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    Mar 28, 2024  
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog 
    
2011-2012 Graduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Performance, DMA


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Doctor of Musical Arts


The Doctor of Musical Arts degree is offered with a major in performance (including conducting) with related fields in collaborative piano, composition, conducting, 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 90 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 60 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.

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 deficiencies in course work). While deficiency 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 and conducting majors) or both audition and portfolio evaluation (for 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, graduateschool.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 or VHS cassette) 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 or VHS cassette) 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 candidates 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 graduateschool.unt.edu. International applicants must apply at international.unt.edu.

Degree Requirements


Students must receive a grade of B or better for all courses counting toward the degree, including undergraduate and graduate deficiency courses.

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

Introduction to Research


It is assumed that an entering DMA student will have had an introduction to research course at the master’s level (please see the graduate catalog for course description). If not, the student will be required to take MUMH 5010 - Introduction to Research in Music , no later than the second term/semester of graduate work to facilitate research. For jazz studies, the required course is MUJS 5440 - Introduction to Research in Jazz Studies . Hours earned do not count toward the degree.

The 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.

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 deficiencies have been removed, (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), (d) the language or tool-subject requirement has been fulfilled and (e) 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: music.unt.edu/advising/graduate.php.

Before enrolling for MUGC 6951 , 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 (MUGC 6951 -MUGC 6954 ) 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.

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.

Grades


A grade of B or better is required in courses used to satisfy DMA degree requirements, including undergraduate and graduate deficiency courses.

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.

Composition.


Application procedures and prerequisites are included in the Composition Student Handbook, which may be downloaded from the composition division web site: music.unt.edu/comp.

Required:

Conducting.


Pursuing a related field in conducting requires that the candidate apply to and be accepted by one of three areas: choral conducting, orchestral conducting or wind conducting. The candidate’s curriculum in the related field will be determined by the director of the discipline chosen.

Early Music.


Required: audition for the Early Music committee

  • 4 hours of applied instruction in period instrument or voice  
  • 2 semester hours participation in Early Music Ensembles, MUEN 5430-5440

Or 6 hours selected from


  • 3 hours selected from the list above and
  • 3 hours of ensembles from African Ensemble, South Indian Ensemble, Balinese Gamelan, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian Ensemble.

Jazz Studies.


Required: audition and

Music and Medicine.


Required:

Music Education.


Required:

Music Theory.


Classes taken as a result of the placement examinations may not be counted toward the degree in the related field, as electives, or in the musicology/music theory component. The classes used to fulfill the music theory component may not be duplicated in the related field (if music theory is the related field of choice).

Required: 12 hours selected from

Musicology.


Classes used to fulfill the musicology component may not be duplicated in the related field if musicology is the related field of choice.

Required:

Opera


Required: 12 hours selected from the following:

Performance.


Required: audition and 12 hours selected of appropriate courses from MUAC (6500 level), and other courses in literature and pedagogy. (Open only to those with a major in conducting or composition.)

Major Field in Performance


Last 60 Hours of Study


  1. Major performance, 16 hours.*

  2. Literature in the major field, 6 hours.

  3. Dissertation: 12 hours, the written documentation should be at a level acceptable for juried publication. Choose one of the following:

 

Option I: 3 recitals (3 credits each); 1 lecture/recital (50–60 minutes) with performance and critical essay (25 page minimum) for a total of 3 credits;

Option II: 3 recitals (3 credits each); 1 lecture (50–60 minutes) with thesis** (30 page minimum) for a total of 3 credits; or

Option III: 3 recitals (3 credits each); 1 written project with doctoral document (100 page minimum) for a total of 3 credits.

** Thesis registration is a minimum of 6 hours of registration.

Related Field, 12 Hours

Choose from one of the following areas of study: collaborative piano, composition, conducting, contemporary music, early music, jazz studies, music and medicine, music education, music theory, musicology, opera, sacred music, or vocal pedagogy. See “Related Field Course Requirements,” above, for the specific related field requirements.

Musicology/Music Theory Component

  1. Musicology, 6 hours: specific courses (6000-level) to be determined in consultation with the major professor.

  2. Music Theory, 6 hours: the theory component for all students in the DMA program includes two of the analytical techniques courses

Up to 6 hours of this 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.

Electives (2 hours)

Choose from any field in music or outside of music. Two credits at the 5000 level may be applied to the category.

*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.

Major Field in Performance (Conducting)


Last 60 Hours of Study


  1. Advanced conducting, applied conducting and/or score reading and interpretation (enrollment in one of the above is required every term/semester in residence, maximum of 12 hours).

  2. Choral Literature/Symphonic Literature/Wind Literature, 6 hours (6 required in major area, 3 additional recommended).

  3. Dissertation, 12 hours: the written documentation should be at a level acceptable for juried publication. Conductors can receive dissertation credit for concerts conducted in the first term/semester of residence, if approved by the major professor and the DMA committee. Recital requirements can be fulfilled by compiling numerous appearances on video tape throughout the candidate’s residency, or by giving full-length concerts as approved by the major professor. Choose one of the following:

 

Option I: 3 recitals (3 credits each); 1 lecture/recital (50–60 minutes) with performance and critical essay (25 page minimum) for a total of 3 credits;

Option II: 3 recitals (3 credits each); 1 lecture (50–60 minutes) with thesis* (30 page minimum) for a total of 3 credits; or

Option III: 3 recitals (3 credits each); 1 written project with doctoral document (100 page minimum) for a total of 3 credits.

* Thesis registration is a minimum of 6 hours of registration.

Related Field, 12 Hours

Choose from one of the following areas of study: collaborative piano, composition, jazz studies, music education, music theory, musicology or performance. Specific graduate courses to be determined in consultation with the chair of the related area. See “Related Field Course Requirements,” above, for the specific related field requirements.

Musicology/Music Theory Component

  1. Musicology, 6 hours: specific courses (6000-level) to be determined in consultation with the major professor.

  2. Music Theory, 6 hours: the theory component for all students in the DMA program includes two of the analytical techniques courses

Up to 6 hours of this 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.

Electives, 6 hours

Choose from any field in music or outside of music. Six credits of 5000-level course work may be applied to the category. Courses taken to fulfill the requirement need not be limited to one area of study.

Placement Examinations


Following the DMA placement examinations in musicology and music theory (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 deficiencies (not to exceed 6 credits of musicology and 6 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.

A grade of B or better must be earned in each undergraduate course assigned as a placement exam deficiency or as a transcript deficiency.

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