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    Oct 07, 2024  
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Performance, DMA


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The Graduate Council approved a change to this program after the publication of the Catalog. Please refer to the Catalog Addendum for more information. 

 


 

The Doctor of Musical Arts degree is offered with a major in performance (including conducting and jazz studies) with related fields in collaborative piano, composition, conducting, contemporary music, early music, jazz studies, music education, music and medicine, musicology, music theory, opera, performance, sacred music or vocal pedagogy. The degree requires a minimum of three years of work represented by at least 84 hours beyond the bachelor’s degree. In addition to the first 30 hours, or the equivalent of the master’s degree in the major field, the program for the degree includes a minimum of 54 hours.

The minimum doctoral residence requirement for performance students consists of two consecutive long terms/semesters (fall and the following spring, or spring and the following fall) with a minimum load of 9 hours each term/semester. The minimum residency requirement for conducting students is four consecutive long terms/semesters with a minimum load of 9 hours each term/semester. Conducting students in wind studies may satisfy the residency requirements by enrolling in two summer sessions, two long terms/semesters and two more summer sessions, taken consecutively. The minimum residence requirement for jazz studies students consists of two consecutive long terms/semesters (fall and the following spring, or spring and the following fall) with a minimum load of 9 hours each term/semester.

Some degree programs require participation in a performance laboratory and/or ensemble. Music Laboratories are choir, orchestra, band, jazz lab band, and accompanying. Ensembles available for graduate student participation are: opera theater, early music ensembles, NOVA ensemble, intermedia performance arts, brass ensembles, chamber wind ensembles, jazz ensembles, chamber orchestra, percussion ensembles, string ensembles, vocal ensembles, harp ensemble, and Mariachi Aguilas.

Application procedures


Acceptance into the Doctor of Musical Arts program involves the following steps:

  1. Apply for admission to the university through the Toulouse Graduate School (an evaluation of student’s transcripts will determine leveling course requirements). While leveling courses may be taken for graduate credit, these credits cannot be applied to the degree plan.
  2. Submit an acceptable score on the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Contact the College of Music or the Toulouse Graduate School for standardized admission test requirements. Students applying for the DMA in performance or jazz studies may satisfy the GRE requirement with an on-campus writing examination. Details are available from the Graduate Office in the College of Music. The Graduate Preparation Course (GPC), provided for international students by the Intensive English Language Institute, is not accepted as a substitute for the GRE requirement.
  3. Be accepted by the College of Music to do doctoral level work.
  4. Attend all orientation sessions scheduled by the director of graduate studies in music.
  5. Take the Graduate Placement Examinations for doctoral students given by the College of Music (courses assigned as the result of the GPE must be completed within one calendar year).
  6. Be accepted to a specific degree program by audition (for performance, conducting or jazz studies majors).

When all of these steps are successfully completed, the student will be considered fully admitted to the degree program.

Application procedures – Performance (Instrumental and Vocal)


  1. Apply for admission to UNT through the Toulouse Graduate School, gradschool.unt.edu. International applicants apply at international.unt.edu.
  2. Apply for admission to the College of Music with the application for admission, audition, scholarship, fellowship and assistantships available at music.unt.edu.
  3. Candidates for Doctoral Performance programs must pass an audition on the required repertoire for their instrument or voice. Please visit music.unt.edu for a complete listing of required audition repertoire.
  4. Evaluation of transcripts from previous degree(s).
  5. Submit a resume or curriculum vitae detailing professional experience, honors and awards.
  6. Submit a repertoire list (last five years).
  7. Graduate performance candidates may take an on-campus writing exam in lieu of the required Graduate Record Exam (GRE) verbal score for admission to the College of Music graduate programs in performance. The writing examination is administered under the direction of the Graduate Performance Degree Program committee each long semester (fall and spring) during orientation week and once during the beginning of the first 5-week summer session (5W1 term). This exam is used to evaluate the candidate’s ability to write a document coherently at a graduate level, in English, approximately 600–1,000 words in length. Evaluators review the sample for command of English language (grammar, spelling, punctuation), the ability to present an argument in a coherent manner, and evidence of critical thinking. Graduate candidates may take the exam three times.
  8. In lieu of the writing exam, a GRE verbal score may be submitted. The Graduate Preparation Course (GPC), provided for international students by the Intensive English Language Institute, is not accepted as a substitute for the GRE requirement.
  9. Attend all orientation sessions scheduled by the director of graduate studies in music.
  10. Take the Graduate Placement Examination (GPE) given by the College of Music.

Application procedures – Performance (Conducting)


The admission process for conducting applicants consists of two stages. The materials outlined below are to be submitted by the first Monday in December to the College of Music Office of Admissions.

