Doctor of Musical Arts in Music Performance: Strings
Doctor of Musical Arts
The Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) degree is a professional degree program that recognizes exceptional student academic and music qualifications in preparation for professional careers, including teaching at the university level. The DMA student has the opportunity to collaborate with music scholars, theorists, and other performers to attain a broad and well-rounded foundation for advanced careers in music. The degree of Doctor of Musical Arts is offered in:
- Church music (organ or choral conducting emphasis),
- Composition,
- Conducting (choral, orchestral, or wind), and
- Areas of performance.
D.M.A. Admission
The applicant is expected to have a master’s degree, or its demonstrated equivalent, in the proposed field. In addition to official transcripts and letters of recommendation, all applicants should submit résumés of their training and experience in teaching and performing.
For general information on academic requirements, residence, tenure, and enrollment, see the Graduate Studies section of the online catalog. Further admission requirements are listed below.
Performance
The applicant must be prepared to perform a 40-minute recital program including the repertoire requirements listed by instrument on the Graduate Audition page: https://music.ku.edu/graduate-auditions. The applicant must perform an audition before at least two members of the faculty of the major performance division. In some cases, a video recording may be submitted in lieu of a live performance. A complete list of repertoire studied, including past recital programs, should be included with the graduate application. A pre-screening audition is required for voice and piano applicants. View School of Music audition requirements and procedures.
Graduate Admission to the School of Music
Application procedures and program requirements can change. Please visit the School of Music Admissions webpage for current information.
Graduate programs in the School of Music are open to students with acceptable baccalaureate degrees, as specified by the admitting areas, whose academic records indicate that they can do successful work at the graduate level. Regular admission requires a bachelor's degree and a grade-point average of at least a B (3.0 on a 4.0 scale), from KU or from another regionally accredited institution or foreign university with substantially equivalent bachelor's degree requirements.
Programs of study leading to the Master of Music (M.M.), Master of Music Education (M.M.E.), Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), and Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) are offered through the School of Music. Specific admission procedures and degree requirements for the M.M. and M.M.E. programs are described under division headings. Specific admission procedures and degree requirements for the D.M.A., Ph.D. (musicology/music theory), and Ph.D. (music education/music therapy) are listed in the appropriate sections.
Program Areas
Graduate study in the School of Music is organized into program areas within 2 departments:
- Music includes programs in composition, conducting, musicology, music theory, and areas of performance.
- Music Education and Music Therapy (MEMT) includes programs in music education or music therapy.
At least a 3.0 grade-point average, overall and in the major area, is required for all coursework counted toward any graduate degree in the School of Music. If the overall grade-point average falls below 3.0, the student is placed on probation for one semester; if the cumulative average is not 3.0 or higher after the next semester, the student is dismissed from the program. Students must also achieve at least a grade of B or better in thesis, lecture-recital, document or dissertation, and on each recital for satisfactory completion of degree requirements.
D.M.A. Degree Requirements
Research Skills and Engagement
Before scheduling the oral comprehensive exam, doctoral students must satisfy the residency, basic research skills, and responsible scholarship requirements. MUSC 801 Music Bibliography and Research (or its equivalent as determined by the Musicology division) will satisfy the research skills and responsible scholarship requirements.
Prior to the semester in which the comprehensive exam is held, all doctoral students must complete a minimum program engagement equivalent to two full-time semesters. This may be accomplished through either of the following:
- Two semesters (fall and/or spring) of full-time enrollment in KU coursework, as defined by University policy
- At least 18 hours of enrollment in KU coursework spread out over several part-time semesters
Summer enrollment is not required to maintain registration but summer enrollments may be counted toward the 18 part-time pre-comprehensive hours. The time spent in attaining the master’s degree at KU may also count toward this enrollment requirement, at the program’s discretion.
During the required enrollment outlined above, the student’s supervisor must affirm that the course work and research involvement contribute to the student’s dissertation or academically equivalent program objectives. Research must be performed under the direct supervision of the major adviser if on campus, or with adequate liaison if off campus.
Diagnostic Examinations
All incoming graduate students, except MM-Opera, are required to take diagnostic exams in Musicology and Music Theory. The exams are given during the week before the Fall and Spring semesters begin. Diagnostic deficiencies can only be satisfied in one of two ways: 1) re-taking the exam the next time it is given (one re-take only) or 2) enrolling in the appropriate review course and receiving at least a grade of "C." The student must satisfy all diagnostic deficiencies by the end of the third semester of enrollment.
Advisory Committee
Each doctoral student must form a Graduate Advisory Committee. The committee consists of 5 faculty members: at least 2 faculty members from the major division, 1 from Musicology or Music Theory (at least 1 from Musicology for D.M.A. composition), and 1 from outside the MUSIC department. This committee administers the comprehensive and final oral examinations. Performance members of the advisory committee grade the required degree recitals.
Program of Study
A Program of Study approved by the major advisor must be submitted for the approval of the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs by the end of the second term of admission. A student who does not submit a Program of Study by the end of the second semester shall not be permitted to enroll in their third semester of courses.
Recitals
All students in performance and conducting must perform a total of 3 public recitals. This does not include the D.M.A. lecture-recital if the student selects a lecture-recital as a final project. At least two of the three degree recitals must be performed before the oral comprehensive examination.
The first of the three doctoral recitals is considered to be a qualifying recital for determining whether the student can remain in the doctoral program. It must be given within the first two semesters of enrollment unless a petition is submitted for an extension.
Written and Oral Comprehensive Examinations
Performance D.M.A. students must take written qualifying examinations in Musicology, Music Theory, and the major area. Composition D.M.A. and Ph.D. students in Musicology and Music Theory take written qualifying exams in Music Theory and Musicology. After successful completion of the written examinations and the residency and research skills requirements, the student is eligible to schedule the oral comprehensive examination administered by the student's graduate advisory committee. Majors in performance and conducting must have presented 2 of the 3 required recitals before taking the oral examinations.
Document or Lecture-Recital
Candidates in performance, conducting, and composition must submit to the graduate advisory committee a proposal for a D.M.A. lecture-recital document, or a longer D.M.A. document only, at the Oral Comprehensive Exam or at least 12 weeks prior to the scheduled defense. Guidelines for proposals can be found on the School of Music website.
Upon satisfactory completion of all other degree requirements, candidates must schedule a final oral examination (defense). The student must receive at least a grade of B on the document, lecture-recital, or composition for satisfactory completion of degree requirements.
Examinations
At least 1 month must elapse between the successful completion of the comprehensive oral examination and the date of the final oral examination/defense for candidates for the D.M.A. degree.
Cognate
Each D.M.A. student (not including Composition) may choose a defined cognate area of 12 credits with the approval of the student's advisory committee. Hours taken to fulfill the Musicology, Music Theory and elective requirements may be used to meet the optional 12 credit Cognate.
Strings Program
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| MUSC 801 | Music Bibliography and Research | 3 |
| Directed Performance (applied lessons) | 18 | |
| Advanced courses in musicology and music theory* | 12 | |
| Seminars | 9 | |
| Electives* | 11 | |
| Recitals (1 credit each) | 3 | |
| D.M.A. document or lecture-recital | 4 | |
* Credits may be used to fulfill the 12 optional Cognate credits.