Musical Studies

Major Description

The Musical Studies major is designed for Arts and 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 pursuing graduate work in music are advised to take additional courses beyond the minimum major requirements and to pursue the honors program.

Note: Students interested in intensive pre-professional training are advised to apply for the Bachelor of Music program in the Conservatory.

Courses

All academic courses in the conservatory (ETHN, EDUC, MHST, MUTH, PACE, TECH) are open to Arts and Sciences students. In cases where enrollments are limited, priority will be granted to students who need to complete the courses as part of their majors (i.e., conservatory students and Musical Studies majors). Private lessons (PVST) are available on a limited basis to Arts and Sciences students, based on audition and availability (see below).

Major Requirements

The major consists of a minimum of 44 credits.

Note: Courses in which a student has earned a letter grade lower than a C- or P cannot be used to fulfill the requirements of the Musical Studies major.

Minor

No minor in music exists for College of Arts and Sciences students.

Honors Program

Students may apply for the honors program in the second semester of the junior year. Entry to the honors program is contingent on approval of the honors proposal by both the student’s advisor and the Musical Studies Committee. Detailed application information is available from the Chairs of the Musical Studies Committee.

Students admitted to the honors program must enroll in CMUS 400 /401  (Senior Honors). This does not waive the requirement for a 400-level proseminar or any other requirements of the major.

Musical Ensembles

Qualified students in the College of Arts and Sciences may be accepted for membership in Arts & Sciences Orchestra, Musical Union, Oberlin College Choir, Oberlin College Women’s Chorale, Oberlin Orchestra, Oberlin Chamber Orchestra, Oberlin Sinfonietta, Contemporary Music Ensemble, Collegium Musicum, Javanese Gamelan, Performance & Improvisation Ensembles, Oberlin Jazz Ensemble, Opera Theater, and various other ensembles under the direction of members of the Conservatory faculty. Ensembles are offered for two credits/Half Academic Course per semester and may be repeated for credit. For further details consult the Conservatory of Music section of this catalog.

Private Study

Private instruction is offered in composition, piano, voice, organ, strings (violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar), woodwinds (flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon), brass (trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba), percussion, early instruments (harpsichord, fortepiano, recorder, Baroque flute, Baroque oboe, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, viola da gamba), and selected Jazz instruments (trumpet, trombone, saxophones, percussion, piano, guitar, and double bass).

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. 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; 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.

All students continuing with secondary applied study must complete a consent form (available from the Conservatory Dean’s Office) each fall semester in order to be placed with a teacher.

A student who at their 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.

Normally, College students are permitted to earn two credits/Half Academic Course in applied study per semester (i.e. thirty minutes of instruction weekly). However, with the written recommendation of the private study teacher and with the approval of the Associate Dean in the Conservatory, advanced students may earn six credits/Full Academic Course (i.e. one hour of applied study instruction plus studio class weekly). In such cases, additional tuition will not be charged unless the six credits increase the student’s registered hours beyond the semester limit.

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 48 credits/8 Full Academic Courses 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.

College students may not take lessons on more than one instrument without payment of additional tuition (see “Tuition” in the Expenses section of this catalog).
 

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.