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Graduate Programs

In this Department

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 General. The graduate programs in Music Education, Teaching, Conducting, and Opera Theater are unified five-year programs of study which culminate in the award of both an undergraduate and graduate degree. They are not graduate programs of study for the student who has already completed an undergraduate degree at Oberlin or elsewhere. The graduate programs in Historical Performance, however, can be pursued by persons who hold a Bachelor's Degree from Oberlin or other institutions.

Graduate Studies Committee. This committee, which administers the graduate study programs, is comprised of a representative from each department awarding a graduate degree and from each department awarding the associated undergraduate degree, plus a representative from the administration. The committee is responsible to the Conservatory faculty for all graduate degree programs, their curricula and interrelationship, and is responsible for admissions to graduate programs as well as for certification of completion of graduate degree requirements.

 

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Graduate Programs in Music Education

Division of Music Education

Joanne Erwin, Director

Kay Edwards, Visiting Assistant Professor of Music Education

Jody Kerchner, Assistant Professor of Music Education

John Knight, Professor of Music Education

Major Study: Bachelor of Music with a major in Music Education combined with a Master of Music Education

This is a unified five-year program of study that culminates in the awarding of both an undergraduate and graduate degree. It is not a graduate program for the student who has already completed an undergraduate degree at Oberlin or elsewhere.

General. A student applies for admission to the B.Mus.-M.M.E. degree program near the completion of the second year of study and is accepted as a candidate only after successful completion of the Comprehensive Musicianship Exam and upon demonstration of ability to do work of superior quality at an advanced level.

Application for admission must be made on forms obtained in the Music Education office. An interview and an audition are required. All courses listed in the first two years of the undergraduate program, or their equivalent, and successful completion of the Comprehensive Musicianship Exam, are prerequisite to consideration for this program. Undergraduate transfer students will be accepted into the program only after one year in residence as a Music Education major. The requirements below must be satisfied in addition to all course and non-course requirements listed for the undergraduate major in music education; a total of 155 credits is needed for graduation.

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution

Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 5th Year
4 Principal Private Study PVST IX - - - - - - - - - 4
4 APST 350, 351 or 360, 361 - - - - - - 2 2 - -
(Advanced Instrumental or Choral Cond)
9 Adv. Theory or Music History electives1 - - - - - 3 3 3 - -
1 MUED 501 or 504 (Apprentice Supv
or Studies in Music Education) - - - - - - - - - 1
6 MUED 500 (Student Teaching/Seminar)2 - - - - - - - - - 6
2 MUED 502 (Rev of Research in Mus Ed) - - - - - - 2 - - -
5 MUED 503 (Graduate Project)3 - - - - - - - - - 5
31 - - - - - 3 7 5 - 16

 

1 Must include one upper-division Music Theory course, one course in Music History, and one elective course. MHST 301 (Introduction to Music Research and Writing) is required.

2 Student teaching may be completed in either the first or second semester. A graduate student teaching project is required; see the Music Education Graduate Handbook.

3 A full description of this requirement may be found in the Music Education Graduate Handbook.

Comprehensive Examination. A comprehensive final examination, both written and oral, is required at the end of the program. The nature of the examination and the membership of the Examining Committee are described in the Music Education Graduate Handbook.

 

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Master of Music in Teaching

The graduate programs leading to the degree Master of Music in Teaching are designed especially for the undergraduate majors in performance or composition who plan careers in elementary and secondary music teaching. Both the undergraduate Bachelor of Music in Performance or Composition and the Master of Music in Teaching can be completed in five years provided the student enters the program in the first two years. Late entry into the program is likely to extend the time necessary to complete the requirements. Combination with an undergraduate major in Jazz Studies will take considerably longer to complete.

 

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Major Study: Bachelor of Music with a major in Performance or Composition combined with a Master of Music in Teaching

This is a unified five-year program of study that culminates in the awarding of both an undergraduate and graduate degree. It is not a graduate program for the student who has already completed an undergraduate degree at Oberlin or elsewhere. Typically, the candidate has a double major in Music Education and Performance or Composition.

