Instrumental Performance, B.M.

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The program’s description is noted below:

Requirements for the major in instrumental performance, B.M.

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.

Only major courses in which a grade of at least C has been earned will count toward the major. For this program, MUS 1331 satisfies the general education arts requirement, MUS 3331 and MUS 3332 count as writing intensive in the major, and MUA 4998 counts as the general education capstone in the major.

Degree requirements are as follows:

Applied music - 34 credits (or placement)

Applied principal instrument 1000 level (2 credits per semester, 4 credits total)
Applied principal instrument 2000 level (2 credits per semester, 4 credits total)
Applied principal instrument 3000 level (4 credits per semester, 8 credits total)
Applied principal instrument 4000 level (1 semester, 4 credits total)
MUA 4998 - Senior Recital (4 OR 6) (6)
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 history, theory, and world music - 28 credits (or placement)

MUS 1212 - Music Theory I (3) and MUS 1213 - Aural Skills I (1)
MUS 1214 - Music Theory II (3) and MUS 1215 - Aural Skills II (1)
MUS 2212 - Music Theory III (3) and MUS 2213 - Aural Skills III (1)
MUS 2214 - Music Theory IV (3) and MUS 2215 - Aural Skills IV (1)
MUS 1331 - History and Literature of Western Tonal Music (3)
MUS 1332 - Music of World Cultures (3)
MUS 3331 - History and Literature of Medieval and Renaissance Music (3)
MUS 3332 - History and Literature of Western Music from ca. 1850 to the Present (3)

History or theory elective course (1 course) selected from

MUS 4320 - The Nineteenth-Century Symphony: History, Performance and Analysis (4)
MUS 4323 - Berlin’s Musical Cultures: 1900-1989 (4)
MUS 4330 - Seminar in Opera and Drama (4)
MUS 3211 - Musical Analysis and Form (4)
MUS 3212 - Counterpoint (4)
MUS 4210 - Analysis of Music Since 1900 (4)

Ensembles - 12 credits

Must enroll in a large ensemble that uses the primary performance area every semester of major.

Large ensembles: MUE 3001 - University Chorus or MUE 3004 - Oakland Chorale or MUE 3019 - Chamber Orchestra or MUE 3029 - Symphonic Band or MUE 3031 - Wind Symphony (8)
Small ensembles (4)

Language - 4 credits

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

Other required courses - 8 credits (or placement)

MUS 3581 - Conducting I (2)
MUS 3582 - Conducting II (2)
MUS 4547 - Instrumental Teaching Studio (2)
MUS 4563 - Instrumental Repertoire I (1)
MUS 4564 - Instrumental Repertoire II (1)

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.