  1. A resume providing complete information concerning the musical training and experience of the applicant.
  2. Lists representing the following: works the applicant has studied, works the applicant is prepared to conduct and works the applicant previously conducted.
  3. A written analysis of a movement from a major tonal work on the applicant’s repertoire list.
  4. A face-to-the-camera, high-quality video recording (DVD) of the applicant conducting a rehearsal and interacting with an ensemble he or she regularly conducts.
  5. A good-quality audio CD and/or a face-to-the-camera video recording (DVD) of a performance conducted by the applicant.
  6. Statement of career objectives.
  7. Three letters of recommendation.
  8. Three names of people (include their addresses and phone numbers) willing to speak to the candidate’s musical abilities (they may be the same people who send the letters of recommendation).
  9. Applicants must also apply for admission to UNT through the Toulouse Graduate School gradschool.unt.edu. International applicants must apply at international.unt.edu.

 

Application procedures – Jazz Studies


  1. Apply for admission to UNT through the Toulouse Graduate School, gradschool.unt.edu. International applicants apply at international.unt.edu.
  2. Apply for admission to the College of Music with the application for admission, audition, scholarship, fellowship and assistantships available at music.unt.edu.
  3. Send a letter of application to the Chair of the Division of Jazz Studies accompanied by a professional resume and a representative sample of your work in digital format (see jazz.unt.edu for required file formats). The letter must describe your professional background, make a statement of purpose for pursuing the degree, and outline your professional goals.
  4. Perform an on-campus audition, and, while on campus for the audition, have an interview with members of the jazz faculty. See jazz.unt.edu for audition requirements.
  5. Submit GRE score (analytical writing portion only) or take on-campus writing exam administered by the jazz studies division during graduate orientation.
  6. Attend all orientation sessions by the director of graduate studies in music.
  7. Take the Graduate Placement Examination (GPE) given by the College of Music.

Placement examinations


Following the graduate placement examinations (administered during orientation week), the student will be counseled by the major professor or major area designate. In conjunction with the faculties administering the examinations, the major advisor will develop a plan, if needed, to satisfy review course requirements (not to exceed 6 credits of musicology and 3 credits of music theory). Graduate music history or music theory courses taken as a result of the placement examinations may not be counted toward the degree.

Degree requirements


In addition to course requirements (listed below), each applicant for the Doctor of Musical Arts degree must meet the following requirements.

Advisory committee


The student’s advisory committee will include a member who has written a dissertation or similar doctoral document (other than the DMA chairperson) and is made up of:

  1. Major professor;
  2. Minor professor (related field representative); and
  3. Committee member.

The advisory committee should be selected and approved by the time the student has completed 12 hours of course work.

Grades


A grade of B or better is required in all leveling and review courses and in all courses used to satisfy DMA degree requirements.

Performance major field


Last 54 hours of study


  1. Major performance, 18 hours.

  2. Six hours selected from literature in major field, MUCE 5XXX,  or pedagogy in major field. Students with a specialization in woodwinds or percussion must take at least three hours of literature in the major field. Students with a specialization in piano, organ or harpsichord must take six hours of literature in the major field.

  3. Dissertation: 6 hours, the written documentation should be at a level acceptable for juried publication. Choose one of the following:

 

Option I: 3 recitals (1-3 credits each); 1 lecture/recital (50–60 minutes) with performance and critical essay (a minimum of 6,250 words excluding front matter, footnotes, bibliography and appendices) for a total of 3 credits; or

Option II: 3 recitals (1-3 credits each); 1 lecture (50–60 minutes) with critical essay (a minimum of 10,000 words excluding front matter, footnotes, bibliography and appendices) for a total of 3 credits; or

Option III: 3 recitals (1-3 credits each); 1 thesis (a minimum of 25,000 words excluding front matter, footnotes, bibliography and appendices) for a total of 3 credits.

Related field, 12 hours

All DMA students must include on their degree plan a related field of not fewer than 12 hours selected from the options listed below.

Self-Designed related field:

Students wishing to create a self-designed related field must submit the “Request for Self-Designed Related Field” form to the Graduate Studies Office along with a justification of ca. 300 words explaining how the proposed related field will further their professional, artistic, and academic goals. The form needs to include the course numbers and catalogue descriptions of each proposed course. It is the students’ responsibility to find a related field professor to serve on the Doctoral Advisory Committee and administer the written and oral portions of the qualifying exam. The Graduate Performance Degree Committee must approve the related field before the student files the Degree Plan and Committee Designation Form.

Related field outside the college of music:

Students wishing to pursue a related field outside the College of Music must submit the “Request for Related Field Outside the College of Music” form to the Graduate Studies Office along with a justification of ca. 300 words explaining how the proposed related field will further their professional, artistic, and academic goals. The form needs to include the course numbers and catalogue descriptions of each proposed course. It is the students’ responsibility to find a related field professor to serve on the Doctoral Advisory Committee and administer the written and oral portions of the qualifying exam. The Graduate Performance Degree Committee must approve the related field before the student files the Degree Plan and Committee Designation Form.

*Additional requirements for specialization in woodwinds

If a student chooses a major in woodwinds instead of a major in a single woodwind instrument, the requirements are 12 hours in the principal instrument, 6 hours in two other instruments and 4 hours in the two remaining instruments, for a total of 22 hours in performance.

