Instrumental Performance, B.M.

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Students must complete the Oakland University General Education Requirements, General College of Arts and Sciences Requirements, College of Arts and Sciences College Exploratory Requirement, Major Requirements, and an appropriate number of free elective classes to meet the overall credit requirement for the degree (in most cases a minimum of 124; some degrees may require a greater number).

As a general rule, no more than eight credits of coursework 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.

Schedule of Classes

Specific offerings for each semester may be found in the Schedule of Classes.

General Education Requirements

In order to graduate on-schedule without taking additional courses, it is highly recommended that students meet with an Undergraduate Academic Adviser concerning the selection of all of their general education courses.

Each candidate for an Oakland University baccalaureate will need to satisfactorily complete approved courses in each of the following areas: Foundation, Exploration, Integration, Writing, U.S. Diversity and Capstone. For details, refer to the General Education Requirements section of the catalog.

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 3211, 3212, 4210, 4320, 4323 count as writing intensive in the major, and MUA 4998 counts as the general education capstone in the major.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 - 32 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)
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 until graduation.

Large ensembles: MUE 4001 - University Chorus or MUE 4004 - Oakland Chorale or MUE 4019 - Chamber Orchestra or MUE 4029 - Symphonic Band or MUE 4031 - Wind Symphony (8)
Chamber music ensembles (4)

Language - 4 credits

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

Other required courses - 6 credits (or placement) and 4 music elective credits:

MUS 3581 - Conducting I (2)
MUS 3582 - Conducting II (2)
MUA 4563 - Instrumental Repertoire and Pedagogy (2)

Music electives (4 cr) to be selected from:

MUA 4564 - Instrumental Performance Topics (2)
MUS 2701 - Creative Composition I (2)
MUS 3054 - Basic Recording Techniques (2)
MUS 4701 - Orchestration and Arranging (3)
MUS 4720 - Career Building for Musicians (2)

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.