Piano Performance, B.M.

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Requirements for the major in piano 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 and should also meet 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. 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 - 31 credits (or placement)

MUA 1002 - Piano (1 OR 2) (4) (2 credits per semester, 4 credits total)
MUA 2002 - Piano (1 OR 2) (4) (2 credits per semester, 4 credits total)
MUA 3002 - Piano (1 TO 4) (8) (4 credits per semester, 8 credits total)
MUA 4002 - Piano (1 TO 4) (4) (4 credits total)
MUA 4998 - Senior Recital (4)
MUS 1175 - Piano Technique Seminar (1)
MUS 3173 - Keyboard Skills for the Piano Major I (2)
MUS 3174 - Keyboard Skills for the Piano Major II (2)
MUS 3175 - Accompanying for Piano Majors (2)

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

MUS 1212 - Music Theory I (3) and MUS 1213 - Aural Skills I
MUS 1214 - Music Theory II (3) and MUS 1215 - Aural Skills II
MUS 2212 - Music Theory III (3) and MUS 2213 - Aural Skills III
MUS 2214 - Music Theory IV (3) and MUS 2215 - Aural Skills IV
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)

Other required courses - 12 credits (or placement)

Ensembles - 11 credits

Must enroll in a large ensemble every semester of major until graduation (for a total of 8 credits).

Large ensembles: MUE 3001 - University Chorus, MUE 3004 - Oakland Chorale, MUE 3019 - Chamber Orchestra, MUE 3029 - Symphonic Band, or MUE 3031 - Wind Symphony

Must enroll in chamber music 3 times for a total of 3 credits.

MUE 3080 - Chamber Music

Language - 4 credits

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

Non-credit requirements

Major standing
Events attendance requirement: Students must complete four attendance cards (ten events each year for four years). May include up to 4 pre-approved music service learning events in underserved communities per year.
One events attendance card must be submitted by the time of major standing.
Fifteen minute sophomore recital
Twenty-five minute junior recital

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.