Bachelor of Music Performance
Meet the faculty
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The music performance degree at Ohio State focuses on the mastery of performance skills. We offer three tracks within the degree: instrumental, keyboard and voice. Our students benefit from professors who maintain active performance careers, and from opportunities available in Columbus’ thriving arts community.
Pursuing Music Performance at Ohio State
Students interested in music performance should develop performance skills in preparation for the entrance audition. Piano lessons are also recommended, if available. All students planning to pursue a music major must complete an entrance audition and the Theory Placement Exam (TPE). Normally students do this during the senior year in high school on a scheduled Audition Day. Transfer students and students already at Ohio State should also plan to complete an audition and the TPE. Acceptance into a music performance degree program is contingent upon approval of the applied music faculty.
Career Prospects in Music Performance
Students in music performance have a variety of career opportunities. Some graduates establish private studios for giving music lessons or perform professionally either as soloists or in groups as opportunities arise. Some take professional auditions or participate in performance competitions. Others pursue musical performance opportunities in armed forces bands, orchestras, or choirs. Some graduates move into business and industry careers or other music-related careers, such as arts management.
Those interested in pursuing a professional career as a performer in a symphony, chamber orchestra, or on the stage often continue directly into graduate study upon completion of the undergraduate degree. The same is true of students interested in securing a position as an applied music teacher at a college or university. In addition, some music performance majors continue into graduate school in another music field, such as conducting, music history or music theory.
Explore the appropriate curriculum information
Bachelor of Music Performance — Instrumental
At Ohio State, students majoring in a brass, woodwind, percussion or string instrument are guided through a rigorous course of study in technique, performance practice, pedagogy and repertoire development by our artist faculty.
In addition to the required curricular studies, there are a number of elective courses available, such as the health-focused Alexander Technique class and a Performance Enhancement course. For reed players, reed-making and reed research is ongoing in a dedicated reed-making facility.
Faculty
Our faculty members bring experience from a number of national symphonies and bands, including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the New Sousa Band and various military ensembles, to name a few. They are leaders in instrument societies such as the National Flute Association, International Clarinet Society, and the Percussive Arts Society International.
Performance Opportunities
All students perform in the school's large performing Ensembles as well as in the numerous small ensembles of varying combinations, from studio choirs to jazz combos and from early music ensembles to Composer's Workshop. Student chamber music performance is a vital component of study and Ohio State groups have performed in numerous conferences and competitions. For brass players, the renowned Ohio State Marching Band (TBDBITL) provides musical and leadership opportunities for students seeking this unique challenge and the Ohio State Athletic Bands are open to all wind instruments.
Students in the individual studios have had the opportunity to participate in national and international conventions such as the Midwest Clinic, International Double Reed Society, International Clarinet Association, International Trumpet Guild, National Flute Association Conventions, among others.
Alumni
Graduates have embarked upon exciting endeavors world-wide. They are teaching in colleges and universities and performing in major ensembles including military bands, chamber ensembles and orchestras. Several have won Fulbright Scholarships and many have taken top prizes in performance competitions. Those who have earned graduate degrees have applied their experiences as graduate teaching associates to the demands of the job world in building successful careers.
Bachelor of Music Performance — Keyboard
We prepare students to be first-class musicians and first-class pianists. We strive for students to acquire a broad understanding of piano repertoire and the ability to perform from a cross-section of that repertory with technical proficiency and musical refinement. Our students acquire:
- knowledge and skills sufficient to work as a leader and in collaboration on matters of musical interpretation
- the ability to read at sight with fluency, demonstrating both general musicianship and a level of skill relevant to professional standards
- growth in artistry, technical skills, collaborative competence and knowledge of repertory through regular ensemble experiences
- the ability to use technologies current to their area of specialization
Faculty
Our piano faculty members maintain active national and international careers as recording soloists and collaborators. Our weekly piano studio and master classes are augmented by visits from guests such as Emanuel Ax, John Browning, Andre LePlante, Nancy Weems, Arthur Greene and other well-known artist/pedagogues. Finally, the piano area has a diverse and international graduate and undergraduate population. Doctoral students serve as informal mentors to our undergraduates in a supportive and collegial atmosphere. [Update list of guests. We have not had the likes of Emanuel Ax for decades? Do not overpromise.]
Performance Opportunities
Supported by classes in theory, ear training and music history, the keyboard area focuses on developing musicianship and piano skills. We focus on not only technique but also the development of a varied repertoire from all musical periods culminating in a public performance (i.e. degree recital). Our program strongly emphasizes collaborative skills, for nothing develops listening and musical flexibility better. Duo piano, accompanying (both vocal and instrumental) and chamber music ensembles of all sizes are an important part of our piano curriculum, as are classes in sight-reading, piano pedagogy, piano literature and digital keyboard technology. [Edit to focus on performance and collaborations. Remove items that are duplicated in the bullet points above.]
Community Engagement
Annual collaborations with local piano education professional organizations correspond wtih the School of Music's mission of musical and professional outreach. Central Ohio boasts one of the strongest piano teaching communities in the country. The Central East District of the Ohio Music Teachers Association (MTNA affiliate), National Piano Guild and Federation of Music Teachers are strongly represented by more than 300 private instructors. The School of Music partners with these organizations, offering our students the opportunity to interact with teachers in the private sector and to participate in activities that involve young piano students.
Bachelor of Music Performance — Voice
At Ohio State, we take singing seriously. Our voice faculty boasts performing and teaching credentials nationally and globally. We use our expertise to challenge, support and advance our student vocalists toward their individual career paths.
The voice area is a community of singers where our instruction blends individual attention with peer work. Students receive weekly lessons and studio classes, building skills and confidence while creating a network of colleagues who have similar goals and needs. In addition to offering studio classes, the entire department meets several times each semester for recitals and master classes, providing students an opportunity to sing for and learn from their peers at every level of degree program, as well as from the faculty and guest artists.
Students have ample opportunities to shine in recitals, solo appearances with the Ohio State Symphony Orchestra and other ensembles, and in various staged productions.
Performance Opportunities
Vocalists of all degree programs are eligible to audition for our many excellent performance opportunities. Explore our Ensembles and Opera Theatre program. Additional opportunities are abundant both on campus and in the surrounding community. The Ohio State Department of Theatre offers a Music Theatre minor and presents numerous productions each year. There are also several music and theatre student organizations available through Student Life. Columbus also offers endless opportunities through community, professional and church choirs as well as through local opera and theatre companies. Columbus loves singers! [reword the Theatre reference. Sounds like they produce several musicals per year?]
Alumni
Graduates of the Ohio State voice area populate many of the opera and music theatre stages of America and Europe and can be found teaching in colleges and universities across the country.
[EXTRA TEXT - this isn't bad, work some of this in where appropriate? Add the program in Germany many attended the past few years (Eric), etc. Add more about the choirs -Lincoln Center (2005), Carnegie Hall (2005), OMEA, etc. ] The School of Music’s Opera Program has won first-place awards from the National Opera Association. Students have performed in Graz, Austria, and have held roles in opera companies across the country. Graduates have won numerous competition awards and perform leading roles with national and international companies. Ohio State vocal ensembles often tour, performing in international and domestic venues and have garnered critical acclaim. Read more about choral and opera/musical theatre opportunities in Ensembles.