Conservatory of Music

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Assistant Dean—Reuter
Department Chair—Swearingen
Professors—M. Baker, Bennett, Breithaupt, Cox, Eubanks, Fischer, Hasseler, Kopetz, Lochstampfor, Moore, Perrini, Reuter, Roseberry, Swearingen
Associate Professors—Jelle, Smith, Wang, G. Zugger, T. Zugger
Assistant Professors—Barlow-Ware, S. Belck, Lentsner, Loughrige, Paton, Ryan, Zilincik
Adjunct Faculty—Aliyeva, Anders, C. Baker, Banion, Beeson, Blosser, Burleson, Cheney, Cioffari, Courtney, DesChamp, Dowdy, Durrenberger, Fink, Flugge, Hamilton, Hare, Herrmann, Hines, Hodges, Keller, Linker, Marcellana, Matsuda, Mollenhauer, Nagy, Nienkirchen, Riley, Secan, Sheets, Snyder, Sjevtchenko, Thomas, Townsend, Voris

History and Background

During the 1918-19 academic year, a department of music was established at Capital University. In 1926, the initial department became the Conservatory of Music. Throughout the years, music has become a thoroughly established and vital part of Capital University, and the Conservatory has grown in size and excellence providing intensive training on the collegiate level, as well as providing opportunities for middle school and high school ensemble performers and pre-collegiate students desiring private instruction. All members of the faculty represent professional expertise and diversity of background and experience. Several members of the faculty hold prominent positions in the greater metropolitan area’s music organizations, including the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Opera/Columbus, and ProMusica Chamber Orchestra, as well as in major professional and academic organizations throughout the nation.

As an outgrowth of the university mission, it is the goal of the Capital University Conservatory of Music to provide the finest in musical education and training for its students.

The Conservatory of Music offers a selective admissions policy of acceptance by audition. After being academically accepted by the university, each applicant desiring to become a Conservatory major must audition on a primary instrument (voice, woodwind, brass, keyboard or string). Auditions are scheduled by the Admission Office and are normally conducted by two members of the Conservatory faculty from the student’s performance area. Students accepted on the primary instrument will be offered entry in the Conservatory and will normally result in a performance scholarship upon acceptance.

The Conservatory of Music, offering undergraduate degree programs during the fall and spring semesters and masters programs during the summer, attracts an international student body while serving Ohio and surrounding regions through music performances, clinics, workshops, festivals, consulting work, and other research and scholarly activity. Performances are given by university students, faculty and guest artists, and include regional, national, and international ensemble tours. All activities serve communities at large, as well as public and private schools in the state and region.

The Conservatory offers courses leading to the following degrees: (1) bachelor of music in music education; (2) bachelor of music in performance with emphases in voice, band and orchestral instruments, and piano or organ; (3) bachelor of music in jazz studies; (4) bachelor of music in keyboard pedagogy with optional emphases in piano pedagogy, organ pedagogy or church music; (5) bachelor of music in composition; (6) bachelor of music in music industry with optional emphases in music merchandising or music media; (7) bachelor of arts in music; (8) bachelor of music in music technology; and (9) master of music in music education with emphases in Kodály, Instrumental, or Jazz Pedagogy.

In addition, the Conservatory offers a music minor. In addition to degree offerings, the Conservatory serves the Greater Columbus Area through its Conservatory Preparatory Division for pre-collegiate musicians, Early Music in Columbus, hundreds of musical recitals and concerts annually, as well as major events such as the Christmas Festival, Jazz and World Music Festival, and NOW MUSIC Festival.

The mission of the Conservatory of Music is:

1. To complement the philosophy and goals of the university by providing quality instruction in music, with both professional and liberal arts emphases.
2. To provide significant curricular offerings for the general student population.
3. To provide an atmosphere for scholarly and creative activity leading to professional and community service through music performance, composition, education and research.
4. To promote the art of music and encourage present and future artists.
5. To attract a national and international student body.

The goals of the Conservatory of Music are:

1. To provide quality curricular programs for music majors leading to degrees with student outcomes in accordance with the standards of the Conservatory of Music and the National Association of Schools of Music.
2. To meet the changing needs of society through curricular innovation.
3. To provide aesthetic and educational experiences for the general student body and community through activities of the university at large.
4. To provide cultural enrichment both regionally and nationally.
5. To provide services to public school music programs.
6. To provide service to the music profession.

