Division of Keyboard Studies Course Requirements and Recommended Class Distribution In this Department  Piano Department  Major: Piano  Minor: Piano  Minor: Piano Pedagogy  Major: Piano & Vocal Catalog  Main Page  General Information   College of Arts and Sciences   Conservatory of Music   Other Links  Course Syllabi  Registrar's Office Haskell Thomson, Director Piano Department Philip Highfill, Professor of Accompanying, Chair Angela Cheng, Associate Professor of Piano Alvin Chow, Associate Professor of Piano Monique Duphil, Professor of Piano Lydia Frumkin, Professor of Piano Andrew Hisey, Associate Professor of Class Piano/Pedagogy James Howsmon, Associate Professor of Instrumental Accompanying Sanford Margolis, Professor of Piano Sedmara Rutstein, Professor of Piano Robert Shannon, Professor of Piano Haewon Song, Associate Professor of Piano Peter Takács, Professor of Piano Major Study: Performance (Piano)   Major Study: Performance (Piano) Course Requirements Recommended Course Distribution Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 32 Principal Private Study (Piano) 4 4 4 4 4 4 41 41 4 Ensemble electives2 1 1 - - - - 1 1 4 APST 112, 113, 114 (Keyboard Accompanying)3 - - 1 1 1 1 - - 4 MLIT 215, 216 (Piano Literature) - - 2 2 - - - - 4 APST 214, 215 (Keyboard Skills) - - - - 2 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 electives4 4 3 3 - - - - - 24 Liberal Arts electives - 3 - 3 3 3 6 6 20 Free electives5 2 - 2 2 3 3 4 4 124 15 15 16 16 16 16 15 15 Non-Course Requirements Private Study Committee Exams: First Major Committee - X - - - - - - Second Major Committee - - - X - - - - Third Major Committee - - - - X - - - Performance Requirement: Junior Recital6, 7 - - - - (X) (X) - - Senior Recital6, 7 - - - - - - (X) (X)   back to top   1 The piano department strongly recommends that seniors elect to take six credit hours of principal applied study both semesters of their senior year. 2 Piano majors must satisfactorily complete four semesters of ensemble participation (in addition to the Keyboard Accompanying requirement below). Students may elect ensembles from any of those listed later in this catalog or any credit-bearing ExCo ensemble, in addition to APST 204 (Interpretation of Art Song); MLIT 220 (The Lied); and MLIT 221 (The Mélodie). 3 Students must earn one credit in accompanying in each of the following three areas: strings, voice, winds/brass. Piano majors may take Keyboard Accompanying for one or two credits per semester, but are required to accompany for a minimum of four semesters. APST 204 (Interpretation of Art Song), MLIT 220 (The Lied), or MLIT 221 (The Mélodie) can satisfy one of the keyboard accompanying credits required in voice. 4 Two courses in Music History beyond MHST 101 are required. 5 Recommended music electives include APST 210 (Piano Pedagogy). See below, Minor in Piano Pedagogy. 6 Two performances on a divisional or studio recital, or on an honors recital are required before the junior recital. 7 The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first or the second semester, or during Winter Term. 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. The First Private Study Committee Examination. This examination will consist of approximately eight minutes of solo music, prepared with the major teacher, to be performed from memory for a faculty jury composed of the entire piano department, at the end of the freshman year. Transfer students with two or more semesters of piano credit will not be required to take this examination. This examination will not be graded and is advisory in nature. Comments will be offered by the jury. The Second Private Study Committee Examination. This examination will consist of twenty-five minutes of solo music in at least two contrasting styles, of which twelve minutes will be heard. This repertoire is to be prepared with the major teacher, and is to be performed from memory for a faculty jury composed of the entire piano department, at the end of the sophomore year, or at the end of the fourth semester of study. It is graded pass/fail and must be passed by a majority of the jury in order for the student to continue as a piano performance major. Comments will be offered by the jury. A failed sophomore committee may be taken a second time in the first two weeks of the following semester. At least one work must be new repertoire. The Third Private Study Committee Examination. This examination will consist of one piece chosen by the student from three selected by the