Bachelor of Music: Performance (Organ)/Master of Music: Performance (Fortepiano, Harpsichord, Organ)

General Requirements Historical Performance

Procedures for Admission

The graduate programs in Historical Performance can be pursued either as a five-year program in combination with an undergraduate degree in a modern instrument, or by persons who hold a Bachelor’s degree from Oberlin or other institutions. Applicants are admitted based on an audition on their major instrument and a review of their academic record. Students audition for the five-year program during their junior year, and are expected to present a level comparable to any other applicant for the Master’s program. Once admitted, students in the two-year Master’s program must demonstrate baccalaureate competence in music history and music theory. Deficiencies must be remedied by taking appropriate undergraduate coursework, or in the case of music history, by either coursework or re-examination.

Placement Exams

Two-year Master of Music: Exams in music history and music theory must be taken during orientation.

Residence

Completion of the two-year Master of Music degree program will typically require full-time residence for four semesters beyond the Bachelor’s degree.

Program Completion

All requirements for the two-year Master of Music degree must be completed within three years from the date of admission. Students are encouraged to attend the summer Baroque Performance Institute and may use the credits earned there toward the degree.

Grading

No credit with a grade lower than B– may be counted toward the requirements of the Master’s Degree.

Course Requirements: 154-156 Total Hours

Undergraduate Credits: 125 Hours

Principal Private Study - Credits: 32
Secondary study (HP) ¹ - Credits: 4
Ensemble electives ² - Credits: 8
MLIT 213, 214 (Organ Literature, History and Design) ³ - Credits: 6
APST 214 (Keyboard Skills I) - Credits: 2
APST 215 (Keyboard Skills II) OR
APST 216 (Improv. at the Organ) ⁴Credits: 2
MUTH 130 or 131, 132, 231, 232 (Music Theory) - Credits: 12
MUTH 101, 102, 201, 202 (Aural Skills) - Credits: 4
Upper-Division Music Theory electives - Credits: 6
Music History electives ⁵ - Credits: 10
HPRF 302 (Intro to Historical Performance) - Credits: 3
Musicology 300-level elective - Credits: 3
Music Theory 400-level elective - Credits: 3
Liberal Arts electives - Credits: 24
Free electives - Credits: 5

Graduate Credits: 32G Hours

(G = Graduate credit courses)

Principal Private Study (HP) ¹ Credits: 16
Ensemble electives (HP) ² - Credits: 8
APST 340 (Continuo Accompanying) ⁶ - Credits: 2
MHST 301 (Intro to Music Research and Writing) - Credits: 3
HPRF 503 (Sem in Performance Practice) ⁷ - Credits: 3
HPRF 512 (Spec Topics in Perf Practice) ⁷ - Credits: 3
APST 602 (Lecture-recital) ⁸ - Credits: 1

Harpsichord principal applied: 32G
Total Credits: 156
All other principal applied areas: 30G
Total Credits: 154

Undergraduate Non-Course Requirements

Private Study Committee Exams:

First Major Committee: Freshman Year, Second Semester
Second Major Committee: Sophmore Year, Second Semester
Third Major Committee: Junior Year, First Semester

Performance Requirement:

Junior Recital ^{9, 10}: Junior Year, First or Second Semester
Senior Recital ¹⁰: Senior Year, First or Second Semester

Graduate Non-Course Requirements

Private Study Committee Exam: Senior Second Semester
Master’s Recital: 5th Year, Second Semester
Recital Hearing: 5th Year, Second Semester
Comprehensive Exams: 5th Year, Second Semester
Keyboard proficiency ¹¹: 5th Year, First Semester
Language proficiency ¹²: Senior Second Semester
Harpsichord skills ¹³: Senior Second Semester

Notes

¹ Secondary study of the HP instrument is typical, but not required. At the discretion of the HP faculty, these secondary lesson credits may be used toward the Applied Study requirement for the Master’s degree (i.e., 2-2-2-2-4-4).

² Organ majors must satisfactorily complete eight semesters of ensemble, of which two must be in singing groups. In the remaining six semesters students may choose to participate in any of the ensembles listed in the catalog as part of the Conservatory curriculum. In addition, if qualified, they may elect to count the following courses toward the ensemble requirement: APST 204 (Interpretation of Art Song); MLIT 220 (The Lied); and MLIT 221 (The Mélodie).

³ Because MLIT 213, 214 is offered in alternate years only, it must be taken in either the junior or senior year.

⁴ Two semesters of keyboard skills are required; organ majors may elect to take APST 216 (Improvisation at the Organ) or APST 240 (Continuo Realization at the Keyboard) in place of APST 215 (Keyboard Skills II).

⁵ Three courses in music history beyond MHST 101 are required.

⁶ For students whose major is harpsichord.

⁷ HPRF 503 and 512 may be taken in either order; both may be offered in alternate years.

⁸ Students must have demonstrated baccalaureate competence in music history and music theory before enrollment for the lecture recital; the lecture recital cannot take place in the same semester as the master’s recital.

⁹ Two performances on a divisional or studio recital, or on an honors recital are required before the junior recital.

¹⁰ The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first or the second semester, or during Winter Term.

¹¹ Required of non-keyboard majors. Requirement may be satisfied by passing a proficiency exam or taking an appropriate course in consultation with the keyboard faculty.

¹² Examination of reading proficiency in French or German.

¹³ For harpsichordists: includes proficiency in tuning, maintenance, and continuo realization. APST 240 (Continuo Realization) may be taken to fulfill the continuo realization requirement.