Department of Music, Theatre and Dance

207 VARNER HALL (248) 370-2030
Fax: (248) 370-2041

Chairperson: Jacqueline Wiggins

Program directors: Michael Mitchell, Music; Kerro Knox 3, Theatre; Gregory Patterson, Dance

Professors emeriti: David Daniels, John Dovaras, Laurie Eisenhower, Robert Facko, Michael Gillespie, Carol Halsted, Adeline G. Hirschfeld-Medalia, Marvin D. Holladay, Flavio Varani

Professors: Karen Sheridan, John-Paul White, Jacqueline Wiggins

Associate professors: Lettie Alston, Deborah Blair, Gregory Cunningham, David Kidger, Kerro Knox 3, Kenneth Kroesche, Fred Love, Michael Mitchell, Gregory Patterson, Joseph Shively, George Stoffan

Assistant professors: Jeremy Barnett, Miles Brown, Drake Dantzler, Anthony Guest, Melissa Hoag, Thayer Jonutz, Lynnae Lehfeldt, Fred Love, Jessica Payette

Visiting assistant professor: Alison Woerner

Special instructors: Mark Stone, Thomas Suda

Full-time adjunct instructor: Debra Bernstein Siegel

Adjunct assistant professor: Edith Diggory

Artist-in-residence: Regina Carter

DSO affiliate applied faculty: Douglas Cornelsen (clarinet), Maxim Janowsky (double bass), Marcus Schoon (bassoon), Sharon Sparrow (flute), Corbin Wagner (French horn), Jeffrey Zook (flute)

Special lecturers: Jenine Brown, Sean Dobbins, Mila Govich, Bret Hoag, Lois Kaarre, Jennifer Kincer Catallo, Leslie Littell, Roberta Lucas, Thomas Mahard, Paul Schauert, Victoria Shively, Michele Soroka, Kristin Tait, Phyllis White

Lecturers: Kofi Ameyaw, Barbara Bland, Bradley Bloom, Carl Cafagna, Ricky Carver, Rebecca Crimmins, Alta Dantzler, Sharon Davis, Alexis DeCapua, Ronald DeRoo, Kitty Dubin, Michael Duncan, Nina Flanigan, Daniel Graser, Mindy McCabe Grissom, Rebecca Happel, Michelle Hathaway (costume shop supervisor), Terry Herald (sound technician/technical coordinator), Alissa Hetzner, Kelly Holst, Alan MacNair, John Manfredi, Daniel Maslanka, Zeljko Milicevic, Judy Milner, Jeremy Mossman, Dennis North, Stephanie Pizzo, Elizabeth Rowin, Marcus Schoon, Mary Siciliano, Christina Tasco, Tad Weed, Lisa Wilmot, Brent Wrobel (scene shop), Carol Yamasaki, Jill Zmijewski, Jeffrey Zook

Applied music instructors:
Brass: Kenneth Kroesche (low brass), Gordon Simmons (trumpet), Corbin Wagner (French horn)
Woodwind: Douglas Cornelsen (clarinet), Daniel Graser (saxophone), Timothy Michling (oboe), Marcus Schoon (bassoon), Sharon Sparrow (flute), George Stoffan (clarinet), Jeffrey Zook (flute)
Strings: Kerstin Allvin (harp), Miles Brown (double bass), Nadine DeLeury (cello), Maxim Janowsky (double bass), Elizabeth Rowin (violin)
Percussion: Sean Dobbins, Daniel Maslanka, Mark Stone
Guitar: John Hall, Bret Hoag
Keyboard: Rebecca Happel, Mary Siciliano, Frederic DeHaven (organ), Tad Weed (jazz)
Voice: Barbara Bland, Alta Dantzler, Drake Dantzler, Edith Diggory, Kelly Holst, Nadine Washington, John-Paul White
Jazz: Miles Brown (bass), Carl Cafagna (vocal jazz, saxophone), Vincent Chandler (trombone), Sean Dobbins (percussion), Richard Fanning (trumpet), Mark Kieme (saxophone), Tad Weed (piano)
World Music: Sam Jeyasingam (Indian percussion), Mark Stone (world African percussion), Shuishan Yu (Chinese guqin)

Musical Theatre Vocal Coaches: Alissa Hetzner, Julie Malloy, Jeremy Mossman

Accompanists: Angelina Pashmakova, Amanda Sabelhaus, Julie Stapleman, Eun Young Yoo, Tatyana Zut, Stanley Zydek, Ronald DeRoo (dance), Vladimir Kalmsky (dance), Michael Shimmin (dance)

