Faculty
Caroline Oltmanns, D.M.A.
Professor
Bliss Hall 1240
330.941.1826
cmoltmanns@ysu.edu
About the Major
Students pursing the Bachelor of Music (B.M.) in Music Performance in Piano have a broad range of world-class performance opportunities that include diverse repertoire and provide professional training as soloists and collaborators. Examples include solo recitals, concerto competitions, large and small ensembles, and contemporary ensembles. Chamber Ensembles provide students the chance to form groups that explore varied literature and entrepreneurship, and many groups actively play gigs and concerts throughout the region.
Our students regularly win regional, national, and international recognition as performers and garner competition awards. They routinely perform as artists and chamber musicians at summer music festivals in the U.S. and abroad and are accepted to prestigious graduate programs around the country and across the globe.
Contact Information
To learn more about our degree programs, audition information, scholarships, professional development and careers, performances, faculty, and students, visit Dana School of Music or contact us at 330.941.3635.
To schedule a personalized campus visit, contact the Cliffe College of Creative Arts Program Coordinator of Admissions and Recruitment at 330.941.2346 or sawaltman@ysu.edu. We would love to hear about your interests, show you our school, and become an important part of your future.
| COURSE | TITLE | S.H. |
|---|---|---|
| FIRST YEAR REQUIREMENT - STUDENT SUCCESS | ||
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar | 1-2 |
| or YSU 1500S | Youngstown State University Success Seminar | |
| or HONR 1500 | Intro to Honors | |
| GENERAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENTS | ||
| ENGL 1550 | Writing 1 | 3-4 |
| or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 with Support | |
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| Any Gen Ed Math (MATH 2623 recommended) | 3 | |
| Arts and Humanities (2 courses) | 0 | |
Satisfied by 6 SH of MUHL 2672 and 2673, which are required in the major. | ||
| Natural Sciences (2 courses, 1 with lab) | 7 | |
| Social Science (2 courses) | 6 | |
| General Education Electives | 6 | |
CMST 1545 (3 s.h.) | ||
MUHL 2771 (0 s.h.) *Included in major | ||
Any Gen Ed Course (3 s.h.) | ||
| CORE MUSIC REQUIREMENTS | ||
| Music Theory (17 hours). Music Theory and Aural Theory of the same level must be taken concurrently. | ||
| MUTC 1531 & MUTC 1541 | Music Theory 1 and Aural Theory 1 | 4 |
| MUTC 1532 & MUTC 1542 | Music Theory 2 and Aural Theory 2 | 4 |
| MUTC 2631 & MUTC 2641 | Music Theory 3 and Aural Theory 3 | 4 |
| MUTC 3733 | Composition and Songwriting | 2 |
| MUTC 3710 | Orchestration and Arranging | 3 |
| Keyboard Musicianship (4 hours) | ||
| MUAC 2691 | Professional Piano Skills 1 | 1 |
| MUAC 2692 | Professional Piano Skills 2 | 1 |
| MUAC 2693 | Professional Piano Skills 3 | 1 |
| MUAC 2694 | Professional Piano Skills 4 | 1 |
| Music History and Literature (9 hours) | ||
| MUHL 2771 | World Music | 3 |
| MUHL 2772 | Western Art Music | 3 |
| MUHL 2773 | American Music | 3 |
| Conducting (3 hours) | ||
| MUCO 3715 | Beginning Conducting | 2 |
| MUCO 3716 | Advanced Instrumental Conducting | 1 |
| or MUCO 3717 | Advanced Choral Conducting | |
| ENSEMBLES (8 hours) | ||
| Large or Chamber Ensembles | 8 | |
*Please consult with your applied teacher regarding ensemble participation. | ||
*Please consult with your applied teacher regarding piano chamber ensemble participation. | ||
| PIANO EMPHASIS | ||
| Piano Applied Lessons and Support Courses (26 hours) | ||
| PIAN 1501 | Piano | 2 |
| PIAN 1502 | Piano | 2 |
| PIAN 2603 | Piano | 3 |
| PIAN 2604 | Piano | 3 |
| PIAN 3705 | Piano | 4 |
| PIAN 3706 | Piano (with Junior Recital) | 4 |
| PIAN 4805 | Piano | 4 |
| PIAN 4806 | Piano (with Senior Recital) | 4 |
| MUTC/MUHL - Upper Division Theory and History Electives (must represent both areas) (6 hours) | 6 | |
| Career Preparedness (6 hours) | ||
| MUIN 4833 | Career Development in Music | 3 |
| MUIN 1561 | Recording Workshop | 3 |
| Certficate (12 hours, 8 hours upper divsion) | 12 | |
| Choose a certificate or minor. Options include, but are not limited to: | ||
Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership | ||
Certificate in Digital Market Strategy | ||
Certificate in Enterprise Resource Planning | ||
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
-
All undergraduate music majors are required to attend 12 approved performances each semester for six consecutive semesters beginning in the freshman year.
- Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with ensemble each semester.
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | S.H. | |
| YSU 1500 | Success Seminar or Youngstown State University Success Seminar or Intro to Honors | 1-2 |
| ENGL 1550 or ENGL 1549 | Writing 1 or Writing 1 with Support | 3-4 |
| PIAN 1501 | Piano | 2 |
| MUTC 1531 & MUTC 1541 | Music Theory 1 and Aural Theory 1 | 4 |
| MUAC 2691 | Professional Piano Skills 1 | 1 |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| Semester Hours | 12-14 | |
| Spring | ||
| ENGL 1551 | Writing 2 | 3 |
| MUAC 2692 | Professional Piano Skills 2 | 1 |
| PIAN 1502 | Piano | 2 |
| MUTC 1532 & MUTC 1542 | Music Theory 2 and Aural Theory 2 | 4 |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| Any Gen Ed MATH | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PIAN 2603 | Piano | 3 |
| MUAC 2693 | Professional Piano Skills 3 | 1 |
| MUTC 2631 & MUTC 2641 | Music Theory 3 and Aural Theory 3 | 4 |
| MUHL 2771 | World Music | 3 |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| CMST 1545 | Communication Foundations | 3 |
| Semester Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| MUAC 2694 | Professional Piano Skills 4 | 1 |
| PIAN 2604 | Piano | 3 |
| MUHL 2772 | Western Art Music | 3 |
| MUTC 3733 | Composition and Songwriting | 2 |
| Certificate Course 1 | 3 | |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PIAN 3705 | Piano | 4 |
| MUCO 3715 | Beginning Conducting | 2 |
| MUHL 2773 | American Music | 3 |
| MUIN 1561 | Recording Workshop | 3 |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| Certificate Course 2 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| PIAN 3706 | Piano (with Junior Recital) | 4 |
| MUTC 3710 | Orchestration and Arranging | 3 |
| MUCO 3716 or MUCO 3717 | Advanced Instrumental Conducting or Advanced Choral Conducting | 1 |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| MUIN 4833 | Career Development in Music | 3 |
| General Education Elective - Natural Science + Lab | 4 | |
| Semester Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| PIAN 4805 | Piano | 4 |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| Music Upper Division MUHL or MUTC Elective | 3 | |
| Certificate Course 3 | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Social Science | 3 | |
| General Education Elective - Any Gen Ed Course | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 17 | |
| Spring | ||
| PIAN 4806 | Piano (with Senior Recital) | 4 |
| Music Upper Division MUTC or MUHL Elective | 3 | |
| MUEN 00XX (Ensemble) | 1 | |
| Certificate Course 4 | 3 | |
| Semester Hours | 11 | |
| Total Semester Hours | 120-122 | |
- All undergraduate music majors are required to attend 12 approved performances each semester for six consecutive semesters beginning in the freshman year.
- Applied lesson must be taken concurrently with ensemble each semester.
Learning Outcomes
The student learning outcomes for the major in music are as follows:
- Students will perform a public recital in their applied area.
- Students will analyze music, discriminate pitch, harmony, and rhythm, and perform harmonic progressions at the piano.
- Students will demonstrate critical thinking about the various historical periods, cultural contexts, and social forces that influence musical activity.
- Students will demonstrate basic keyboard proficiency, including scales, arpeggios, harmonization, repertoire, transpositions, and score reading.