The Musical Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences is overseen by the Musical Studies/Double Degree Committee, a General Faculty committee that consists of faculty members from both the Conservatory and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Music for Arts & Science Students
Courses
Although most courses in the Conservatory are open to qualified students in the College of Arts and Sciences, many Conservatory courses and the schedules of applied music teachers in fact become filled entirely with Conservatory students. Thus, although efforts are made to accommodate Arts and Sciences students, they should not expect to enroll in all Conservatory courses of their choice. Courses limited to Conservatory students are noted in the catalog course descriptions.
The courses listed below are specifically designed for Arts & Sciences students:
* CMUS 100 - Introduction to Western Art Music (Offered Second Semester)
* CMUS 103 - Introduction to Musics of the World (Offered First Semester)
* TECH 110/160 – Digital Art and Public Space (Offered First and Second Semesters)
* XART 100 - Concentrations: Art, Music, Culture, Past and Present (Offered Second Semester)
The following courses, described in the Conservatory section of the catalog, are recommended to qualified Arts & Sciences students (see the specific course descriptions in the Conservatory section of this catalog for prerequisites and/or limitations):
* COMP 100 - The Craft of Composition (Offered First Semester)
* MHST 101 - Introduction to the History and Literature of Music (Offered First Semester)
* ETHN 100 – Introduction to Musics of the World (Offered Second Semester)
* EDUC 300 - Principles of Education (Offered First Semester)
Note: Students who wish to elect any course in Music Theory and/or Aural Skills are required to take Music Theory Placement Test 1 and Aural Skills Placement Test 1.
The Conservatory’s Office of Associate Deans makes all assignments to teachers in private study. Because of heavy demands for private study on certain instruments or in composition, it is not always possible to place qualified students with faculty or student teachers; priority is given to advanced students (see “Supervised Student Teaching Program” and “Approved Student Teacher Program” in the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog). A student assigned to private study must contact the teacher before the end of the first week of the semester or forfeit the spot on the teacher’s schedule. College Music/Musical Studies majors must take required primary or secondary private study for a letter grade.
Normally, College students are permitted to earn two hours of credit in applied study per semester (i.e. thirty minutes of instruction weekly). Exceptionally talented students, upon the written recommendation of the private study teacher and with the approval of the Associate Dean in the Conservatory, may earn four hours of credit (i.e. one hour of applied study instruction weekly). In such cases, additional tuition will not be charged unless the four hours of credit increase the student’s registered hours to more than 16 for the semester.
Students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences who wish approval to perform a non-required recital must complete two departmental or studio recital appearances before approval may be requested. A student may apply a maximum of 32 hours of private study toward the BA degree. A student whose work does not merit continuation of private study with a teacher may be removed from the schedule.
A student who at his or her own volition discontinues applied study instruction for one or more semesters is not guaranteed a future place on a teacher’s schedule. A student who has discontinued lessons for more than one semester is required to reaudition. No student may take lessons on more than one instrument without payment of additional tuition (see “Tuition” in the Expenses section of this catalog.)
Musical Ensembles
Qualified students in the College of Arts and Sciences are accepted, with or without credit, for membership in Musical Union, Oberlin College Choir, Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Wind Ensemble, Oberlin College Community Strings, College-Community Winds, Collegium Musicum, Javanese Gamelan, Mandinka Ensemble, Performing the Music of India, Opera Theater, and various string, woodwind, and brass ensembles under the direction of members of the Conservatory faculty. Each of these may be taken for one credit hour per semester, and may be repeated for credit. A College student may apply a maximum of ten credit hours of ensemble work toward the BA degree. For further details consult the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog.
Musical Studies Major
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Musical Studies is an integral part of the liberal arts program of the College of Arts. The Musical Studies major is designed for Arts & Sciences students with serious preparation for and interest in the study of music within a liberal arts context. The major emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and communications skills grounded in practical musical experience. Students in the major build musical foundations in applied study, musicianship skills, and music history, and continue more advanced work in the major with a selection of courses chosen to contextualize their consideration of music.
Students interested in intensive pre-professional training are advised to apply for the Bachelor of Music program in the Conservatory. Students interested in pursuing graduate work in music are advised to take additional courses beyond the minimum major requirements and to pursue the honors program.
Minor
No minor in music exists for College of Arts and Sciences students.
Double-Degree Program
The Double-Degree program leads to both the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Arts degrees. Within the Double-Degree program, the Bachelor of Arts degree may not be in music. Double-degree candidates must be admitted to both the Conservatory of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences, either upon first application to Oberlin or any time while in residence. In the latter instance, students should declare their interest in the double-degree program to the Director of Conservatory or College Admissions as appropriate.
The Musical Studies program in the College of Arts and Sciences is overseen by the Musical Studies/Double Degree Committee, a General Faculty committee that consists of faculty members from both the Conservatory and the College of Arts and Sciences.
Music for Arts & Science Students
Courses
Although most courses in the Conservatory are open to qualified students in the College of Arts and Sciences, many Conservatory courses and the schedules of applied music teachers in fact become filled entirely with Conservatory students. Thus, although efforts are made to accommodate Arts and Sciences students, they should not expect to enroll in all Conservatory courses of their choice. Courses limited to Conservatory students are noted in the catalog course descriptions.
