Diploma) Credits: 24 hours
Ensemble electives
2 Credits: 8 hours
Free electives
3 Credits: 16 hours
Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committee Exams:
First Major Committee - First Semester and Second Semester
Second Major Committee - Third and Fourth Semester
Performance Requirement:
Performance Diploma Recital - Fourth Semester
Recommended Course Distribution
First Semester: 12 Total Hours
- Principal Private Study (Diploma) Credits: 6 hours
- Ensemble Electives Credit: 2 hours
- Free Electives Credits: 4 hours
- First Major Committee (this semester or next)
Second Semester: 12 Total Hours
- Principal Private Study (Diploma) Credits: 6 hours
- Ensemble Electives Credits: 2 hours
- Free Electives Credits: 4 hours
- First Major Committee (if not completed last semester)
Third Semester: 12 Total Hours
- Principal Private Study (Diploma) Credits: 6 hours
- Ensemble Electives Credits: 2 hours
- Free Electives Credits: 4 hours
- Second Major Committee (this semester or next)
Fourth Semester: 12 Total Hours
- Principal Private Study (Diploma) Credits: 6 hours
- Ensemble Electives Credit: 2 hours
- Free Electives Credits: 4 hours
- Second Major Committee (if not completed last semester)
- Performance Diploma Recital
Notes
1 Students who seek admission to the Performance Diploma program in the division of vocal studies must have completed two years of voice and language study at the college level or the equivalent.
2 Performance Diploma students studying orchestral instruments must participate in the Large Ensemble program (Oberlin Orchestra-APST 710; Chamber Orchestra-APST 711; Oberlin Wind Ensemble-APST 720; Contemporary Music Ensemble-APST 723) every semester in residence as assigned.
3 Performance Diploma students may enroll in Applied Studies courses or English Skills courses as free electives without special permission. Those Performance Diploma students who wish to enroll in other courses must have permission (given in the Associate Dean’s Office).
General
All credit applied toward requirements for the Performance Diploma must be earned in Oberlin or in Oberlin-sponsored programs, including Oberlin summer programs. Students in the Performance Diploma program may not pursue another degree or non-degree music program concurrently. No credit with a grade of B– or lower may be counted toward the requirements of the Performance Diploma. Students who enroll in and/or complete the Performance Diploma may transfer to the Bachelor of Music degree with special permission. In order to transfer to the BMus degree program, students must demonstrate ability to complete the academic coursework required for the BMus degree. A minimum TOEFL score of 550 for non-native English-speaking students will be required for enrollment in the BMus degree.
Performance Diploma students may not register for coursework in addition to those courses listed above without permission (given in the Associate Dean’s Office). A minimum TOEFL score of 550 for non-native English-speaking students may be required for enrollment in additional courses.
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