Organ Department David Boe, Professor of Organ and Harpsichord; Chair
James David Christie, Professor of Organ
Major Study: Performance (Organ)
Course
Requirements
Recommended
Course Distribution
Hrs.
Fresh
Soph
Junior
Senior
32
Principal
Private Study (Organ)
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
4
8
Ensemble
electives1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
6
MLIT
213, 214 (Organ Literature, History and Design)2
-
-
-
-
3
3
-
-
2
APST
214 (Keyboard Skills I)
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
-
2
APST
215 (Keyboard Skills II) or APST 216 (Improvisation at the Organ)3
-
-
-
-
-
2
-
-
12
MUTH
130 or 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
-
-
13
Music
History electives4
4
3
3
3
-
-
-
-
24
Liberal
Arts electives
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
15
Free
electives
-
1
1
1
-
-
6
6
124
16
16
16
16
16
16
14
14
Non-Course Requirements
Private Study Committe Exams:
First
Major Committee
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
Second
Major Committee
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
Third
Major Committee
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
Performance Requirement:
Junior
Recital5, 6
-
-
-
-
(X)
(X)
-
-
Senior
Recital6
-
-
-
-
-
-
(X)
(X)
1 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).
2 Because MLIT 213, 214 is offered in alternate years only, it must
be taken in either the junior or senior year.
3 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).
4 Three courses in music history beyond MHST 101 are required.
5 Two performances on a divisional or studio recital, or on an honors
recital are required before the junior recital.
6 The junior and senior recitals may be performed during the first
or the second semester, or during Winter Term.
Major Status. Sophomore Major Status is attained upon completion
of:
The First Major Committee Examination.
Junior Major Status is attained upon completion of:
Principal Private Study IV (Organ) and the Second Major Committee
Examination.
Senior Major Status is attained upon completion of:
Principal Private Study VI (Organ), the Third Major Committee Examination,
and the Junior Recital.
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.
Music Theory I-IV and Aural Skills I-IV must be taken concurrently,
e.g., a student will register for Music Theory I (MUTH 130 or 131)
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 course work is required; a
minimum of 24 hours of liberal arts is required.
First Private Study Committee Examination. This examination will
consist of approximately 10 minutes of solo music, prepared with
the major teacher, to be performed from memory for the organ faculty
at the end of the freshman year. In addition, two hymns are to be
played: one chosen and prepared by the student; one to be read at
sight. Total duration of this exam: 15 minutes. Transfer students
with two or more semesters of organ credit will not be required to
take this examination. No grades are given for this exam; it is advisory
in nature. Comments will be offered by the faculty.
Second Private Study Committee Examination. This examination, to
be played for the organ faculty at the end of the sophomore year,
will consist of the following items:
1. A piece of approximately 12 minutes duration, prepared with the
major teacher, to be performed from memory.
2. A self-chosen and self-learned piece of approximately six minutes
duration, which may be played from score. (Both pieces should take
no longer than 18 minutes to play.)
3. Sight reading of a chorale harmonization and a trio.
This examination will be graded pass/fail and must be passed in order
for the student to continue as an organ performance major. Total
duration: 25 minutes.
Third Private Study Committee Examination. This examination, to be
played for the organ faculty at the end of the first semester of
the junior year, or at the end of the fifth semester of study, will
consist of three parts:
1. A piece chosen by the faculty and announced two weeks before
the examination date; this music is to be self-prepared, without
help from the major teacher or others.
2. More advanced sight reading of chorale harmonizations and trios.
3. Transposition of a hymn harmonization up or down by a half or
whole step.
This examination will be graded, and comments will be written by
the faculty. Students who do not receive an average grade of B– or
better on this examination will be required to repeat it at the end
of the following semester. Total duration: 20 minutes.
Junior Recital. This will consist of solo pieces performed from memory.
The maximum length shall be 35 minutes. Minimum length shall be 25
minutes. The junior recital may be performed during the first or
second semester, or during Winter Term.
Senior Recital. This will consist of at least 50 minutes of solo
repertoire and may be played from score. In addition, ensemble pieces
may be included. The senior recital may be performed during the first
or second semester, or during Winter Term.
Secondary Study. Although it is not a requirement, freshman organ
majors are encouraged to study piano or harpsichord as a secondary
applied study.
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 RHET 111-119 series.
Minor Study: Performance (Organ)
Course Requirements. Completion of at least six semesters of Secondary
Private Study (Organ).
Non-Course Requirements
First Minor Committee Examination after two semesters of Secondary
Private Study (Organ).
Second Minor Committee Examination after four semesters of Secondary
Private Study (Organ).
One departmental recital appearance.
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.