The courses listed below are specifically designed for Arts & Sciences students:
* CMUS 100 - Introduction to Western Art Music (Offered Second Semester)
* CMUS 103 - Introduction to Musics of the World (Offered First Semester)
* TECH 110/160 – Digital Art and Public Space (Offered First and Second Semesters)
* XART 100 - Concentrations: Art, Music, Culture, Past and Present (Offered Second Semester)
The following courses, described in the Conservatory section of the catalog, are recommended to qualified Arts & Sciences students (see the specific course descriptions in the Conservatory section of this catalog for prerequisites and/or limitations):
* COMP 100 - The Craft of Composition (Offered First Semester)
* MHST 101 - Introduction to the History and Literature of Music (Offered First Semester)
* ETHN 100 – Introduction to Musics of the World (Offered Second Semester)
* EDUC 300 - Principles of Education (Offered First Semester)
Note: Students who wish to elect any course in Music Theory and/or Aural Skills are required to take Music Theory Placement Test 1 and Aural Skills Placement Test 1.
The Conservatory’s Office of Associate Deans makes all assignments to teachers in private study. Because of heavy demands for private study on certain instruments or in composition, it is not always possible to place qualified students with faculty or student teachers; priority is given to advanced students (see “Supervised Student Teaching Program” and “Approved Student Teacher Program” in the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog). A student assigned to private study must contact the teacher before the end of the first week of the semester or forfeit the spot on the teacher’s schedule. College Music/Musical Studies majors must take required primary or secondary private study for a letter grade.
Normally, College students are permitted to earn two hours of credit in applied study per semester (i.e. thirty minutes of instruction weekly). Exceptionally talented students, upon the written recommendation of the private study teacher and with the approval of the Associate Dean in the Conservatory, may earn four hours of credit (i.e. one hour of applied study instruction weekly). In such cases, additional tuition will not be charged unless the four hours of credit increase the student’s registered hours to more than 16 for the semester.
Students enrolled in the College of Arts and Sciences who wish approval to perform a non-required recital must complete two departmental or studio recital appearances before approval may be requested. A student may apply a maximum of 32 hours of private study toward the BA degree. A student whose work does not merit continuation of private study with a teacher may be removed from the schedule.
A student who at his or her own volition discontinues applied study instruction for one or more semesters is not guaranteed a future place on a teacher’s schedule. A student who has discontinued lessons for more than one semester is required to reaudition. No student may take lessons on more than one instrument without payment of additional tuition (see “Tuition” in the Expenses section of this catalog.)
Musical Ensembles
Qualified students in the College of Arts and Sciences are accepted, with or without credit, for membership in Musical Union, Oberlin College Choir, Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Wind Ensemble, Oberlin College Community Strings, College-Community Winds, Collegium Musicum, Javanese Gamelan, Mandinka Ensemble, Performing the Music of India, Opera Theater, and various string, woodwind, and brass ensembles under the direction of members of the Conservatory faculty. Each of these may be taken for one credit hour per semester, and may be repeated for credit. A College student may apply a maximum of ten credit hours of ensemble work toward the BA degree. For further details consult the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog.
Musical Studies Major
The Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Musical Studies is an integral part of the liberal arts program of the College of Arts. The Musical Studies major is designed for Arts & Sciences students with serious preparation for and interest in the study of music within a liberal arts context. The major emphasizes critical thinking, writing, and communications skills grounded in practical musical experience. Students in the major build musical foundations in applied study, musicianship skills, and music history, and continue more advanced work in the major with a selection of courses chosen to contextualize their consideration of music.
Students interested in intensive pre-professional training are advised to apply for the Bachelor of Music program in the Conservatory. Students interested in pursuing graduate work in music are advised to take additional courses beyond the minimum major requirements and to pursue the honors program.
Minor
No minor in music exists for College of Arts and Sciences students.
Double-Degree Program
The Double-Degree program leads to both the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Arts degrees. Within the Double-Degree program, the Bachelor of Arts degree may not be in music. Double-degree candidates must be admitted to both the Conservatory of Music and the College of Arts and Sciences, either upon first application to Oberlin or any time while in residence. In the latter instance, students should declare their interest in the double-degree program to the Director of Conservatory or College Admissions as appropriate.
Private Study
Private instruction by members of the Conservatory faculty or by advanced students supervised by the faculty is offered in composition, piano, voice, organ, strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), percussion, and early instruments (harpsichord, fortepiano, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, viola da gamba). College students are permitted, under the following conditions, to earn credit in private study (see also “Private Study” in the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog): The student must be certified as eligible for credit. This certification must be secured prior to the first semester in which credit is desired and is based on an audition before the appropriate applied study or composition department. Secondary Private Study auditions are held during the orientation periods and/or during the first week of classes each semester; see www.oberlin.edu/condean for audition dates, procedures, and policies. Results of secondary auditions are typically posted one or two days following the auditions on the bulletin board outside Bibbins 113 in the Conservatory.
Private Study
Private instruction by members of the Conservatory faculty or by advanced students supervised by the faculty is offered in composition, piano, voice, organ, strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), percussion, and early instruments (harpsichord, fortepiano, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, viola da gamba). College students are permitted, under the following conditions, to earn credit in private study (see also “Private Study” in the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog): The student must be certified as eligible for credit. This certification must be secured prior to the first semester in which credit is desired and is based on an audition before the appropriate applied study or composition department. Secondary Private Study auditions are held during the orientation periods and/or during the first week of classes each semester; see www.oberlin.edu/condean for audition dates, procedures, and policies. Results of secondary auditions are typically posted one or two days following the auditions on the bulletin board outside Bibbins 113 in the Conservatory.