Application for admission must be made on forms obtained in the Music Education office. An interview and an audition are required. Acceptance as a candidate is based upon satisfactory completion of the Second Major Committee Examination and the Comprehensive Musicianship Examination, the approval of the student's private study teacher, and the faculty of the Music Education Division. Interested students are urged to confer with the director of the division as early in their study as possible. The requirements below must be satisfied in addition to all undergraduate MUED courses and non-course requirements; APST 260 and 261 or 262; instrument classes as listed for the vocal or instrumental emphasis; and the undergraduate music education requirement in music history; a total of 155 credits is needed for graduation.

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution
Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 5th Year
8 Principal Private Study PVST VIII, IX - - - - - - - 4 - 4
9 Music Theory or Music History electives1 - - - - - - 3 6 -
1 MUED 501 or 504 (Apprentice Supv or
Studies in Music Ed) - - - - - - - - - 1
3 EDUC 300 (Principles of Ed)2 - - - - - - - - 3 -
8 MUED 500 (Student Teaching/Seminar)3 - - - - - - - - - 8
2 MUED 502 (Rev of Research in Mus Ed) - - - - - - - - 2 -
31 - - - - - - - 7 11 13

 

1 Must include one upper-division Music Theory course, one course in Music History, and one elective course. MHST 301 (Introduction to Music Research and Writing) is recommended.

2 EDUC 300 (Principles of Education) is taken for graduate credit, rather than undergraduate credit, in this program.

3 Student teaching may be completed in either the first or second semester. In this program MUED 400 (Student Teaching and Seminar) is taken for a minimum of four credits, rather than 10. A graduate student teaching project is requiredsee the Music Education Graduate Handbook.

Comprehensive Examination. A comprehensive final examination, both written and oral, is required prior to enrolling in Music Education 500 (Student Teaching). The nature of the examination and the membership of the Examining Committee are described in the Music Education Graduate Handbook.

For details about Licensure, see the description in the undergraduate Music Education major.

 

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Graduate Programs: Master of Music

Conducting Department

Major Study: Master of Music in Conducting

General. The Conducting major is a two-year curriculum with rigorous demands. Only candidates possessing a strong background and broad combination of skills should audition. Students who wish to apply for the instrumental or choral conducting program must identify themselves to the conducting department faculty during the freshman year. Students are required to audition for admission to the degree program at the end of the junior year. The audition will include conducting a self-recruited and a self-prepared ensemble, an interview with the conducting committee, and a diagnostic examination which will consist of sight singing, aural skills, score reading and score playing at the keyboard, knowledge of historical style periods, and theoretical analysis.

Prerequisites. Students applying for the instrumental or choral conducting program must have satisfied the following prerequisites for admission:

MUTH 301 (Aural Skills V)

Proficiency in piano

Fifteen hours of Music Theory

Twelve hours of Music History

APST 350, 351, or 360, 361 (Advanced Instrumental or Choral Conducting)

At the time students are auditioned for the conducting major, they must be a) currently enrolled in good academic standing as an Oberlin student, b) maintaining a minimum of a 3.0 GPA, and c) successfully completing three years of any of the following undergraduate degree programs at the Oberlin Conservatory: performance, music education, composition, electronic and computer music, or music history. It is understood that students will probably have to extend the bachelor's degree program so that both degrees will be completed at the end of five years.

Comprehensive Examination. A comprehensive final examination, both written and oral, is required in the final month of study. The examination will be administered by a committee convened by the student with the consent of his or her advisor.

 

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Instrumental Conducting Program

Paul Polivnick, Music Director of the Oberlin Orchestras

Course Requirements Recommended

Distribution
Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 5th Year
4 APST 350, 351 (Adv Instr Cond) - - - - 2 2 - - - -
2 APST 214 (Keyboard Skills I) - - - - - - 2 - - -
2 APST 240 (Continuo Realization) - - - - - - - 2 - -
15 Music Theory electives 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - -
3 MUTH 370 (Music of Twentieth Century) - - - - - - - - 3 -
13 Music History electives 4 3 3 3 - - - - - -
10 Language electives1 - - - - 5 5 - - - -
75 Undergraduate major and electives 8 10 9 10 5 9 4 5 6 9
124 Undergraduate credits 15 16 15 16 15 16 6 7 9 9
8G APST 450, 451 (Orch Cond Sem) - - - - - - 4 4 - -
8G APST 550, 551 (Orch Cond Sem) - - - - - - - - 4 4
4G COMP 300, 301 (Orchestration) - - - - - - 2 2 - -
6G MLIT 300, 301 (Surv Orch/Choral Lit) - - - - - - 3 3 - -
5G Graduate electives2 - - - - - - - - 2 3
31G Graduate credits - - - - - - 9 9 6 7

(G = Graduate credit)
155 Credits required for graduation 15 16 15 16 15 16 15 16 15 16

 

1 One year of French, German, or Italian is required. It is recommended that a second year of one language be taken.

2 To be selected from advanced Music Theory or Music History courses, or graduate-level Private Applied or Private Composition Study.

