Angela Cheng, Associate Professor of Piano
Alvin Chow, Associate Professor of Piano
Monique Duphil, Professor of Piano
Lydia Frumkin, Professor of Piano
Philip Highfill, Professor of Accompanying
Andrew Hisey, Associate Professor of Class Piano/Pedagogy
James Howsmon, Associate Professor of Instrumental Accompanying
Sanford Margolis, Professor of Piano, Chair
Sedmara Rutstein, Professor of Piano
Robert Shannon, Professor of Piano
Haewon Song, Associate Professor of Piano
Andrea Steffan, Visiting Assistant Professor of Piano Pedagogy
Peter Takács, Professor of 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 (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
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
-
-
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)
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 four credits in accompanying; at least one credit
in voice (APST 112) and at least two credits in Instrumental (APST
113). 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.
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.
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 25 minutes of solo music in at least two contrasting
styles, of which 12 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 35 minutes. Minimum length shall be 25 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 RHET 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 Keyboard Accompanying (four credits in Keyboard Accompanying
are required of piano performance majors–one in voice, two
in instrumental, and one free choice)
APST 204 Interpretation of Art Song (for pianists of any class who
are accompanying a senior or artist diploma recital–may 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 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.
Honors Program in Piano Performance
Admission. Potential Honors applicants will be identified during
the end of their sophomore year and will be required to audition
at the end of their junior year. In order to audition for the Honors
Program, a student must be nominated by a member of the piano faculty
and must meet the following requirements: a private study grade
point average of 4.0 for the two preceding semesters; completion
of three semesters of accompanying; appropriate completion of the
performance major requirements in piano; and "good academic
standing" for the preceding two semesters as defined in the
Conservatory portion of this catalog.
Applicants must prepare 35 minutes of memorized and balanced repertoire.
Auditions for the Honors Program will be open to the public and
be adjudicated by no fewer than six members of the piano department.
Students will advance past the audition stage only if selected
by a two-thirds majority of the panel, and it is possible that
no one will be chosen; a maximum of three students may be selected
per year. If a student performs a successful audition, they must
submit a proposal for an Honors Project to the Chair of the piano
faculty and the Dean's office before the first day of classes
of the following fall semester. Proposals must receive approval
from two-thirds of the piano department. A student will be notified
by the department Chair of the status of his or her entrance into
the Honors Program before the end of the Add/Drop period of the
fall semester. If a final proposal is not approved before the end
of the Add/Drop period, others may not be submitted. It is recommended
that applicants seek assistance from members of the faculty and
consult with the Assistant Dean before submitting a final proposal.
Proposal/Project Requirements. All honors proposals must include
the production of a professional quality CD to be funded by the
department (see department Chair for limitations and restrictions).
After the CD project is completed, it must be approved by two-thirds
of the department and be submitted for external review to at least
one individual to be selected by the piano faculty. If successful,
the CD will become a permanent part of the library collection.
All honors projects will culminate in a public recital to be adjudicated
by at least six members of the Keyboard Division, including the
private teacher, the piano department Chair, and the Division Director.
The recital must pass by a two-thirds majority.
Special efforts will be made to provide off campus performance
opportunities for Honors candidates.
Curricular and Program Requirements. A student who receives approval
for an Honors Proposal will register for three credits of Honors
study in each semester of his or her senior year. Free elective
requirements for the performance major will be reduced by six credits
and the final Honors recital will replace the senior recital. If
some part of the Honors Program, such as the recital or CD project,
is not considered to be adequate but is completed, a student may
receive credit for the work but not receive the distinction of
Honors. Students who fail any portion of the required coursework
in Honors will be removed from the program and must complete the
standard performance major requirements in order to graduate.
Following successful completion of a project and approval by the
piano department as defined above, the Chair of the piano department
will submit the following to the Honors and Awards Committee of
the Conservatory of Music: a brief rational pertaining to the student's
successful and meritorious completion of the Honors project; the
project proposal; a CD of the recital; and the final project CD.
If the Honors and Awards Committee approves the piano department
recommendation, the student will be awarded the Baccalaureate distinction
of Honors in Piano Performance.
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: 12 minutes of repertoire performed for the entire
faculty.
One divisional recital appearance.
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 (one or two credits, Intermediate Piano
Pedagogy Practicum), APST 311 (one or two credits, 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.
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 (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
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
-
-
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
Greek
and Roman Mythology
GERM
413
The
Age of Goethe
FREN
415
Invitation
à la Poésie
Ensembles
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.
Artist Diploma Requirements for Piano
See "Graduate Programs: Artist Diploma" for general requirements
and recommended course distribution for all Artist Diploma students.
Non-Course Requirements
Performance Requirement: Two solo recitals are required for completion
of the Diploma. These recitals will be evaluated by at least three
members of the piano faculty including the applied teacher. The minimum
average passing grade for a recital is B+. Students who do not receive
a passing grade may repeat the recital only once.
Each Artist Diploma student must participate in at least one national
or international competition, as determined by the applied teacher.
Students who receive a grade lower than a B+ in any course associated
with the program will be evaluated by the department for continuation
in the program.
APST 600 (Performance Ensembles). For each semester in residence,
Artist Diploma students will either participate in a major ensemble
or be assigned as an accompanist (by the accompanying faculty) as
needed.
APST 601 (Performance Projects). Projects are assigned by the major
teacher and may include the following: appearing as a soloist with
an Oberlin ensemble; performing a public recital outside of Oberlin;
accompanying a major work in addition to those assigned as part of
the Performance Ensembles requirement. Any performance with Oberlin
Orchestras, other then the Concerto Competition, must be approved
by the department.