Prerequisites and Entrance Requirements
Acceptance as a graduate student by the Departments of Music is required. The applicant must have extensive performance experience after receiving a master's degree from an accredited institution. The applicant must submit the following to the advisory committee:
- two letters of recommendation (one from a professional colleague, not teacher of the applicant) attesting to the applicant’s past and potential ability as a performer;
- programs and critical reviews, if available;
- completed repertoire and professional experience record, obtainable at: academics/incoming-current-music-students/index
The applicant must successfully complete the following entrance requirements:
- written examinations (two hours each): (a) music history placement examination and (b) music theory placement examination.
Program of Study
Based on the results of the entrance examinations, the advisory committee, in conference with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 hours beyond the master's degree. The courses to be completed as part of the degree requirements will be communicated to the student in writing. The repertoire is to be selected in conjunction with the applied music instructor and with the approval of the adviser. The candidate must demonstrate that he/she has studied a significant proportion of the standard repertoire for his/her instrument.
The four required public recitals may be begun after 28 semester hours have been earned on the doctoral level and may be given in any order:
- solo recital (MUS 907 or 908, 3 semester hours);
- chamber music recital (MUS 907 or 908, 3 semester hours);
- concerto recital (MUS 907 or 908, 3 semester hours);
- lecture-recital, the topic of which must be approved in advance by the committee and must relate to an aspect of performance practice or a phase of music history (MUS 907 or 908, 3 Semester Hours).
Upon successful completion of all courses and the four recitals, the student may begin preparation for the final recital (MUS 997A w/ classes; MUS 997B w/o classes), of approximately 60 minutes' duration, for which the candidate will be required to learn and perform in a satisfactory manner a public recital, the program being assigned by the advisory committee 90 days before the date of performance. This program must be prepared by the candidate without the assistance of a coach or teacher. The program may be evaluated by externs.
Minor in Latin American Music
The advisory committee, in conference with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 semester hours beyond the master's degree, which will include at least 12 semester hours of Latin American music electives. The lecture-recital must be based on a Latin American music topic.
Minor in Musicology
The advisory committee, in conference with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 semester hours beyond the master's degree, which will include at least 12 semester hours of musicology courses beyond the minimum number of hours already required for the degree. Three of those semester hours must be Research Methodology (MUS 731), unless the student has taken a similar course for the master's degree. At the conclusion of coursework, the student will take a written, four-hour minor comprehensive examination (based on four musicology courses selected by the student).