The Conservatory of Music is an accredited institutional member of the National Association of Schools of Music (NASM). Its programs are accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. In addition, the Conservatory is an affiliate member of the National Association of Music Merchants Affiliation of Music Business Institutions.

The Conservatory of Music occupies a state-of-the-art complex that includes Mees Hall, Bexley Hall and Leonard Hall. In addition, the Conservatory has a cooperative arrangement with The Recording Workshop in Chillicothe, Ohio, for students in the music technology degree program to study and practice in multiple recording studio environments. On-campus instructional equipment includes a full complement of instruments, a comprehensive electronic music studio, multiple recording and production spaces, an electronic class keyboard room, a computer classroom/lab, practice rooms, the 180-seat Huntington Recital Hall, and the 950-seat Mees Auditorium with a world-class Shantz organ.

International Music Study

Capital University is the only school in the world that offers a semester of undergraduate study at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. Students live at the institute, which is in a restored early 18th century monastery just outside of Budapest. All classes are taught in English. The Conservatory also offers an exchange program with the Hochschule für Musik–Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden, Germany. Because most of the courses are in the school’s native language, it is essential that exchange students have sufficient German speaking and reading skills. Students who successfully complete either program can earn 18 semester hours of university credit. The courses offered generally substitute for a typical semester of music study at the junior level. Usually, provided careful planning with the academic adviser, students can participate in these international study programs and remain on schedule for graduation. Other international programs can be arranged through Capital’s International Education office.

Requirements For All Music Degrees

Private Study: *The student’s chosen degree program determines the required number of semesters of private study on the primary instrument. Study on a secondary instrument is available and may be required in certain degree programs. Composition majors are required to complete private study both on a primary instrument and in composition. In addition, some study is carried out in small groups. Additional fees for all private (one-on-one) and group study are listed under SPECIAL FEES in the FINANCIAL INFORMATION  section of this bulletin.

Class Keyboard: *All entering students will be placed in an appropriate Class Keyboard section (or private lesson in special cases) based upon a keyboard skills assessment administered either at the time of audition or during fall orientation.

Music Theory: *All entering students will be placed in an appropriate Musicianship/Audiation section based upon a skills assessment administered at the time of audition and/or during fall orientation.

Recital Attendance: Recital Attendance is required of all students according to the minimums set forth in their chosen degree program. Students attend performances by their peers, alternating as scheduled between area and Conservatory-wide performances, and by visiting artists associated with special Conservatory events. In addition to these scheduled activities, enrolled students are required to attend ten additional recitals or concerts that may come from any combination of on- and off-campus musical events. For additional details, refer to the most current Conservatory Student Handbook.

Additional Concert Requirements: *In addition to enrollment in Recital Attendance, attendance at 16 specified musical events is required prior to graduation. The policies and procedures related to this requirement are detailed in the annual Conservatory Student Handbook.

Ensembles: *All Conservatory majors are required to participate on their primary instrument in at least one ensemble each semester. (Composition majors who have completed the 202 level on their primary instrument may select ensembles by advisement.) Membership in ensembles is determined by audition. Participation for students in degrees that include a professional semester (music education, music technology, etc.) is optional and requires the completion of an Exceptional Consideration Form. See the Conservatory Student Handbook for additional information.

General Education Goals: In general, music majors are required to meet all goals of the university general education curriculum (see the section “GENERAL EDUCATION AT CAPITAL: Goals and Courses ” in this bulletin). Gen. Ed. Fine Arts Goal is waived in all Bachelor of Music degrees, since the competencies are met by completion of the music requirements. Students in the Bachelor of Arts in Music degree are required to take a non-music section of Gen. Ed. Goal 6.

Conservatory Foundational Studies: Classes designed to provide specific foundational knowledge and functional skills for musicians are considered the general education curriculum of the Conservatory. The required foundational courses are designated in the individual degree programs, but in general include the topics of functional keyboard, music theory, listening skills, music literature and history, basic conducting skills, and basic music technology awareness.

* Not required for the degree B.A. in Professional Studies Music Technology Track.

Lessons

Four categories of lessons exist: Primary, Performance Level Primary, Secondary and Group. Due to the extremely low faculty-to-student ratio of this study, a special fee is attached to all Conservatory Lessons (see “SPECIAL FEES” in the “FINANCIAL INFORMATION ” section of this bulletin).

Non credit-bearing lessons on voice and various instruments are available through the Conservatory Preparatory Division. Additional information is available in the Conservatory Office.

Primary Lessons—(1)

Prerequisite: Conservatory Major.

