The doctor of musical arts program in performance is designed for
musicians who seek to refine their musical skills, expand their
repertoire, extend their performing experience, and deepen their
understanding of music history and theory. Musicians in this program
have earned an M.M. degree and are preparing for a professional, public
concert career and/or a faculty position in higher education. Students
admitted to doctoral study must have demonstrated a professional level
of performance and are expected to achieve excellence as both musicians
and scholars.
Required Course of Study
It is possible to compete all requirements for the D.M.A. degree within
three years of full-time residence. In most cases, a student may not
take more than five years to complete the program. With the approval of
the graduate director and the dean, the school might make an exception
to this maximum time limit. A typical schedule for each of the six
terms includes 1 to 6 credits in the major performance study,
enrollment in the D.M.A. Forum for three of the terms, at least one
ensemble appropriate for doctoral credit, and one or two courses not
involving performance. The specific requirements are as follows:
Performance Study
1. Private study: Six terms (from 1 to 6 credits per term) in
the candidate`s major performance area are required. Collaborative
pianists may add as many as two additional terms in organ and/or
harpsichord, if instruction is available.
2. Recitals:
Two solo recitals, one lecture-recital, and one chamber-music program
are required. Voice students perform one lecture-recital and three solo
recitals. For voice students, each of the three required solo recitals
must include a significant amount of chamber literature. Conducting
students do one open rehearsal, one lecture- recital, an aggregate
recital, and one full recital. For collaborative pianists, the
requirements are one vocal recital, one solo instrumental recital, one
chamber recital (three or more musicians), one lecture-recital, and one
recital of the candidate`s choice. The level of performance, which
should be professional at the outset, is expected to mature
significantly during the period of study. With the
permission of the major teacher, D.M.A. and A.Dpl. students may
petition the School 08 committee to substitute one appearance on a
concerto program at Rutgers for one of the required solo recitals.
3. Independent research: Undertaken in connection with the
required lecture-recitals, this may be accomplished as 16:700:601 or
08:703:599 Independent Study with an assigned faculty member. The
research project culminates in a formal paper that is submitted for
approval to the student`s recital-evaluation committee two weeks before
the public presentation. With the approval of the graduate director, a
D.M.A. student may present two lecture-recitals and register for
another Independent Study. The written documents for the two respective
lecture-recitals may be shorter in length than that of a simple
lecture-recital.
4. Special requirements: All voice students
must perform a major role from an opera or oratorio. With the approval
of the School 08 committee, this performance may substitute in some
cases for one of the solo or chamber recitals.
5. Repertoire
requirement: At the time of admission, students submit a list of
repertoire they have studied. The faculty may require a student to
demonstrate how well he or she has mastered the repertoire cited.
Working with the major teacher, each student should develop a
comprehensive list of repertoire he or she plans to study for the
duration of the program. This list will supplement the student`s
background and serve as preparation for the comprehensive examinations.
D.M.A. Forum
All D.M.A. and A.Dpl. students enroll
in the D.M.A. Forum during three terms of their residency. Those
specializing in collaborative piano enroll for two terms. One term of
the forum may be waived for transfer students. The seminar provides a
forum for issues in performance, pedagogy, new music, and related
topics.
Ensemble
Ensemble participation is required
in each term of residency (six terms total). One credit is earned each
term. Choice of ensemble must be approved by the graduate director in
consultation with the department chairperson. Collaborative pianists
must include work in two or more of the following areas, with the
approval of the accompaniment adviser: chamber ensemble or studio
accompanying, opera, large instrumental ensemble, and choral ensemble
(accompaniment). The department reserves the right to place students in
a particular ensemble.
Graduate Courses in Music History, Theory, and Related Areas: 22 Credits
A minimum of 22 credits in advanced graduate course work outside the
candidate`s applied study is required. The requirements include
16:700:501 Introduction to Music Research (3); 16:700: 519 or 520
Proseminar in Music History (3,2); 16:700:525 or 526 Studies in Music
Analysis (3,3); and 16:700:567 or 568 Proseminar in Performance
Practice (3,3). Other requirements include a course in the candidate`s
repertory, a course in pedagogy, and two electives (3,3) approved by
the graduate director. A comprehensive list of graduate courses offered
by the Graduate School-New Brunswick (16:700) and by Mason Gross School
of the Arts (08:702 and 703) is provided later in this chapter.
Collaborative Piano Specialization
One term of 08:702:643 Special Topics in Collaboration (BA), two terms
of 08:702:645,646 Special Studies in Advanced Solo Instrumental
Repertoire (6 credits), and two terms of 08:702:647,648 Special Studies
in Advanced Vocal Repertoire (6 credits) also are required.
Dissertation Defense-Conducting
Conducting students must complete a doctoral thesis whose topic is
determined in consultation with the primary teacher and the graduate
director, and which is developed and written under the supervision of
the primary teacher. An oral defense is scheduled only after completion
of all other degree requirements. The dissertation committee will
consist of four faculty members, including at least one representative
from the conducting faculty, two others from the music faculty, and one
who is approved as an outside member. The outside member is appointed
by the graduate director in consultation with the student`s adviser.
This person is expected to be a recognized authority on the subject of
the dissertation.
Pedagogical Component
The
pedagogical element of the program is particularly important in today`s
musical culture, as nearly all performing artists are engaged in some
form of teaching.
This component is directed by the major
teacher in consultation with the graduate director. It may involve
assisting the major teacher or taking an approved internship. In other
cases, the student may take on a teaching role outside the department
or obtain a teaching assistantship in which the candidate, under
supervision, instructs his or her own students.
Working under
supervision and in consultation with their accompaniment advisers,
collaborative pianists may coach undergraduates and/or teach the Art of
Accompanying course.
Foreign Language
The program
requires a reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian. Voice
students must also show diction/I.P.A. proficiency. Collaborative
pianists must demonstrate reading knowledge in two foreign languages
(French, German, or Italian) and diction/I.P.A. proficiency in English,
French, German, and Italian. The student must take the
language-proficiency test before he or she begins the third year of
residency and must pass this test before beginning comprehensive
examinations.
Comprehensive Examinations
Candidates
must pass written and oral comprehensive examinations in the literature
for their instrument and related issues in history, theory, and
performance practice.
D.M.A. Examination Procedures
The committee evaluating written examinations for D.M.A. students
consists of three members: the student`s teacher, one member of the
School 16 (Graduate School-New Brunswick) faculty, and one additional
music faculty member. The five-member committee evaluating oral
examinations includes the graduate director, a member of the School 08
faculty, one member of the faculty of the School 16 program in music,
one member representing the student`s major field, and one other music
faculty member. The decision of the committee shall be by a simple
majority vote.
Normally, the examining committee will inform
the student of the examination results within 10 working days. A
student who has failed is provided with an explanation in writing as
part of the notification. Reexamination may be scheduled at a time
mutually acceptable to the student and the examining committee. Unless
the student can show a procedural fault occurred in the examination
process, he or she may take only one reexamination. The reexamination
deals only with areas of the original examination in which the
committee found the candidate`s performance to be unsatisfactory.
If a student believes that a flaw in the process led to a negative
decision, he or she must file a written appeal to the chairperson of
the music department, who brings the issue to the School 08 committee.
That committee resolves the dispute by a majority vote.
