Doctor of Music

Coursework

• At least ten 3-unit graduate-level options, to be approved by the supervisory committee, two of which must be academic MUSIC courses that require a substantial writing component of a minimum of 15 pages (not including a bibliography).
  • DMus students concentrating in Choral Conducting are required to take:
    • MUSIC 730  (6 units) - Choral Conducting (first year)
    • MUSIC 738  (3 units) - Choral Conducting (second year)
    • MUSIC 633  (3 units) - Seminar in Choral Literature I
    • MUSIC 634  (3 units) - Seminar in Choral Literature II
    • MUSIC 740  (3 units) - Choral Ensemble
  • DMus students concentrating in Performance are required to take:
    • MUSIC 721  (3 units) - Applied Music
    • MUSIC 725  (3 units) - Applied Music
  • 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 GPS 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 a two-part written 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 written score identification exam, one extended essay on a selected topic in choral music; one analysis paper or presentation on a tonal work; one analysis paper or public presentation on a pre or 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 two scholarly essays in music history or culture of substantial length (normally 15 to 20 pages, not including bibliography), a 45 minute public presentation based on one of the two essays, and preparation of a thesis proposal.

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.