Mar 28, 2024  
University of Alberta Calendar 2021-2022 
    
University of Alberta Calendar 2021-2022 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

The Degree of DMus (Music) [Graduate]


The Degree of DMus has three separate program streams: Performance, Choral Conducting and Composition.

Program Requirements


DMus students are normally required to complete ★30 to ★36 in graduate-level coursework. Completion of a thesis-equivalent is also required.

Coursework


  • One ★3 graduate-level theory course normally selected from the following:
    • MUSIC 555  (★3)-Issues in Theory and Analysis
    • MUSIC 556  (★3)-Seminar in Music Theory
    • MUSIC 581  (★3) Advanced Studies in Avant-Garde
    • MUSIC 651  (★3)-Seminar in Music Analysis
  • One ★3 graduate-level course in musicology
  • At least eight ★3 graduate-level options, to be approved by the supervisory committee.
    • DMus students concentrating in Choral Conducting are required to take MUSIC 730  (★6) - Choral Conducting (first year), MUSIC 738  (★3) - Choral Conducting (second year), MUSIC 633  (★3) - Seminar in Choral Literature I, MUSIC 634  (★3) - Seminar in Choral Literature II and MUSIC 740  (★3) - Choral Ensemble
    • DMus students concentrating in Performance are required to take MUSIC 721  (★3) and MUSIC 725  (★3).
    • At the discretion of the supervisor, students who have not taken a bibliography and research methods course (or equivalent) will be required to take MUSIC 505 . The fulfillment of this requirement will count as one of the approved options.
  • At the discretion of the supervisor, further coursework may be required.

Thesis


  • Registration in 900-level THES.
    • The thesis for DMus candidates concentrating in Performance will consist of a solo final recital; an audio recording of the final solo program, submitted prior to the performance of the final recital; and comprehensive scholarly notes accompanying the audio recording. The final examination will include a defence of the solo final recital and recording, and the scholarly notes.
    • The thesis for DMus candidates in Choral Conducting will consist of a scholarly essay and presentation of two public concerts. The final examination will include a defense of the essay.
    • The thesis for DMus candidates in Composition will consist of a scholarly essay and composition of one substantial work either for large acoustic ensemble, mixed acoustic and electroacoustic media, or electroacoustic media. The final examination will include a defence of the composition and essay.
  • For program completion and convocation, the thesis-equivalent must be submitted to FGSR for approval. Contact the Department for specific submission guidelines and procedures.

Qualifying Exams


All DMus programs require qualifying and candidacy examinations, normally taken at the end of the second, or beginning of the third year.

  • The qualifying exams for DMus students in Performance will consist of one essay in the area of music history, one essay in the area of music theory, and a two-part examination in musical literature focusing on the student’s area of concentration.
  • The qualifying exams for DMus students in Choral Conducting will consist of one score identification exam, one extended essay on a selected topic in choral music; an extended essay on a selected topic in musicology; two theory papers providing analysis of one tonal and one post-tonal work; and a detailed summary of the proposal for the final essay.
  • The qualifying exams for DMus students in Composition will consist of an orchestration or electro-acoustic sound design component, an essay component in music history, and if the student has not completed MUSIC 580  or equivalent, an examination on 20th century repertoire.

Candidacy Exam


The Candidacy exam will normally be scheduled within four weeks of successful completion of the Qualifying exams. For DMus students concentrating in Performance, qualifying and candidacy examinations must both be successfully completed prior to the third required juried recital or lecture-recital.

Juried Recitals


Students in the DMus program concentrating in Performance are required to present four juried recitals: normally a solo recital, a collaborative recital, a lecture recital and a final solo recital which is one component of the thesis-equivalent.

Language Requirements


DMus students will be required to demonstrate reading proficiency in one approved language other than English before being admitted to candidacy. Coursework undertaken to satisfy this requirement will not be credited toward the program.

For students concentrating in Voice Performance, proficiency in two languages is required, normally chosen from French, German, Italian, Spanish, or Russian.

Residence Requirements


The minimum period of residence is two academic years, where an academic year is defined as the eight-month period from September through April.

Length of Program


The time required to complete the program will vary with the individual candidate; however, a minimum of three years of study and research is normally required.

The maximum time to complete the DMus program as set by the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research is six years.