*Additional requirements for specialization in piano, organ or harpsichord

Attendance at all area departmental recitals is required. Unexcused absences will result in the final course grade being lowered. For additional information, consult the divisional and area handbooks.

*Additional requirements for specialization in voice

Students who specialize in voice must demonstrate proficiency in voice pedagogy, lyric diction and vocal literature by passing the graduate entrance exam administered by the division of vocal studies during new student orientation or taking , , and/or . For details, please see the Voice Handbook.

*Additional requirements for specialization in collaborative piano

Collaborative piano cannot be a related field for this specialization. Please consult the area handbook.

Musicology/music theory component (9-12 hours)*


Students who take  may take an additional 3 hours of MUMH credit. Up to 6 hours of MUTH requirement may be substituted if, upon review of the transcript, the student has completed, with a grade of B or better, graduate-level analysis courses with similar historical coverage at either this or another institution. In this case, other graduate music theory courses (5000- or 6000-level) may be taken to meet the theory requirement.

*If 9 credits are from Musicology/Music Theory/Ethnomusicology, students must take 3 credits of electives in music with the exception of MUAM, MUCM, MUEN, and MULB.

Performance major field (Conducting)


Last 54 hours of study


Jazz Studies major field


Related field


All DMA degree candidates must include on their degree plan a related field of not fewer than 12 hours selected from the options listed below, a self-designed related field of not fewer than 12 hours, or a related field of not fewer than 12 hours outside the College of Music.

Written qualifying examinations, research project and oral qualifying examination


General Information

Each student is required to pass written examinations in his or her major field (6 hours) and chosen related field (3 hours). These examinations are evaluated by the professors submitting questions, as well as others who may be designated by the major advisor. The qualifying examinations measure a broad knowledge of musical study. They are designed to establish the student’s ability to engage both in scholarly research and in professional work in the major area supported by a complete musical comprehension and a broad perspective.

The student may take the qualifying examinations when the following conditions have been met: (a) all leveling and review course requirements have been fulfilled, (b) 30 hours of course work beyond the master’s degree have been completed, (c) at least two degree recitals have been completed (performance majors only), and (d) an approved degree plan has been filed with the Toulouse Graduate School.

Performance majors

Following successful completion of the written qualifying examinations, the student is required to pass a two-hour oral examination that includes questioning on the research project and on all other areas appropriate to the degree. The student’s Examination Committee (the Advisory Committee) administers this oral examination.

When both parts of the examination have been completed successfully, the student is recommended for admission to candidacy for the degree. The examination may be taken no more than three times. All components of the examinations must be completed within 14 months. Further information pertaining to the doctoral qualifying examinations is included in the DMA Performance Handbook, which may be downloaded from the College of Music graduate advising web site: graduate.music.unt.edu/music-performance.

Before enrolling for , the dissertation credits, the candidate must first (a) be accepted into the program by audition and (b) file a degree plan. The language requirement must be met before enrolling in the lecture recital (or one of the other options).

After passing the qualifying examinations and having been admitted to candidacy, the student must maintain continuous dissertation enrollment (-) each long term/semester through the semester of graduation. Thesis or dissertation registration in at least one summer session/term is required if the student is using university facilities and or faculty time during that summer session/term or to graduate in August. Doctoral students must maintain continuous enrollment in dissertation subsequent to passing the qualifying examination for admission to candidacy.

Jazz Studies majors

Following successful completion of the written qualifying examinations, the student is required to complete a research project and pass a two-hour oral examination that includes questioning on the research project and on other areas appropriate to the degree. It is understood that the student may consult the Advisory Committee and the library, and that no other form of assistance is acceptable. The student’s Advisory Committee will consist of the jazz studies graduate advisor, the student’s applied professor, one additional member of the jazz studies faculty selected by the student, one member of the musicology or music theory faculty (determined by the field in which the student took six hours in the musicology/music theory component), and one faculty member representing the student’s related field (if the related field is other than musicology or music theory). The Advisory Committee administers this combined oral examination.

When all three parts of the examination (written examination in major field, written examination in related field, and research project/oral examination) have been completed successfully, the student is recommended for admission to candidacy for the degree. Each examination may be taken no more than three times. All components of the examinations must be completed within 14 months.

Before enrolling for , the dissertation credits, the candidate must first (a) be accepted into the program by audition and (b) file a degree plan. The requirement must be met before enrolling in the lecture recital (or one of the other options).

After passing the qualifying examinations and having been admitted to candidacy, the student must maintain continuous dissertation enrollment (-) each long term and at least one summer semester each year until the dissertation has been completed and accepted by the graduate dean.

 

Final comprehensive oral examination and dissertation defense


Upon completion of the dissertation credits and the qualifying examinations, the student is required to pass a two-hour final comprehensive oral examination and dissertation defense of his/her project before the advisory committee. A reading copy of the dissertation is due in the College of Music Graduate Office one week prior to the Toulouse Graduate School submission deadline.

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