David Brockett, Assistant Professor of Horn

Wesley Jacobs, Teacher of Tuba

James Desano, Professor of Trombone

Major Study: Performance (French horn, trumpet,trombone, tuba)
Requirements and Recommended Distribution

Credits	Course Requirements	Sem 1	Sem 2	Sem 3	Sem 4	Sem 5	Sem 6	Sem 7	Sem 8
32	Principal Private Study	4	4	4	4	4	4	4	4
4	Secondary Private Study (Piano)1	2	2
12	Large Ensemble Electives2	1	1			1	1	1	1
12	Small Ensemble Electives3			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
6	Upper-Division Music Theory electives					3	3
10	Music History electives4	4	3	3
24	Liberal Arts electives			3	3	6	3	6	3
20	Free electives		1		3	1	4	4	7
124	Semester Totals	15	15	16	16	16	16	15	15
	Non-Course Requirements
English 101 Proficiency			x
Private Study Committee Exams:
	First Major Committee		x
	Second Major Committee				x
	Third Major Committee						x
Performance Requirement:
	Junior Recital5					x	x
	Senior Recital5							x	x

¹ The Secondary Private Study (piano) requirement must be completed before the senior recital may be scheduled.

² Six semesters of participation in large ensembles is required. To be chosen from APST 710 (Oberlin Orchestra), APST 711 (Oberlin Chamber Orchestra), APST 720 (Oberlin Wind Ensemble), and APST 723 (Contemporary Music Ensemble). A maximum of one credit may be elected from JAZZ 700 (Jazz Ensemble-Large Group). Oberlin Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Wind Ensemble can be taken for one or two credits. Transfer students are required to participate in a large ensemble every semester of enrollment up to six semesters.

³ To be chosen from APST 800 (Chamber Music), APST 805 (Contemporary Chamber Music), APST 280 (Prima Vista Group Reading-Woodwind Quintet), and APST 804 (Orchestral Repertoire for Brasses). APST 280 and APST 804 may be repeated up to three times for credit but only one credit of each will be applied toward the major small ensemble requirements. Excess credits will apply toward free electives.

⁴ Two courses in Music History beyond MHST 101 are required.

⁵ The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first or the second semester, or during Winter Term.

Large Ensemble Participation. The Brass Department expects its majors to participate in one of the large conducted ensembles during every semester of enrollment.

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 sixteenth notes at a quarter note equals 100; trombones: sixteenth 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.

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.)

The Third Major Committee Examination will consist of:

An orchestral audition for which the student will prepare twenty-four 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. 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.

Minor Study: Performance (Trumpet, trombone, tuba)

Course Requirements

Completion of at least six semesters of Secondary Private Study on the instrument.

Completion of at least four semesters of ensemble study on the instrument.

Non-Course Requirements

First Minor Committee Examination

Second Minor Committee Examination

Third Minor Committee Examination

These examinations may be taken at any time before graduation, at the discretion of the Department.

Eligibility

1. The student must be a degree student in the Conservatory.

2. The student must be recommended by his or her private study teacher.

3. The student must be approved by the Brass Department.

Minor Study: Performance (French horn)

Course Requirements

Completion of at least six semesters of Secondary Private Study on the instrument.

Completion of at least four semesters of ensemble study on the instrument.

Non-Course Requirements

First Minor Committee Examination: This consists of all of the major and harmonic minor scales, and an unaccompanied etude or solo. Scales are played in 16th notes, slurred or tongued, at quarter note = 80, and are played two octaves in each direction with the lowest scale starting on low F-sharp.

Second Minor Committee Examination: This consists of a prepared solo with piano accompaniment and sight reading (no transposition).

Third Minor Committee Examination: This consists of 12 prepared orchestral excerpts chosen from a list of 24 supplied by the instructor.