Primary Lessons, required of all Bachelor of Music degree majors, normally consist of 14 hours of private (one-on-one) studio instruction on the student’s primary instrument, delivered one hour per week throughout the semester and are valued at one (1) academic credit each semester, plus an area jury at the end of each semester.

Primary Lesson course numbers coincide with the student’s performance level, as determined by the area jury process. Normally, students audition into the Conservatory at the 101 level, with normal progress consisting of advancement to 102, 201, 202, 301, 302, 401, 402 in consecutive semesters. For students entering at a higher level (e.g., 201), advanced levels are offered as needed (403, 404, etc.). Minimum study and level achievement on the primary instrument is determined by the student’s degree curriculum.

Performance Level Primary Lessons—(2)

Prerequisite: Conservatory major and acceptance via 102 Level Jury or later.

Performance Level Primary Lessons: Following the 102 Level of study, any student may audition to study on the primary instrument at the Primary Performance Level (201P, 202P, 301P, 302P, 401P, 402P). All BM in Performance and BM in Jazz Studies degree majors are required to study six semesters at the Performance Level Primary Lesson on the primary instrument. For composition majors, five semesters of Performance Level composition lessons are required. Performance Level lessons are valued at two (2) academic credits each semester. For additional details related to performance levels, see the current Conservatory Student Handbook.

Secondary Lessons—MUS 100—(0.5)

Prerequisite: Conservatory Major or Permission of Dean in consultation with the Studio Instructor.

Required of all Bachelor of Arts in Music degree majors for four semesters. Open to all Conservatory majors desiring study on a secondary instrument with permission of the Studio Instructor. Also open to non-Conservatory majors with permission of the Dean in consultation with the appropriate Area Head. Any student accepted to the Conservatory on a remedial basis will be required to take secondary lessons until level 101 is achieved. Remedial students will be dismissed from the studio if level 101 is not achieved after two semesters of study.

Secondary Lessons normally consist of 7.5 hours of private (one-on-one) studio instruction, delivered one-half hour per week throughout the semester. All Secondary Lessons carry the course number 100 and are repeatable as desired. Secondary Lessons, unlike Primary Lessons, imply no level designations.

Group Lessons—(1)

Prerequisite: Conservatory Major, degree requirement or Permission of the Dean in consultation with the Instructor.

Group Lessons consist of weekly lessons throughout the semester delivered to a relatively small number of students simultaneously by one instructor. The size of the group will depend on the type of lesson being taught.

Ensembles

Ensembles are open by audition to all Capital University students.

Major Ensembles—1 credit, rehearsing 3 or 6 class hours weekly

Minor Ensembles—0.5 credit, rehearsing 1 or 2 class hours weekly

Courses for Non-Music Majors

Prerequisites: None for most, permission of the instructor for some. Open to all Capital University students. Conservatory majors are given priority placement in these courses if the course cap is reached. See Course Descriptions . Ensembles open to all students, regardless of major, by audition (see above).

International Program Courses

Students must apply for and be accepted into the specific programs listed below. Additional independent programs can be designed by contacting the Capital University Director of International Education.

Hungary:

This program is delivered at the Zoltán Kodály Pedagogical Institute of Music in Kecskemét, Hungary. Some courses listed here substitute for courses normally taken during the first semester of the junior year (e.g., MUSIC H321  replaces MUSIC 321 ) while others may be used as electives (e.g., MUSIC H225 ). Additional courses may be available for one or more additional semesters abroad. Applied lessons will be made available as appropriate. Students may contact professors in Arts and Sciences regarding independent learning packets for UC 150 , UC 310 , or individual learning contracts for Arts and Sciences electives. All courses in Hungary are taught in English. For additional academic and financial details, contact the Hungary Program Coordinator.

Germany:

This program is delivered at the Hochschule für Musik–Carl Maria von Weber in Dresden, Germany. All courses are taught in German, requiring proficient reading, listening and speaking skills in the German language. A set course of study is not predetermined. Students should attempt to schedule courses that will substitute for courses required in the student’s degree program. For additional information on this opportunity, contact the Conservatory Dean.

Special Music Education Courses:

The following courses, required for Ohio State Teacher Certification, are taught and supervised by the Conservatory Music Education faculty.

EDUC 363 - Pedagogy for Early and Middle Childhood Vocal Music Programs 
EDUC 367 - Pedagogy for Instrumental Music Programs 
EDUC 441 - Stud Teaching Elementary Music Education 
EDUC 442 - Stud Teaching Secondary Music Education 

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