Course Requirements and Recommended Course Distribution
Music Theory and Aural Skills Requirement
Students are expected to register for Music
Theory and Aural Skills courses each semester until they have completed the requirements. Part
or all of these requirements may be waived by placement examination when the student enters
Oberlin.
Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV must be taken concurrently, e.g., a student will
register for Music Theory I (MUTH 130 or 131) and Aural Skills I in the same semester. Under
certain circumstances, with the permission of the appropriate division director and the Music
Theory division director, students will be allowed to take Aural Skills IV and Music Theory IV
separately. A student’s aural skills requirement must be completed before the senior recital can
be scheduled. Double-degree students will resolve any conflicts with these expectations in
consultation with their advisors.
Electives
A student should select electives based on the following: a minimum of 76 hours of Conservatory coursework is required; a minimum of 24 hours of liberal arts is required.
The First Private Study Committee Examination
This examination will consist of
approximately eight minutes of solo music, prepared with the major teacher, to be performed
from memory for a faculty jury composed of the entire piano department, at the end of the
freshman year. Transfer students with two or more semesters of piano credit will not be required
to take this examination. This examination will not be graded and is advisory in nature.
Comments will be offered by the jury.
The Second Private Study Committee Examination
This examination will consist of 25
minutes of solo music in at least two contrasting styles, of which 12 minutes will be heard. This
repertoire is to be prepared with the major teacher, and is to be performed from memory for a
faculty jury composed of the entire piano department, at the end of the sophomore year, or at the
end of the fourth semester of study. It is graded pass/fail and must be passed by a majority of the
jury in order for the student to continue as a piano performance major. Comments will be offered
by the jury. A failed sophomore committee may be taken a second time in the first two weeks of
the following semester. At least one work must be new repertoire.
The Third Private Study Committee Examination
This examination will consist of one piece
chosen by the student from three selected by the faculty and announced two weeks before the
examination date. This examination will take place at the end of the first semester of the junior
year, or at the end of the fifth semester of study. This music will be self-prepared, without help
from the teacher or others. This examination will be graded, and comments will be offered by the
jury, which will consist of the entire piano faculty. Students who do not receive an average grade
of B– or better will be required to repeat the Committee.
The Junior Recital
Two performances on a divisional or public studio recital, or on an honors
recital are required before the junior recital. This will consist of solo works performed from
memory. The maximum length shall be 35 minutes. Minimum length shall be 25 minutes.
The Senior Recital
This will consist of at least 50 minutes of solo repertoire performed from
memory. In addition chamber works or concertos can be scheduled. Students are required to play
a pre-recital hearing (20 minutes) a minimum of two weeks before their senior recital. The senior
recital may be performed during the first or second semester, or during Winter Term.
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.
Accompanying Courses
The following courses are available to piano majors and to other qualified keyboard players interested in accompanying:
Fall Semester
APST 112, 113 - Keyboard Accompanying (four credits in Keyboard Accompanying are required of piano performance majors—one in voice, two in instrumental, and one free choice)
APST 204 - Interpretation of Art Song (for pianists of any class who are accompanying a senior or artist diploma recital—may substitute for one of the four required Keyboard Accompanying credits)
MLIT 220 - The Lied (a performance-oriented course in German Art Song)
MLIT 221 - The Mélodie (a performance-oriented course in French Art Song)
Spring Semester
APST 112, 113 - Keyboard Accompanying
APST 204 - Interpretation of Art Song
Related Programs
For a description of the major and minor in harpsichord and the minor in
fortepiano, see the Historical Performance Program.
Honors Program in Piano Performance
Potential Honors applicants will be identified during the end of their sophomore year and will be required to audition at the end of their junior year. In order to audition for the Honors Program, a student must be nominated by a member of the piano faculty and must meet the following requirements: a private study grade point average of 4.0 for the two preceding semesters; completion of three semesters of accompanying; appropriate completion of the performance major requirements in piano; and “good academic standing” for the preceding two semesters as defined in the Conservatory portion of this catalog.
Applicants must prepare 35 minutes of memorized and balanced repertoire. Auditions for the Honors Program will be open to the public and be adjudicated by no fewer than six members of the piano department. Students will advance past the audition stage only if selected by a twothirds majority of the panel, and it is possible that no one will be chosen; a maximum of three students may be selected per year. If a student performs a successful audition, they must submit a proposal for an Honors Project to the Chair of the piano faculty and the Dean’s office before the first day of classes of the following fall semester. Proposals must receive approval from twothirds of the piano department. A student will be notified by the department Chair of the status of his or her entrance into the Honors Program before the end of the Add/Drop period of the fall semester. If a final proposal is not approved before the end of the Add/Drop period, others may not be submitted. It is recommended that applicants seek assistance from members of the faculty and consult with the Assistant Dean before submitting a final proposal.
Proposal/Project Requirements
All honors proposals must include the production of a professional quality CD to be funded by the department (see department Chair for limitations and restrictions). After the CD project is completed, it must be approved by two-thirds of the department and be submitted for external review to at least one individual to be selected by the piano faculty. If successful, the CD will become a permanent part of the library collection.
All honors projects will culminate in a public recital to be adjudicated by at least six members of the Keyboard Division, including the private teacher, the piano department Chair, and the Division Director. The recital must pass by a two-thirds majority.
Special efforts will be made to provide off campus performance opportunities for Honors candidates
Curricular and Program Requirements
A student who receives approval for an Honors Proposal will register for three credits of Honors study in each semester of his or her senior year. Free elective requirements for the performance major will be reduced by six credits and the final Honors recital will replace the senior recital. If some part of the Honors Program, such as the recital or CD project, is not considered to be adequate but is completed, a student may receive credit for the work but not receive the distinction of Honors. Students who fail any portion of the required coursework in Honors will be removed from the program and must complete the standard performance major requirements in order to graduate.
Following successful completion of a project and approval by the piano department as defined above, the Chair of the piano department will submit the following to the Honors and Awards Committee of the Conservatory of Music: a brief rational pertaining to the student’s successful and meritorious completion of the Honors project; the project proposal; a CD of the recital; and the final project CD. If the Honors and Awards Committee approves the piano department recommendation, the student will be awarded the Baccalaureate distinction of Honors in Piano Performance.
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