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Division of Strings

In this Department

Catalog 

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Peter Rejto, Director

 Stephen Aron, Teacher of Classical Guitar

Peter Dominguez, Associate Professor of Jazz Studies and Bass

Joanne Erwin, Associate Professor of Music Education

Gregory Fulkerson, Professor of Violin

Taras Gabora, Professor of Violin

Scott Haigh, Teacher of Double Bass

Kyung-Sun Lee, Professor of Violin

Peter Slowik, Professor of Viola

Andrew Jennings, Teacher of Violin and Chamber Music

Yolanda Kondonassis, Assistant Professor of Harp

Marilyn McDonald, Professor of Violin and Teacher of Baroque Violin

Roger Chase, Professor of Viola

Peter Rejto, Professor of Violoncello

Thomas Sperl, Teacher of Double Bass

Andor Toth, Jr., Professor of Violoncello and Chamber Music

Milan Vitek, Professor of Violin

 

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Major Study: Performance (Violin, viola, cello, double bass)

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution

Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior
32 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 Secondary Private Study (Piano) 2 2 - - - - - -
6 Large ensemble electives1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - -
6 Chamber music electives2 1 1 1 1 1 1 - -
12 MUTH 131, 132, 231, 232 (Music Theory) 3 3 3 3 - - - -
4 MUTH 101, 102, 201, 202 (Aural Skills) 1 1 1 1 - - - -
3 Upper-Division Music Theory electives - - - - 3 - - -
3 Conservatory electives3 - - - - - 3 - -
7 Music History electives4 4 3 - - - - - -
3 Musicology, Historical Performance
or Liberal Arts electives - - - 3 - - - -
24 Liberal Arts electives - - 3 3 6 3 6 3
20 Free electives5 - - 2 - 1 3 6 8
124 16 15 15 16 16 15 16 15

 

Non-Course Requirements

Private Study Committee Exams:

First Major Committee - ˆ - - - - - -
Second Major Committee - - - ˆ - - - -
Performance Requirement:
Junior Recital5, 6 - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ) - -
Senior Recital6 - - - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ)

 

1 To be chosen from APST 710 (Oberlin Orchestra) or APST 711 (Chamber Orchestra). Six semesters are required for violin, viola, and cello majors; eight semesters are required for Double Bass majors; transfer students are required to participate in every semester of enrollment up to six semesters. Transfer students wishing to be released from orchestra during the semester of their senior recital may participate in two orchestras in one semester to complete this requirement. Double bass majors are required to take APST 710 or APST 711 in every semester of enrollment.

2 For violin, viola and cello majors only. One semester must be in APST 805 (20th Century Chamber Music) or APST 723 (Contemporary Music Ensemble). Only one semester of Contemporary Music Ensemble, Baroque Ensemble, or Jazz Ensemble may be counted toward this requirement. One semester of APST 806 (Advanced String Quartet Seminar), a two-credit course, will satisfy only one semester of the chamber music requirement. All required ensemble credits must be earned in on-campus ensembles. Transfer students are required to participate in a small ensemble in every semester of enrollment up to a maximum of six semesters. Double bass majors are required to take APST 285 (Orchestral Repertoire for Double Bass) for four semesters. It is recommended that Double Bass majors fulfill the other two credits of this requirement with APST 812 (Double Bass Ensemble).

3 These electives are to be chosen from the following: any course in COMP, CNST, ETHN, HPRF, JAZZ, MUED, MLIT, TECH, Aural Skills V, Aural Skills VI, MHST (200 level or above), and MUTH (300 level or above). It is recommended that string majors who intend to pursue graduate study take Music Theory 370 and a 400-level Music Theory course in Form and Analysis.

4 One course in Music History beyond MHST 101 is required.

5 Violin majors must take one credit of APST 130 (Viola Class) or must satisfactorily complete APST 800 or APST 805 playing viola with the prior approval of the String Department. This requirement may also be waived by examination.

6 Two performances on a student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) are required before the junior recital. Two additional performances on a student recital (see above) may be substituted for the junior recital.

7 The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first or the second semester, or during Winter Term. The senior recital cannot be given until the junior recital requirement has been satisfied.

Major Status. Sophomore Major Status is attained upon completion of:

Principal Private Study II on the student's major instrument

The First Major Committee Examination

Secondary Private Study II (Piano)

Junior Major Status is attained upon the completion of:

Principal Private Study IV on the student's major instrument

The Second Major Committee Examination

Student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) appearances one and two

Senior Major Status is attained upon completion of:

Principal Private Study VI on the student's major instrument

The junior recital or student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) appearances three
and four

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. If the minimum passing scores are not achieved for placement in Music Theory I (MUTH 131) and Aural Skills I (MUTH 101), a student must first take Introduction to Music Theory (MUTH 120) and/or Introduction to Aural Skills (MUTH 100). If a student exempts Aural Skills I, II, III, or IV, then Aural Skills V (MUTH 301) becomes the terminal course in the sequence.

Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV must be taken concurrently, e.g., a student will register for Music Theory I 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 courses is required; a minimum of 24 hours of liberal arts is required.

Related Programs. For a description of the majors in Baroque violin, Baroque cello/viola da gamba, see the Historical Performance Program.

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 EXWR 111-119 series.

 

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Major Study: Performance (Guitar)

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution

Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior
32 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
4 Secondary Private Study (Piano) 2 2 - - - - - -
4 APST 822 (Ensemble for Guitarists)1 - - - - 1 1 1 1
4 APST 815 (Guitar Ensemble) 1 1 1 1 - - - -
2 APST 260 (Elementary Conducting) - - 2 - - - - -
12 MUTH 131, 132, 231, 232 (Music Theory) 3 3 3 3 - - - -
4 MUTH 101, 102, 201, 202 (Aural Skills) 1 1 1 1 - - - -
6 Upper-Division Music Theory electives - - - - 3 3 - -
10 Music History electives2 4 3 - 3 - - - -
24 Liberal Arts electives - 1 3 4 4 5 4 3
22 Free electives 1 - 1 - 3 3 7 7
124 16 15 15 16 15 16 16 15
Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committee Exams:
First Major Committee - ˆ - - - - - -
Second Major Committee - - - ˆ - - - -
Performance Requirement:
Junior Recital3, 4 - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ) - -
Senior Recital4 - - - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ)

 

1 Four semesters of participation in APST 822 (Ensemble for Guitarists) are required. All required ensemble credit must be earned in on-campus ensembles.

2 Two courses in Music History beyond MHST 101 are required.

3 Two performances on a student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) are required before the junior recital.

4 The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first or the second semester, or during Winter Term. The senior recital cannot be given until the junior recital requirement has been satisfied.

Major Status. Sophomore Major status is attained upon completion of:

Principal Private Study II on the student's major instrument

The First Major Committee Examination

Secondary Private Study II (Piano)

Junior Major Status is attained upon completion of:

Principal Private Study IV on the student's major instrument

The Second Major Committee Examination

Student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) appearances one and two

Senior Major Status is attained upon completion of:

Principal Private Study VI on the student's major instrument

The junior recital or student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) appearances three
and four

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. If the minimum passing scores are not achieved for placement in Music Theory I (MUTH 131) and Aural Skills I (MUTH 101), a student must first take Introduction to Music Theory (MUTH 120) and/or Introduction to Aural Skills (MUTH 100). If a student exempts Aural Skills I, II, III, or IV, then Aural Skills V (MUTH 301) becomes the terminal course in the sequence.

Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV must be taken concurrently, e.g., a student will register for Music Theory I 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 courses 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 the EXWR 111-119 series.

 

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Major Study: Performance (Harp)

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution

Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior
32 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4
8 Secondary Private Study (Piano) 2 2 2 2 - - - -
6 APST 820 (Ensemble for Harpists)1 1 1 1 1 1 1 - -
4 APST 814 (Harp Ensemble)2 - - - 1 1 1 - 1
12 MUTH 131, 132, 231, 232 (Music Theory) 3 3 3 3 - - - -
4 MUTH 101, 102, 201, 202 (Aural Skills) 1 1 1 1 - - - -
6 Upper-Division Music Theory electives - - - - 3 3 - -
10 Music History electives2 4 3 3 - - - - -
24 Liberal Arts electives - - - 3 6 2 8 5
18 Free electives 1 1 1 1 1 4 4 5
124 16 15 15 16 16 15 16 15
Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committee Exams:
First Major Committee - ˆ - - - - - -
Second Major Committee - - - ˆ - - - -
Performance Requirement:
Junior Recital3 - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ) - -
Senior Recital3 - - - - - - (ˆ) (ˆ)

 

1 Six semesters of participation in APST 820 (Ensembles for Harpists) are required. All required ensemble credits must be earned in on-campus ensembles.

2 Two courses in Music History beyond MHST 101 are required.

3 Two performances on a student recital (division, studio, or honors recital) are required before the junior recital. The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first or second semester, or during Winter Term.

Major Committee Examinations. The examining committee for the First and Second Major Committee Examinations is comprised of the principal private study teacher and the conductors of the large instrumental ensembles.

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. If the minimum passing scores are not achieved for placement in Music Theory I (MUTH 131) and Aural Skills I (MUTH 101), a student must first take Introduction to Music Theory (MUTH 120) and/or Introduction to Aural Skills (MUTH 100). If a student exempts Aural Skills I, II, III, or IV, then Aural Skills V (MUTH 301) becomes the terminal course in the sequence.

Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV must be taken concurrently, e.g., a student will register for Music Theory I 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 courses 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 the EXWR 111-119 series.

 

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