<p>Oberlin has recently changed the BA requirements for music majors. It used to be that you could start off as a music major in the college in first semester of freshman year without auditioning. If you did not pass at least the audition for secondary (half hour per week) lessons with a faculty member by the end of sophomore year, you still had the option of being a music major in the musicology/music history track, or you could switch to a non-music major.</p>
<p>Now, you cannot declare as a music major until you have auditioned into a faculty member’s studio (at least for secondary lessons) and gotten at least a B in one of several specified intro music courses. That means that most students pursuing a BA in music there do not declare as music majors until at least second semester of freshman year. Entrance to the conservatory remains by audition for primary lessons (hour per week) with a faculty member. It is possible but difficult to go from the BA program to the BM program. It is easy for those already in the BM program to switch to the BA program or to join the double degree program with a non-music BA curriculum in addition to the BM, but either could result in an additional semester or two being required before graduation.</p>