faculty and announced two weeks before the examination date. This examination will take place at the end of the first semester of the junior year, or at the end of the fifth semester of study. This music will be self-prepared, without help from the teacher or others. This examination will be graded, and comments will be offered by the jury, which will consist of the entire piano faculty. Students who do not receive an average grade of B- or better will be required to repeat the Committee. The Junior Recital. Two performances on a divisional or public studio recital, or on an honors recital are required before the junior recital. This will consist of solo works performed from memory. The maximum length shall be thirty-five minutes. Minimum length shall be twenty-five minutes. The Senior Recital. This will consist of at least 50 minutes of solo repertoire performed from memory. In addition chamber works or concertos can be scheduled. Students are required to play a pre-recital hearing (20 minutes) a minimum of two weeks before their senior recital. The senior recital may be performed during the first or second semester, or during Winter Term. 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. Accompanying Courses. The following courses are available to piano majors and to other qualified keyboard players interested in accompanying: Fall Semester APST 112, 113, 114 Keyboard Accompanying (four credits in Keyboard Accompanying are required of piano performance majorsone in voice, one in strings, one in winds/brass/percussion, and one free choice) APST 204 Interpretation of Art Song (for pianists of any class who are accompanying a senior or artist diploma recitalmay substitute for one of the four required Keyboard Accompanying credits) MLIT 220 The Lied (a performance-oriented course in German Art Song) MLIT 221 The Mélodie (a performance-oriented course in French Art Song)  Spring Semester APST 112, 113, 114 Keyboard Accompanying APST 204 Interpretation of Art Song Related Programs. For a description of the major and minor in harpsichord and the minor in fortepiano, see the Historical Performance program.   back to top   Minor Study: Performance (Piano) Eligibility The student must be in a Bachelor's degree program in the Conservatory. The student must be recommended by his or her private study teacher. The student must be approved by the Piano Department after at least two semesters of Secondary Private Study (Piano). Course Requirements. Completion of at least six semesters of Secondary Private Study (Piano). Non-Course Requirements First Minor Committee Examination after two semesters of Secondary Private Study: eight minutes of repertoire performed for Freshman Committee. Second Minor Committee Examination after four semesters of Secondary Private Study: twelve minutes of repertoire performed for the entire faculty. One divisional recital appearance.   back to top   Minor Study: Piano Pedagogy Eligibility The student must be a piano major or principal, pursuing the Bachelor of Music degree. The student must have the approval of the Piano Department and of the Piano Pedagogy faculty member. Declaration of intent to pursue the minor must be made at the end of the sophomore year. The student must have successfully completed APST 210 or APST 211, and have demonstrated significant potential in the teaching portion of that course.   Course Requirements Recommended Course Distribution Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 1 MUED 100 (Art of Teaching) - - - 1 - - - - 3 PSYC 122 (Educational Psychology) - - - - 3 - - - 1 APST 208 (Guided Piano Pedagogy Proj) - - - - - 1 - - 1 APST 209 (Guided Teaching Observation) - - - 1 - - - - 3 APST 210 (Intermediate Pedagogy) - - - - - 2 - - 2 APST 211 (Elementary Pedagogy) - - 2 - - - - - 6 Pedagogy Practicum Electives1 - - - - - - 3 3 16 - - 2 2 3 3 3 3 Practical Teaching Minimum Requirements Teaching in Supervised Student Teaching Program: minimum of eight student-semesters2 Teaching in Piano Lab: minimum of four student-semesters2 1 To be chosen from APST 310 (two credits, Intermediate Piano Pedagogy Practicum), APST 311 (one credit, Elementary Piano Pedagogy Practicum), and APST 312 (two credits, Class Piano Pedagogy Practicum), each of which may be repeated once for credit. A student's six practicum credits must include at least two of these three courses. 