Bachelor of Music: Performance (Trumpet, Horn, Trombone, Tuba)

First Major Committee Examination

The First Major Committee Examination will consist of:

1. The performance of a prepared etude or solo selected by the teacher.
2. A scales test, consisting of the playing of all major and harmonic minor scales: two octaves whenever practical, in 16th notes at a quarter note equals 100; trombones: 16th notes at a quarter note equals 92. A student who fails this test must repeat it at the end of each semester of study until completed satisfactorily.

Second Major Committee Examination

The Second Major Committee Examination will consist of two parts:

1. The playing of a prepared solo with piano accompaniment.
2. A sight-reading test. (This test will include, for all students, challenging problems of rhythm and interval structure. For trumpet students it will also include the seven basic transpositions from the B-flat and C trumpets. For all trombone students it will include both tenor and bass clefs; for tenor trombonists it will also include alto clef, and for bass trombonists it will also include some use of attachment valves. At the discretion of the Department, a student whose performance on this test does not measure up to departmental standards may be given the opportunity to repeat this part of the Examination at the end of the following semester of study.)

Third Major Committee Examination

The Third Major Committee Examination will consist of:

An orchestral audition for which the student will prepare 24 standard orchestra audition excerpts, selected by his or her teacher; the faculty committee will choose excerpts from the prepared group as time permits.

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 course work is required; a minimum of 24 hours of liberal arts is required.

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 RHET 101 or 102.