The Certificate in Performance is a three-year program designed for performers who do not yet hold a bachelor's degree and who aim to study their craft at the highest level. Students in this program are most often younger or nontraditional students.Certificate students must register for 16 credit hours per term for each of six terms for a total of 96 credits. All students give a public degree recital in their final year, some departments require a recital each year.The Certificate is not the equivalent of a bachelor's degree. If graduates of the Certificate program later earn a bachelor's degree, they can petition to convert the Certificate into a Master of Music degree. In order to convert the degree in the future, students must complete all the requirements for the M.M. degree, including the foreign language and piano proficiencies, while in residence at Yale.The oboe program at the Yale School of Music offers broad training in solo, chamber, and orchestral performance, as well as topics such as reed making and pedagogical instruction.Chamber music is an integral part of the program, and students also play in various ensembles and configurations in the New Music New Haven series. The Yale Philharmonia offers important orchestral experience, with a wide variety of repertoire and frequent opportunities to work with guest conductors.The foundation of the program includes private lessons and weekly oboe seminars. Students are encouraged to explore as broad a repertoire as possible, including performance of baroque and contemporary music.In addition to solo playing, students are required to play in chamber groups, New Music New Haven, and in the Philharmonia. Large brass and woodwind ensembles are also formed throughout the year.