2 One student-semester is defined as one student for a period of one semester. The total may represent any combination of teaching loads over the course of several semesters (e.g., a requirement of eight student-semesters might be fulfilled by teaching two students per semester for four semesters, or four students per semester for two semesters). Continuity in teaching the same collegiate and/or young students over a period of consecutive semesters is encouraged.   back to top   Major Study: Performance (Piano and Vocal Accompanying) Course Requirements Recommended Course Distribution Hrs. Fresh Soph Junior Senior 32 Principal Private Study (Piano) 4 4 4 4 4 4 41 41 2 Secondary Voice or APST 120 (Voice Class) - - - - - 2 - - 2 Ensemble electives 1 - - - - 1 - - 4 APST 112, 113, 114 (Keyboard Accompanying)2 - 1 1 1 1 - - - 4 MLIT 215, 216 (Piano Literature) - - - - - - 2 2 4 APST 214, 215 (Keyboard Skills) - - 2 2 - - - - 2 APST 204 (Interpretation of Art Song) - - - - - - 1 1 6 MLIT 220, 221 (The Lied, The Mélodie) - - - - 3 - 3 - 4 OPTH 202, 203 (Intro to Opera)3 - - - - - - 2 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 electives (incl. MHST 255)4 4 3 - - - - - 3 6 Liberal Arts electives 3 - - - - - - 3 10 German 101, 1025 - - 5 5 - - - - 10 French 101, 1025 - - - - 5 5 - - 6 Free electives - 3 - - - - 3 - 124 16 15 16 16 16 15 15 15 Note: All minimum requirements for the current Piano Performance degree remain unchanged in this dual curriculum. Additional courses and differing distribution requirements for the degree in Vocal Accompanying appear in italicized text. 1 The piano department strongly recommends that seniors elect to take six credit hours of principal applied study both semesters of their senior year. 2 Two of these hours must be earned in the vocal area. 3 Or OPTH 202 followed by an individually tailored "production project." 4 Two courses in Music History beyond MHST 101 are required, including MHST 255. 5 If proficiency can be demonstrated, other languages (Italian, Spanish, Russian) or other liberal arts courses may be substituted. Non-Course Requirements Degree in Piano Performance: Requirements remain as they are for the single degree: Three Committee Examinations Two appearances on a divisional, studio, or honors recital before the Junior Recital Junior Recital Senior Recital Degree in Vocal Accompanying: At least two public appearances as vocal accompanist before the end of the sophomore year (for example, on voice departmental recitals). This requirement would be fulfilled as a matter of course through timely enrollment in Keyboard Accompanying. The accompaniment of one junior voice recital. This requirement would also be fulfilled through one of the stipulated Keyboard Accompanying credits. The accompaniment of two senior or artist diploma voice recitals (in conjunction with Interpretation of Art Song). Preparation and performance of a portion of an opera scenes program and/or assistance in the preparation of a major opera production (helping singers learn roles, playing musical and staging rehearsals, accompanying chorus, etc.). This project would be devised jointly by the opera director, the coach/accompanist, and, in the case of a full opera, the musical director, as part of the required course Introduction to Opera or as an individually tailored "Production Project." At least one Winter Term credit must be earned in a project directly related to Vocal Accompanying. Recommended Elective Courses: Liberal Arts ART 103, Approaches to Western Art History CLAS 210, Classical Mythology and Religion ENGL 151, Introduction to Poetry GERM 413, The Age of Goethe FREN 415, Invitation à la Poésie Ensemble APST 700 or 701, Musical Union or Oberlin College Choir APST 800, Chamber Music APST 710 or 711, Orchestra or Chamber Orchestra Free Electives APST 260, Elementary Conducting APST 240, Continuo Realization at the Keyboard MHST 316, Studies in Opera LANG 100, 101, 200, 201, English, Italian, German, and/or French Diction Additional languages or other liberal arts Admission to the Double Major Students wishing to pursue the double major should normally declare their intention to do so by the end of the sophomore year. Admission is by audition for a panel including the coach/accompanist, the student's applied piano teacher, and one other member of the piano faculty. The voice faculty will also be consulted for its evaluation of the student's aptitude for vocal accompanying. At the discretion of the above-mentioned faculty, a committee examination may be scheduled for the end of the junior year to determine whether the student should continue in the double major.   back to top