Center for Applied Research in Musical Understanding: Joseph Shively, director; Deborah Blair, Jacqueline Wiggins

Music Preparatory Division: Bibianne Yu, director

Programs Offered

The Department of Music, Theatre and Dance offers liberal arts programs in the performing arts, programs designed to prepare students for professional careers in the performing arts, and advanced programs designed to enhance and extend the professional knowledge of performing arts professionals. In the liberal arts programs, a student can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in:

music
theatre
dance

Professional preparation programs include:

a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance;
a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre with a major in acting, musical theatre, or theatre design and technology; and
a Bachelor of Music with a major in music education or; voice, piano, or instrumental performance; or a combined degree in music education and performance.
the music program also offers Performer’s Certificates in Undergraduate and Graduate Piano.

Graduate programs for music professionals include a Master of Music with a major in performance, pedagogy, conducting or music education; Graduate and Post-master’s Certificates in performance, pedagogy, conducting or music education; and a Doctor of Philosophy in music education.

Liberal arts minors are offered in music, theatre or dance. Elementary and secondary teaching minors are offered in dance. Minors in jazz studies and world music are offered for music majors and non-majors.

The department offers student performance opportunities in dramatic and musical theatre productions, dance performances, music ensembles and recitals. Most performance opportunities are open to all qualified students.

All programs offered by the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance are fully accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music, the National Association of Schools of Theatre and the National Association of Schools of Dance.

Additional Services and Opportunities

Center for Applied Research in Musical Understanding

The mission of the Center for Applied Research in Musical Understanding (CARMU) is to:

transform practice in music education;
build and advance a research-based pedagogy of teaching for musical understanding;
support preK-12 music educators in Michigan, the United States, and internationally;
demonstrate how research informs professional practice in music education;
seek national and international eminence in applied research in musical understanding at Oakland University;
support faculty, graduate and undergraduate research in musical understanding.

The Center hosts biannual international conferences on music learning and teaching and publishes materials that support the work of music educators. Visit oakland.edu/carmu.

Music preparatory division

The department offers music programs to the community through the Music Preparatory Division (302 Varner Hall, 248-370-2034). The Prep Division offers private studio lessons in voice, piano, guitar, and all orchestral instruments for elementary and secondary school students and adults as well as classes in music theory, early childhood music, creative music for children, and piano readiness. The Music Prep Division also provides lessons for undergraduate students who wish to study an instrument or voice but do not have enough prior experience to study for college credit. Lessons are available on Oakland’s main campus, at Oakland’s Anton/Frankel Center in Mt. Clemens, at the Detroit Symphony Orchestra’s Pincus Music Education Center adjoining Orchestra Hall, and at various locations in the surrounding community.

Affiliated professional organizations

Eisenhower Dance Ensemble (in residence)
Patterson Rhythm Pace Dance Company
Mise en Place Dance
Shifting Sol Dance Company
Meadow Brook Theatre Ensemble

Partners in the performing arts

Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO)
Oakland University Cooperative Orchestral Library (OUCOL)
Teaching for Music Understanding (TMU), in-service organization for music teachers
Oakland Youth Orchestras (OYO)

Professional internship opportunities

Oakland Symphony Orchestra
Eisenhower Dance Ensemble Apprenticeships
Meadow Brook Theatre Ensemple Apprecenticeships
Student Teaching in Regional K-12 Schools

Study abroad opportunities

Classical Theatre Study in Greece
Traditional Music and Dance in Ghana

Departmental Honors and Awards

The department offers honors and awards for students, alumni, and community supporters. Departmental honors are awarded for a combination of academic achievement (minimum 3.30 GPA), artistry in the major area of study and contribution to the operations of the department. Alumni Arts Achievement Awards are presented in dance, music and theatre. The department also awards a Distinguished Community Service Award and an Outstanding Student Service Award.

The music program confers a Distinguished Musicianship Award as the department’s highest honor in music and Outstanding Student Awards to students who distinguish themselves in performance, music education, chamber music and jazz. The Joyce Weintraub Adelson Memorial Award for Piano Ensemble honors the memory of an Oakland University piano instructor and the Jennifer Scott Memorial Award honors the memory of an Oakland University piano student.

