Music Education and Performance, Instrumental and General Music, B.M.

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Requirements for the major in music education and performance, B.M., specialization in instrumental and general music

Admission to Music degree programs

Admission to the music degree programs at Oakland University (OU) is a two-tiered process, except for the B.A. in Music. The first step in the process for all students is the entrance audition. These auditions are held several times a year and determine whether or not a student will be admitted to OU in any of these degree programs. For all B.M. programs, the second step is the major standing audition, which determines whether students may continue in the program, and if they can be admitted into a professional program in the school.

Entrance auditions

Entrance audition days are held several times each year. The audition schedule and downloadable application are available on the school website. Please submit application to the department office. Students should be prepared to demonstrate proficiency in their proposed area of specialization.

Students seeking admission to Oakland University as music majors or auditioned music minors must audition for the music faculty.
Students who audition and do not enroll within two semesters must re-audition.
Students who enroll and leave school for at least two semesters must re-audition. Music students who enroll and leave school must re-audition and also retake the theory placement exam.

The Bachelor of Music degree is intended for students who wish pre-professional and professional preparation in music education and/or performance. Students should consult the Student Resources link for degree plans and should also consult with the departmental adviser in the College of Arts and Sciences Advising Office to plan their degree program. See: Student Resources

Only major courses in which a grade of at least C has been earned will count toward the major. A minimum grade of B is required in all professional courses, marked with an asterisk (*) in the list below. Application for music education major standing takes place upon completion of all freshman and sophomore coursework.

For this program, MUS 1331 satisfies the general education arts requirement; MUS 3331 , 3332 and 4431 count as writing intensive in the major; and MUA 4998 and MUS 4431 count as the general education capstone.

Degree requirements are as follows:

Applied music - 39 credits (or placement)

Applied principal instrument: 1000-2002 level (2 credits per semester; total of 8 credits required)
Applied principal instrument: 3000-4000 level (4 credits per semester; total of 12 credits required)
MUA 4563 - Instrumental Repertoire and Pedagogy (2)
MUA 4998 - Senior Recital (4)
MUS 1161 - Vocal Techniques for Instrumentalists I (1)
MUS 1171 - Keyboard Technique I (2)
MUS 1172 - Keyboard Technique II (2)
MUS 2171 - Keyboard Technique III (2)
MUS 2172 - Keyboard Technique IV (2)

Music electives (4 cr) to be selected from:

Music history, theory, and world music - 28 credits (or placement)

History or theory elective (1 course) selected from

Minimum of 2 credits of improvisation or composition selected from

Language - 4 credits

Must choose a foreign language to fulfill general education foreign language requirement (not ALS or ML).

Ensembles - 12 credits

Must enroll in a large ensemble that uses the primary performance area every semester of major until graduation (except when enrolled in MUS 4952 ).

Large ensembles: MUE 3029 - Symphonic Band or MUE 3019 - Chamber Orchestra or MUE 3031 - Wind Symphony (8)
Chamber music ensembles (4)

Professional music education courses and requirements - 48 credits (or placement)

MUS 2421 - Percussion Techniques (1) *
MUS 2422 - Brass Techniques (1) *
MUS 2423 - Woodwind Techniques (1) *
MUS 2424 - String Techniques (1) *
MUS 2440 - Learning and Teaching Music (1) *
MUS 2441 - Educational Psychology and Music Learning (3) *
MUS 3441 - Elementary General Music Methods (3) *
MUS 3581 - Conducting I (2) *
MUS 3582 - Conducting II (2) *
MUS 4402 - Elementary Instrumental Methods (2) *
MUS 4403 - Secondary Instrumental Methods (2) *
MUS 4405 - Marching Band Methods (1) *
MUS 4406 - Jazz Pedagogy (1) *
MUS 4407 - Choral Methods for Instrumental Majors (1) *
MUS 4431 - Teaching Music in the 21st Century I (3) *
MUS 4432 - Teaching Music in the 21st Century II (3) *
RDG 4238 - Disciplinary Literacies (4) *
MUS 4434 - Teaching Music to Learners with Exceptionalities (3)
MUS 4952 - Internship in K-12 Music Education (12)
Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC) for Music Education

* A minimum grade of B is required in all professional courses.

Non-credit requirements

Major standing
Events attendance requirement: Students must complete four attendance cards (ten events each year for four years). One events attendance card must be submitted by the time of major standing.

Application for music education major standing takes place upon completion of all freshman and sophomore coursework.

Note

Application for music education major standing takes place upon completion of all freshman and sophomore coursework.

Additional Information

In addition to these major requirements, students must complete the Oakland University General Education Requirements and an appropriate number of free elective classes to meet the overall credit requirement for the degree (in most cases 124; some degrees may require a greater number).

As a general rule, no more than eight credits of course work used to satisfy one major, minor or concentration may be applied toward another, but exceptions to this rule may be allowed with the written approval of the program coordinators.