Applied Studies Courses: Private Study
Private study (PVST) on an instrument or in voice is described in the following paragraphs. Private study in composition is described under Composition; private study in TIMARA is described under TIMARA. The general aim of private instruction in Performance is thorough development in all phases of performing-technique, style, musicianship, interpretation, and repertoire.
Performance majors pursuing Private Applied Study in the Conservatory normally register for lessons each semester in residence. Transfer students are assigned to a Private Applied Study course sequence based on an audition at the time of entering the Conservatory. Students must complete all the Private Applied Study courses in a sequence as defined by their major.
Principal Private Applied Study in performance is offered in the following instruments: 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, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, viola da gamba, Baroque flute, recorder, Baroque oboe), and jazz performance (bass, drums, guitar, piano, saxophone, trombone, trumpet).
Secondary Private Applied Study is offered in all the above instruments. For a list of faculty who teach private applied study, please see the specific department in the section describing undergraduate Conservatory degree programs.
Assignments to private study instructors are made by the Office of the Associate Dean in the Conservatory, and students usually remain with the same instructor throughout the course of study. Students may not study with teachers not contracted by Oberlin College. A student assigned to Private Study must contact the instructor before the close of the first week of the semester or forfeit their spot on the instructor’s schedule.
Conservatory students are permitted to take either one Principal Private Study and one Secondary Private Study or two Secondary Private Studies without payment of additional tuition; Arts and Sciences students are permitted to take one Secondary Private Study without payment of additional tuition unless the Private Study increases the student’s registered credits past the semester limit (see “Tuition” in the “Expenses” section at the beginning of this catalog.)
College of Arts and Sciences students should contact the Conservatory of Music Dean’s Office for further information on Private Study.