The theatre and dance programs confer a variety of awards, including Outstanding Student Awards in choreography, dance performance, musical theatre, theatre design and technology. The Gittlin Theatre and Gittlin Achievement Awards are scholarships offered to theatre students of promise and outstanding ability.

Ensemble auditions

Auditions for music ensembles, dance ensembles and theatre productions are held at the beginning of each semester. In addition, various performing groups announce auditions for particular projects throughout the year.
Auditions for music ensembles are held during the first few days of each semester.
Auditions for theatrical productions are held during the first week of classes each semester and at other times as announced throughout the year.
Auditions for the student dance companies are held during the first week of classes each semester.
Auditions for other dance performances are announced throughout the year.
Ensembles are open to all students.

Course Offering in Interdisciplinary Performing Arts

MTD 301 Performing Arts Experiences for Children (3)

An introduction to the performing arts designed to provide prospective teachers with a basis and background for integrating musical, theatrical and dance experiences into classroom curricula.
Prerequisite: admission to elementary education major, FE 406, EED 354 and 420.

MUSIC PROGRAM

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 department website at oakland.edu/music . 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.

Applied music juries

Music majors must perform for a jury in their major performing medium at the end of each fall and each winter semester of applied study; in some cases, a jury in a performance minor may also be required. Failure to complete this requirement will result in an ‘‘I’’ (Incomplete) grade. For specific jury requirements, students should consult the program director of their area of study.

Music Education Program (K-12)

The Music Education Program at Oakland University is an extended program of study leading to K-12 certification in choral, general and instrumental music. This program is offered in conjunction with the Secondary Teacher Education Program (STEP) in the School of Education and Human Services (SEHS). Students in this program must complete the requirements for a Bachelor of Music degree in music education (with emphasis in either choral and general music or instrumental and general music), which includes course work in the department and in SEHS. The program does not require a teaching minor. Students must consult with an adviser in the Department of Music,Theatre and Dance.

Once students are accepted for major standing in music education, participation in field placements is required during each semester of attendance. For students enrolled in music education courses, the placement will be connected to the methods courses. Juniors and seniors who are not enrolled in methods courses are expected to participate in field placements each semester until internship. A total of 160 hours of fieldwork is required before a student enters the internship semester. All field placements are arranged through the Office of Field Placements in the School of Education and Human Services, 385 Pawley Hall, (248) 370-3060.

Major Standing in music

Music students who have passed the entrance audition may pursue a major in music, Bachelor of Arts degree program, (B.A.), without any further audition.
Students who aspire to pursue any of the majors in the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) degree program (music education and/or performance) are required to perform a major-standing audition by the end of their sophomore year (for music education majors, when enrolled in MUS 241).
Major standing is a comprehensive assessment of a student’s work as a musician and pre-professional in music performance and/or music education, including:

musicianship as evidenced through performance on the primary instrument or voice during the major standing audition;
successful completion of all freshman and sophomore level classes;
successful completion of a music education portfolio (for that major).

Transfer students who enter Oakland with 60 or more accepted transfer credits must apply for major standing during their first semester at OU. Acceptance to major standing may be granted after that first semester or the faculty may defer final action until the end of the student’s second semester of study. Transfer students who are music education majors should apply during the semester in which they are enrolled for MUS 241.

Major standing assessment occurs at different times according to major.

Instrumental and piano majors (including music education majors whose major instrument is an orchestral instrument or piano) complete the performance part of their major standing audition during their sophomore recital. Students may perform these recitals at any time during their sophomore year, fall or winter.
Voice majors (including music education majors whose major instrument is voice) complete the performance part of their major standing audition in an extended jury during finals week of their fourth semester of study (end of the sophomore year).

To apply for major standing, students must:

complete a plan of study form in consultation with an adviser;
meet with a faculty adviser and your applied teacher to discuss the audition;
submit an application for major standing (available in the department office, 207 Varner, or online at www.oakland.edu/mtd to the department office;
perform a major standing audition and/or present a major standing portfolio in the proposed area of specialization.

Results of major standing

The three possible results of the major-standing audition or interview will be: acceptance, deferral or denial.

Acceptance means the student is officially accepted into the degree program. (A student may be accepted into the desired program or the faculty may recommend a more appropriate program.) This “acceptance to major standing” is considered a first step in achieving the degree and can be considered to be a vote of confidence by the faculty that the student is capable of meeting the requirements of the particular program. Judgment is based on many factors such as artistic merit and scholarship, using such evidence as grades in major courses, performance history, academic goals, progress toward proficiencies, and other school or program requirements.