 

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Choral Conducting Program

Hugh Floyd, Assistant Professor of Choral Conducting

Course Requirements Recommended

Distribution
Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 5th Year
4 APST 360, 361 (Adv Choral Cond) - - - - 2 2 - - - -
2 APST 214 (Keyboard Skills I) - - - - - - 2 - - -
2 APST 240 (Continuo Realization) - - - - - - - 2 - -
15 Music Theory electives 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - -
3 MUTH 370 (Music of Twentieth Century) - - - - - - - - 3 -
13 Music History electives 4 3 3 3 - - - - - -
10 Language electives1 - - - - 5 5 - - - -
75 Undergraduate major and electives 8 10 9 10 6 8 4 5 6 9
124 Undergraduate credits 15 16 15 16 16 15 6 7 9 9
8G APST 460, 461 (Choral Cond Sem) - - - - - - 4 4 - -
8G APST 560, 561 (Choral Cond Sem) - - - - - - - - 4 4
4G COMP 300, 301 (Orchestration) - - - - - - 2 2 - -
6G Mus Lit 300, 301 (Surv Orch/Choral Lit) - - - - - - 3 3 - -
5G Graduate electives2 - - - - - - - - 3 2
31G Graduate credits - - - - - - 9 9 7 6

(G = Graduate credit)
155 Credits required for graduation 15 16 15 16 16 15 15 16 16 15

 

1 One year of French, German, or Italian is required. It is recommended that a second year of one language be taken.

2 To be selected from upper-division Music Theory or Music History courses, or graduate-level Private Applied or Private Composition Study.

 

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Opera Theater Department

Jonathon Field, Director of Opera Theater Productions

Alan Montgomery, Assistant Music Director, Coach

Robert Spano, Music Director, Conductor

Jennifer Wamsley, Assistant Director of Opera

Major Study: Master of Music in Opera Theater

This is a unified five-year program of study, elected in conjunction with the undergraduate major in Performance-Voice, which culminates in the awarding of both an undergraduate and graduate degree.

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution
Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 5th Year
4 APST 360, 361 (Adv Choral Cond) - - - - 2 2 - - - -
2 APST 214 (Keyboard Skills I) - - - - - - 2 - - -
2 APST 240 (Continuo Realization) - - - - - - - 2 - -
15 Music Theory electives 3 3 3 3 3 - - - - -
3 MUTH 370 (Music of Twentieth Century) - - - - - - - - 3 -
13 Music History electives 4 3 3 3 - - - - - -
10 Language electives1 - - - - 5 5 - - - -
75 Undergraduate major and electives 8 10 9 10 6 8 4 5 6 9
124 Undergraduate credits 15 16 15 16 16 15 6 7 9 9
8G APST 460, 461 (Choral Cond Sem) - - - - - - 4 4 - -
8G APST 560, 561 (Choral Cond Sem) - - - - - - - - 4 4
4G COMP 300, 301 (Orchestration) - - - - - - 2 2 - -
6G Mus Lit 300, 301 (Surv Orch/Choral Lit) - - - - - - 3 3 - -
5G Graduate electives2 - - - - - - - - 3 2
31G Graduate credits - - - - - - 9 9 7 6

(G = Graduate credit)
155 Credits required for graduation 15 16 15 16 16 15 15 16 16 15

 

 

1 May be taken for two or three credits.

2 To complete the Master's degree, a student must have taken at least six credits selected from courses recommended by the department, such as: OPTH 406, 407 (Seminar in Directing), OPTH 500, 501 (Advanced Seminar in Opera) and/or other college electives approriate to the needs of the student.

3 Performance in a major role in a department production may, with the approval of the chairperson of the department, exempt a student from the requirement of OPTH 400 (Performance Project). The minimum number of performances required for the degree is two major, or one major and two minor operatic roles. At least half this requirement must be completed during the fifth year.

