School of Music, Theatre
and Dance
Varner Hall, Room 207
371 Varner Drive
Rochester,
MI
48309-4485
(location map)
Academic Office: (248) 370-2030
Box Office: (248) 370-3013
Fax: (248) 370-2041
[email protected]
Non-Major Offerings
The School of Music, Theatre and Dance offers many opportunities for students who are not SMTD majors to continue their performing arts experiences and education.
YOU LOVED MUSIC IN HIGH SCHOOL...DON'T STOP NOW!
FIND YOUR MUSICAL HOME at the OU School of Music, Theatre and Dance SMTD). All Oakland students, any major, are invited to participate in the numerous opportunities for non-music majors in the music department. Perform in an ensemble, attend performances and take classes, or consider minoring in music. Many SMTD courses help non-majors fulfill their General Education requirements.
ENSEMBLES
Many of our ensembles do not require an audition to get in. For any ensemble you are interested in (auditioned or non-auditioned), register for the class, and shortly before the start of the semester, you will be sent information regarding the first day of class, and auditions (for auditioned ensembles).
The following ensembles satisfy the GE Arts requirement when taken for 1 credit for 3 semesters:
- MUE 3000 University Chorus (non-auditioned)
- MUE 3003 Oakland Chorale (auditioned)
- MUE 3018 Chamber Orchestra (strings only) (instructor permission)
- MUE 3028 Symphonic Band (non-auditioned)
- MUE 3030 Wind Symphony (auditioned)
OTHER ENSEMBLE OPPORTUNITIES:
Non-Auditioned:
- MUE 3032 Golden Grizzlies Band (for athletics)
- MUE 4040 Jazz Band
- MUE 4045 African Ensemble
- MUE 4046 Steel Band
Auditioned:
- MUE 4015 Oakland Jazz Singers
- MUE 4020 Oakland Symphony
- MUE 4035 Grizzly Brass Band
- MUE 4040 Oakland University Jazz Band
- MUE 4042 Creative Jazz Ensemble
MUSIC CLASSES OPEN TO NON-MAJORS
The following courses satisfy the GE Arts requirement:
- MUS 1000 Introduction to Music
- MUS 1001 What's On Your Playlist? Music Listening and the Self
- MUS 1002 Exploring Technology in Music
- MUS 1005 Foundations of Rock - also satisfies GE US Diversity
- MUS 1006 Exploring Film Music
- MUS 1007 Exploring Jazz - also satisfies GE US Diversity
- MUS 1010 Exploring African Music - GE Arts OR Global Persp
- MUS 1011 Exploring Caribbean Music
- MUS 1012 Exploring Indian Music
- MUS 1014 Exploring Hip Hop Music
Courses satisfying other GE requirements:
- MUS 1003 Music Culture & Western Civilization - satisfies GE Western Civ
- MUS 1017 Exploring Music of Latin America - satisfies GE Global Perspectives
Additional music courses for non-majors:
- MUS 1100 Vocal Technique for Non-Majors
- MUS 1101 Beginning Piano for Non-Majors
- MUS 1103 Beginning Guitar for Non-Majors
- MUS 1104 Intermediate Guitar for Non-Majors
- MUS 3018 The Business of Music
MINORS:
If you have a passion for music, theatre or dance, consider pursuing a minor in the School of Music, Theatre or Dance.
Minors that DO NOT require an audition:
- Non-auditioned Liberal Arts Music Minor
- Non-Auditioned Music Technology Liberal Arts Minor
Minors requiring an audition:
- Auditioned Minor
- Jazz Studies Minor
- Music Theory Minor (open to music majors only)
- World Music Minor
- Music Technology
YOU ARE INVITED TO ATTEND SCHOOL OF MUSIC, THEATRE and DANCE PERFORMANCES
We would love to see you in the audience at our music, theatre and dance performances. All events are ticketed. OU students are able to purchase tickets at the discounted student price. MANY EVENTS ARE FREE. Please check out the performance schedule and purchase tickets at: oakland.edu/smtd/ and click on "Performances and Events."
For more information, contact Michelle Tschirhart [email protected]
These programs can be combined with any other degree and offer students an opportunity to keep a special kind of balance in their life, both while at college and later in their career, and many employers appreciate the self-motivation and self-discipline implied by performance training. The minor can also be successfully combined with other OU programs to fulfill the requirements of OU’s Integrative Studies degree, the BIS, which, with an adviser’s help, allows students to custom design their own combinations of study disciplines.
Non-majors may also audition for or volunteer to be part of the crew for our theatre productions. A list of theatre performance opportunities is available online, and information is posted throughout the year on the theatre call board, located in Varner Hall on the first floor.
In addition, many MTD courses help non-majors fulfill their General Education requirements.
The dance program offers a minor in dance which can be combined with any other degree. This offers students an opportunity to keep a special kind of balance in their life, both while at college and later in their career. And many employers appreciate the self-motivation and self-discipline implied by performance training. The minors can also be successfully combined with other OU programs to fulfill the requirements of OU’s Integrative Studies degree, the BIS, which, with an adviser’s help, allows students to custom design their own combinations of study disciplines, read more about Integrative Studies.
The dance ensemble Oakland Dance Theatre (ODT) is open to all Oakland students through auditions in the first week of school in September.
In addition, many MTD courses help non-majors fulfill their General Education requirements.