Deferral means the student is encouraged to continue efforts toward the degree of choice, but questions still remain about the student’s capacity to succeed in the program. Deferral often occurs when faculty members believe that more time will enable a fairer decision and that providing stronger direction will focus the student to meet his or her goals. When deferred, a student will be given directives explaining issues to address and will be given a suggested date for reapplying. No deferrals are granted once a student has completed 70 credits of study towards an intended degree (except for transfer students who enter Oakland with 60 or more credits). A student may be deferred only once; at the second major-standing audition or interview, acceptance and denial are the only options.

Denial means the student is not permitted to continue in the program. Often another program of study is recommended.

Notification: The music program director will write a letter to the students notifying them of the audition/interview results. A student should discuss results with his or her adviser or applied instructor as soon as possible thereafter.

Requirements for the minors in music

Liberal arts minor in music

The curriculum for the traditional liberal arts minor consists mainly of music classes intended for non-majors. Only a few of these classes can be used for major credit toward a bachelor’s degree in music. This minor requires no audition. Students must complete a minimum of 24 credits in:

1. 16 credits in music history and theory selected from: MUS 200, 236, 334, 336, 338; MUT 111.
2. 4 credits applied music selected from: MUA 150, 151, 152 or at the 100 level in the major instrument area, subject to acceptance by the applied instructor.
3. 4 credits of ensemble: any MUE course subject to ensemble audition.

Auditioned minor in music

The curriculum for the auditioned minor consists mainly of classes intended for majors, making it possible to apply these courses to a bachelor’s degree in music should the student choose to do so. This minor requires the same audition required of music majors. Only courses in which a grade of at least 2.0 has been earned will count toward the auditioned minor in music. Students must complete a minimum of 25 credits in:

1. Minimum of 9 credits in music history: MUS 131, 132 and one from MUS 200, 236, 331, 332, 334, 336, 338.
2. 8 credits of music theory: MUT sequence, level determined by placement exam.
3. 4 credits of applied music: two terms of 100 level applied lessons on the instrument with which the student performed the entrance audition. Voice students take MUA 160 and then MUA 100 or MUA 161 and 162.
4. 4 credits of ensemble: any MUE course subject to ensemble audition.

Course Offerings in Music

The department offers selected courses from this catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty. Specific offerings for each term may be found in the Schedule of Classes. Many courses in the rubrics MUA, MUS and MUT are restricted to students who have declared an auditioned minor in music or who are officially majoring in one of the department’s music curricula: the Bachelor of Arts in music degree or any of the majors in the Bachelor of Music degree program. To take a course that is restricted, students must perform a successful entrance audition. See “Auditions.” Only the following MUA, MUS and MUT courses are open to non-majors: MUA 100, 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 114, 115, 116, 117, 118, 119, 120, 122, 123, 124, 125, 126, 130, 131, 132, 133, 134, 135, 136 (all with permission of program director); MUA 150, 151, 152, 153; MUS 100, 200, 205, 220, 225, 318, 334, 336, 338, 339, 353, 354; MUT 111, 260, 261, 314, 315, 416, 417.
All MUE courses are open to non-majors.

APPLIED MUSIC

“Applied music” refers to study of a given instrument or voice. There are two types of applied study—individual lessons and class group lessons. Non-majors may study applied music providing they meet minimum criteria established by the department and pass a placement audition.

INDIVIDUAL LESSONS

The courses below have four course-level designations. All students begin their enrollment in an applied specialty at the 100 level. Student advancement to the higher levels is determined by the results of
applied music juries. Two semesters at the 400 level are required in the major performing medium before graduation. The courses below have credit options of 1 or 2; or 1, 2 or 4. Four credits is the correct enrollment for applied study for students who are junior or senior status and otherwise have been accepted into the Bachelor of Music in performance programs. This 4-credit enrollment requires an hour lesson per week with an extensive demand for practice and literature study. For all other curricula, including minors and non-majors, the correct enrollment is 1 credit for a half-hour lesson per week and 2 credits for an hour lesson per week.
All courses of applied individual lessons may be repeated for credit. All students enrolled in individual lessons must also attend a weekly studio or master class.
All courses of applied individual lessons carry a prerequisite of permission of the program coordinator.