General. Students who wish to enter this program may apply to the chair of the Opera Theater Department after having passed the Second Major Committee Examination. During the senior year, and prior to final admission to the master's program, the student must submit a written application for admission together with a transcript to the chair of the department. Upon acceptance of the application the student will audition before the Opera Theater Committee with three arias in contrasting styles, in two or more languages. The student must demonstrate a superior ability to perform major operatic roles both vocally and dramatically, to pronounce foreign languages and English accurately, and to have completed the necessary prerequisites with distinction.

Prerequisites:

Six hours OPTH 305, 306 (Opera Workshop)

Six hours OPTH 404, 405 (Opera Seminar)

Two hours OPTH 400 (Performance Project) or equivalent.

Comprehensive Examination. A comprehensive final examination is required in the final month of study. The examination will be administered by a committee consisting of the chair of the Opera Theater Department, music director of the Opera Theater, and the student's singing teacher.

 

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Graduate Programs: Historical Performance

Historical Performance Program

David Breitman, Associate Professor of Historical Performance, Director

David Boe, Professor of Organ

James Caldwell, Professor of Oboe

Lisa Goode Crawford, Professor of Harpsichord

Michael Lynn, Associate Professor of Recorder and Baroque Flute

Michael Manderen, Lecturer in Lute

Marilyn McDonald, Professor of Violin and Teacher of Baroque Violin

Catharina Meints, Associate Professor of Viola da Gamba and Baroque Cello

Steven Plank, Professor of Musicology

Haskell Thomson, Professor of Organ

General Requirements.

Procedures for Admission. Applicants are admitted based on an audition on their major instrument and a review of their academic record. Once admitted, students must demonstrate baccalaureate competence in music history and music theory. Deficiencies must be remedied by taking appropriate undergraduate course work, or in the case of music history, by either course work or re-examination.

Placement exams. Exams in music history and music theory must be taken during orientation.

Residence. Completion of this Master of Music degree program will typically require full-time residence for four semesters beyond the Bachelor's degree.

Program Completion. All requirements for this 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 towards the degree.

Grading. No credit with a grade lower than B- may be counted toward the requirements of the Master's Degree.

 

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Master of Music in Performance: Harpsichord, Fortepiano, Baroque violin, Baroque flute, Baroque cello, Viola da gamba, Recorder

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution
Hrs. Sem 1 Sem 2 Sem 3 Sem 4
18 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 6
4 Ensembles 1 1 1 1
2 APST 340 (Continuo Accompanying)1 - - 1 1
3 HPRF 502 (Intro to Historical
Performance)2 3 - - -
3 MHST 301 (Intro to Music Research
and Writing) 3 - - -
3 Music History 300-level elective - 3 - -
3 Music Theory 400-level elective - - 3 -
3 HPRF 503 (Sem in Performance Practice)3 - 3 - -
3 HPRF 512 (Special Topics in Performance
Practice)3 - - - 3
1 APST 602 (Lecture-recital)4 - - 1 -
43 Harpsichord principal applied 11 11 10 11
41 All other principal applied areas 11 11 9 10

Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committee Exam - ˆ - -
Master's Recital - - ˆ
Recital Hearing - - ˆ
Comprehensive Exams - - - ˆ
Keyboard proficiency5 - - ˆ -
Language proficiency6 - ˆ - -
Harpsichord skills7 - ˆ - -

 

1 For students whose major is harpsichord.

2 HPRF 502 is required during the first semester of study unless waived by exam/interview during orientation.

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

4 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.

5 Required of non-keyboard majors.

6 Examination of reading proficiency in French or German.

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

 

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Master of Music in Performance: Historical keyboard instruments (harpsichord, fortepiano, and organ, combined)

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution
Hrs. Sem 1 Sem 2 Sem 3 Sem 4
18 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 6
6 Secondary Study 2 2 2 -
4 Ensembles 1 1 1 1
2 APST 340 (Continuo Accompanying) - - 1 1
3 HPRF 502 (Intro to Historical
Performance)1 3 - - -
3 MHST 301 (Intro to Music Research
and Writing) 3 - - -
3 Music History 300-level elective - 3 - -
3 Music Theory 400-level elective - - 3 -
3 HPRF 503 (Sem in Performance Practice)2 - 3 - -
3 HPRF 512 (Spec Topics in Performance
Practice)2 - - - 3
1 APST 602 (Lecture-recital)3 - - 1 -
49 13 13 12 11