MUA 100 Voice (1 or 2)
Prerequisite: MUA 150, 160, 161 or 162 and permission of program coordinator.
MUA 200 Voice (1 or 2)
MUA 300, 400 Voice (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 101, 201 Piano (1 or 2)
Audition required. Please contact program coordinator before registering.
MUA 301, 401 Piano (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 102, 202, 302, 402 Organ (1 or 2)
MUA 103, 203, 303, 403 Harpsichord (1 or 2)
MUA 104, 204, 404 Violin (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 105, 205 Viola (1 or 2)
MUA 305, 405 Viola (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 106, 206 Violoncello (1 or 2)
MUA 306, 406 Violoncello (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 107, 207 Double Bass (1 or 2)
MUA 307, 407 Double Bass (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 108, 208 Flute (1 or 2)
MUA 308, 408 Flute (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 109, 209 Oboe (1 or 2)
MUA 309, 409 Oboe (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 110, 210 Clarinet (1 or 2)
MUA 310, 410 Clarinet (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 111, 211 Bassoon (1 or 2)
MUA 311, 411 Bassoon (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 112, 212 French Horn (1 or 2)
MUA 312, 412 French Horn (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 113, 213 Trumpet (1 or 2)
MUA 313, 413 Trumpet (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 114, 214 Trombone (1 or 2)
MUA 314, 414 Trombone (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 115, 215 Tuba (1 or 2)
MUA 315, 415 Tuba (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 116, 216 Timpani (1 or 2)
MUA 316, 416 Timpani (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 117, 217 Percussion (1 or 2)
MUA 317, 417 Percussion (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 118, 218 Harp (1 or 2)
MUA 318, 418 Harp (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 119, 219 Guitar (1 or 2)
MUA 319, 419 Guitar (1, 2, or 4)
MUA 120, 220, 320, 420 Bass Guitar (1, or 2)
MUA 122, 222, 322, 422 Lute (1 or 2)
MUA 123, 223, 323, 423 Recorder (1 or 2)
MUA 124, 224 Saxophone (1 or 2)
MUA 324, 424 Saxophone (1, 2 or 4)
MUA 125, 225, 325, 425 World Percussion (1 or 2)
MUA 126, 226, 326, 426 Guqin (Chinese) (1 or 2)
MUA 130, 230, 330, 430 Piano (jazz) (1 or 2)
MUA 131, 231, 331, 431 Guitar (jazz) (1 or 2)
MUA 132, 232, 332, 432 Trumpet (jazz) (1 or 2)
MUA 133, 233, 333, 433 Saxophone (jazz) (1 or 2)
MUA 134, 234, 334, 434 Percussion (jazz) (1 or 2)
MUA 135, 235, 335, 435 Double Bass (jazz) (1 or 2)
MUA 136, 236 Euphonium (1 or 2)
MUA 336, 436 Euphonium (1, 2, or 4)
MUA 340 Applied Piano - Advanced Level (4)
MUA 149, 249, 349, 449 Applied Music (1 or 2)

MUA 149-449 may be used to increase the number of private lessons in the student’s major or minor performing medium and must be taken with one of the applied music courses above.

THEATRE PROGRAM

Admission to the theatre degree programs

Admission to the theatre degree programs at Oakland University (OU) is a two-tiered process. 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. The second step is the major standing audition, which determines whether students may continue in the program, and which degree program they may pursue.

Entrance auditions

Entrance audition days are held several times each year. The audition schedule and downloadable application are available on the department website at oakland.edu/theatre. 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 acting and musical theatre majors must audition for the theatre faculty.
Students seeking admission to Oakland University as theatre design and technology majors must participate in a portfolio interview with the theatre 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.

Major standing in theatre

Students who aspire to pursue a major in theatre, Bachelor of Arts degree program (B.A.), or a major in acting, musical theatre, or theatre design and technology, Bachelor of Fine Arts degree program (B.F.A.), are required to perform a major standing audition or interview.
Major standing is a comprehensive assessment of a student’s work in the classroom and in production, and will include:

Major standing audition or interview;
Successful completion of all freshman level classes;
Presentation of a portfolio where applicable.

Students must apply for the audition/interview before the end of their freshman year. Transfer students must apply before the end of their first semester of study at OU. Theatre major standing auditions/interviews are held toward the end of the fall and winter semesters.
To apply for major standing, students must:

complete a plan of study form in consultation with an adviser;
meet with a departmental adviser (for musical theatre, the applied teacher as well) to discuss the audition/interview;
submit an application for major standing (available in the department office, 207 Varner, or online at oakland.edu/mtd) to the program director;
perform a major standing audition or present a major standing portfolio.