 

Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committee Exam - ˆ - -
Master's Recital - - - ˆ
Recital Hearing - - - ˆ
Second Recital4 - - ˆ -
Second Recital Hearing - - ˆ -
Comprehensive Exams - - - ˆ
Language proficiency5 - ˆ - -
Continuo realization and other skills6 - ˆ - -

 

1 HPRF 502 is required during the first semester of study unless waived by exam/interview during orientation.

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

3 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.

4 The second recital must be split between a secondary instrument and the principal instrument, on a single secondary instrument, or split between two secondary instruments.

5 Examination of reading proficiency in French or German.

6 Includes proficiency in tuning, maintenance, and continuo realization. APST 240 (Continuo Realization) may be taken to fulfill the continuo realization requirement.

 

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Master of Music in Performance: Baroque cello/viola da gamba

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution
Hrs. Sem 1 Sem 2 Sem 3 Sem 4
18 Principal Private Study 4 4 4 6
4 Ensembles 1 1 1 1
3 HPRF 502 (Intro to Historical
Performance)1 3 - - -
3 MHST 301 (Intro to Music Research
and Writing) 3 - - -
3 Music History 300-level elective - 3 - -
3 Music Theory 400-level elective - - 3 -
3 HPRF 503 (Sem in Performance Practice)2 - 3 - -
3 HPRF 512 (Spec Topics in Performance
Practice)2 - - - 3
1 APST 602 (Lecture-recital)3 - - 1 -
41 11 11 9 10

 

Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committee Exam - ˆ - -
First Master's Recital - - ˆ -
First Recital Hearing - - ˆ -
Second Master's Recital - - - ˆ
Second Recital Hearing - - ˆ
Comprehensive Exams - - - ˆ
Keyboard proficiency - ˆ - -
Language proficiency4 - ˆ - -

 

1 HPRF 502 is required during the first semester of study unless waived by exam/interview during orientation.

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

3 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.

4 Examination of reading proficiency in French or German.

 

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Graduate Programs: Artist Diploma

Course Requirements Recommended Course

Distribution
Hrs. Sem 1 Sem 2 Sem 3 Sem 4
16 Principal Private Study (Diploma) PVST I-IV 4 4 4 4
4 APST 600 (Performance Ensembles) 1 1 1 1
4 APST 601 (Performance Project) 1 1 1 1
24 6 6 6 6

Non-Course Requirements

Performance Requirement: Two solo recitals (may be done in any of the four semesters of enrollment).

General. All credit applied toward requirements for the Artist Diploma must be earned in Oberlin or in Oberlin-sponsored programs, including Oberlin summer programs. Students in the Artist Diploma program may not pursue another degree or non-degree music program concurrently. No credit with a grade of B- or lower may be counted toward the requirements of the Artist Diploma. Students in or graduates of the Artist Diploma program may not transfer to the B.Mus. degree program.

Students enrolled in the Oberlin B.Mus. degree program who wish to be considered for the Artist Diploma program must complete an abbreviated application from the Conservatory Admissions Office, due at the same time as external applications, and perform an audition before the appropriate department. Oberlin B.Mus. students are admitted to the Artist Diploma program only with the specific approval of the Dean of the Conservatory.

Artist Diploma students may not register for course work in addition to those courses listed above without permission (given in the Associate Dean's Office). A minimum TOEFL score of 600 for non-native English-speaking students may be required for enrollment in additional courses.

Financial Aid. Financial aid for Artist Diploma students will be available for a maximum of four semesters of enrollment and will cover no more than the six credit hours required each semester. Students who wish to take course work beyond the required hours will do so at their own expense.

APST 600 (Performance Ensembles). Students are assigned by the major teacher to various performing groups in consultation with the conductors or supervisors of these groups.

APST 601 (Performance Projects). Projects may include accompanying of recitals or performing solo recitals (including preparation of the two required solo recitals), and other public performances as a soloist, arranged in consultation with the major teacher. Some of the projects are to be prepared independently by the student. Projects are evaluated each semester by members of the major department to arrive at a course grade.

 

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