Results of major standing

The three possible results of the major-standing audition or interview will be: acceptance, deferral or denial.

Deferral means the student is encouraged to continue efforts toward the degree of choice, but questions still remain about the student’s capacity to succeed in the program. Deferral often occurs when faculty members believe that more time will enable a fairer decision and that providing stronger direction will focus the student to meet his or her goals. When deferred, a student will be given directives explaining issues to address and will be given a suggested date for reapplying. No deferrals are granted once a student has completed 70 credits of study towards an intended degree (except for transfer students who enter Oakland with 60 or more credits). A student may be deferred only once; at the second major-standing audition or interview, acceptance and denial are the only options.

Denial means the student is not permitted to continue in the program. Often another program of study is recommended.

Notification: The theatre program director will send an e-mail to the students notifying them of the audition/interview results. A student should discuss results with his or her adviser (and applied instructor) as soon as possible thereafter.

Requirements for the liberal arts minor in theatre

To earn a minor in theatre, students must complete a minimum of 20 credits distributed as follows: one acting course (THA 104 or 110), 2 credits; one production course (THA 120 or 121 or 123) 2 credits; one design course (THA 124) 4 credits; one theatre history course (THA 301, 302 or 305), 4 credits; and 8 additional credits from any theatre courses except THA 100.

DANCE PROGRAM

Admission to the dance degree programs

Admission to the dance degree programs at Oakland University (OU) is a two-tiered process. 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. The second step is the major standing audition, which determines whether students may continue in the program, and and which degree program they may pursue.

Entrance auditions

Entrance audition days are held several times each year. The audition schedule and downloadable application are available on the department website at oakland.edu/dance. 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 dance majors must audition for the dance 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.

Major standing in dance

Students who aspire to pursue a major in dance, the Bachelor of Arts degree program (B.A.), or a major in dance, Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.) degree program, are required to perform a major-standing audition. Dance major-standing auditions are held once each year, usually mid-semester.
Major standing is a comprehensive assessment of a student’s work as a dancer, and will include:

major standing audition;
successful completion of all freshman level classes;

Students should apply during their second year in the major. Transfer students should apply to audition at the first scheduled audition after their arrival at OU. To apply for major standing, students must:

complete a plan of study form in consultation with an adviser;
meet with a departmental adviser to discuss the audition;
submit an application for major standing (available in the department office, 207 Varner, or online at oakland.edu/mtd) to the department office;
perform a major standing audition.

Results of major standing

The three possible results of the major-standing audition or interview will be: acceptance, deferral or denial.

Denial means the student is not permitted to continue in the program. Often another program of study is recommended.

Notification: The dance program director will write a letter to the students notifying them of the audition/interview results. A student should discuss results with his or her adviser as soon as possible thereafter.

Requirements for the teaching minor in dance

To earn the teaching minor in dance at the elementary or secondary level, students must complete a minimum of 29 credits distributed as follows:

1. Elementary: DAN 170, 175, 173, 270, 330, 350, 376 or 475 and 425
Secondary: DAN 170, 175, 173, 270, 330, 376 or 475, 425 and 441

2. 4 credits selected from DAN 300, 400; DAN 310, 410.

Requirements for the liberal arts minor in dance

To earn a minor in dance, students must complete a minimum of 20 credits including 10 credits in DAN 170, 173 and 270; 4 credits from DAN 330 or 370; and 6 credits from any other DAN courses.

Programs & Cores

Music, B.A.

Theatre, B.A.

Dance, B.A.

Musical Theatre, B.F.A.

Acting, B.F.A.

Dance, B.F.A.

Theatre Design and Technology, B.F.A.

Instrumental Performance, B.M.

Music Education, Choral and General Music, B.M.

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

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

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

Piano Performance, B.M.

Voice Performance, B.M.

Dance Minor

Dance Teaching Minor

Jazz Studies Minor

Music, Auditioned Minor

Music, Liberal Arts Minor

Theatre Minor

World Music Minor

Undergraduate Piano Performer’s Certificate

Course Descriptions

The department offers selected courses from this catalog as warranted by student needs and availability of faculty: Department of Music, Theatre and Dance .

Schedule of Classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes: sail.oakland.edu.