Doctor of Musical Arts

The primary objective of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree is the recognition of the highest achievement in music performance and teaching. The principal professional use of the degree is as a teaching credential in higher education. Historical and theoretical knowledge sufficient to support individualized interpretations for performers and original creative work for composers is expected, as are writing and speaking skills needed to communicate clearly and effectively. The degree may be taken in performance and literature (with specialization in orchestral conducting, choral conducting, piano, organ, voice, percussion, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, bassoon, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, violin, viola, cello, or double bass) or in composition. To assist the student in achieving these objectives, the course of study includes requirements in performance or composition, academic course work, and research.

Admission
Acceptance into doctoral programs is competitive. Applicants to the program leading to the D.M.A. must present necessary credentials for evaluation of previous training and experience. These include transcripts showing an average of at least a 3.0 grade-point average in a minimum of 28 hours in liberal arts studies, submitted through the WVU Office of Admissions and Records. Copies of programs of recent major recitals, and three letters of recommendation from individuals qualified to judge the applicant’s potential success as a graduate student in music must be submitted directly to the Director of Graduate Studies in Music. Normally, the admission process also includes an on-campus audition and
interview with the faculty of the major performance area. Applicants to the D.M.A. in Composition must also submit scores and recordings for review. Applicants who do not meet all of the criteria for regular admission to the D.M.A. degree program may be granted a provisional admission subject to the satisfactory completion of certain specified courses or the attainment of a specified grade-point average within a semester’s work.

Audition Requirements
Have a prepared list of your completed repertoire in hand for examination by the Audition Committee. On this list, using asterisks, indicate those numbers that you have performed from memory. Auditions are approximately 60 minutes of playing. Live auditions are strongly recommended, but tapes or other recorded formats can be considered when travel distance poses a hardship.

The following repertoire guidelines are intended to be flexible and to encourage diversity of individual interests, but they also provide a sense of expected scope. Offering repertoire from all the categories listed below is not mandatory at your audition, but you should certainly choose a program that contains stylistic variety and that represents your own strengths. Works customarily performed from memory in public recitals should be performed from memory at your audition. Early in the application process potential students should contact the major teacher in their area and discuss audition repertoire possibilities.

PERCUSSION

1. Marimba

a. A major concerto, such as those by Milhaud, Kurka, Rosauro

b. A contemporary Japanese composition, such as Tanaka, Two Movements for Marimba, Miki, Marimba Spiritual

2. Timpani

a. A major work for timpani; such as the concerti of Kraft, Kvistad

b. An etude or sonata; such as those of Carter and Maves

3. Multiple Percussion or Drum Set

a. A major work for multiple percussion - solo or chamber compositions; such as those of Dahl, Bergsma and Kraft

b. The drum set peices may include a transcription of a solo from a drum set artist

4. A selection of your own choice (preferably one major or several short compositions) in any of the areas of mallets, timpani, drum set, jazz vibes, ethnic percussion or multiple percussion.

PIANO

A major Baroque work, such as a group of Scarlatti sonatas, a suite by Bach, or one or more preludes and fugues from the Well-Tempered Clavier

A complete sonata, variation set, or similar work by Beethoven or another Classical composer

A major Romantic or Impressionist work

Another work of your choice, preferably a major composition (or several shorter pieces) representative of contemporary style

VOICE - have a prepared list of your previous vocal teachers and vocal coaches and a precise statement of your present language background; foreign language study, diction, phonetics, etc

1. An aria from an oratorio; Handel, Haydn, Mendelssohn

2. One selection of your own choice; preferably a major operatic aria

3. At least two selections from each of the four language categories:

A. Italian
         1. 17th & 18th century
         2. An aria by Mozart
          3. 19th & 20th century opera

    B. German
          1. An aria by Bach
          2. Lieder; Mozart, Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Wolf, Mahler, Strauss

C. French
1. Art Songs; Debussy, Ravel, Faure, Poulenc

     D. English
          1. Early Songs; Purcell, Arne
          2. Contemporary American and British songs; such as Britten, Menotti, Floyd

Strings

Violin

One movement froma major concert

Two contrasting movements of an unaccompanied Bach sonata, partita, or suite

One or two movements from a major Romantic sonata

One short virtuoso work

Viola

One movement from a major concerto

One or two movements from a major Romantic sonata

Cello

For admission into the DMA program the candidate should prepare the equivalent of a recital of at least three complete major works of contrasting styles that display current playing capabilities.

Double Bass

One movement from a major concerto

One or two movements from a major Romantic sonata

Three standard orchestra excerpts

Woodwinds and Brass

Audition repertoire for the DMA in Music Performance should be chosen that allows the candidate to demonstrate their current level of achievement

Conducting

The applicant will perform a conducting audition with an appropriate WVU ensemble (choir, wind ensemble, or orchestra). The audition will consist of 15-30 minutes of rehearsal of repertoire that will be assigned at least two weeks in advance. The specific content of the audition for either instrumental or choral emphasis will be set in consultation with the appropriate conducting faculty.

The applicant will perform an audition on the major instrument or voice before appropriate music faculty. Those who have been away from solo performance for a period of several years may offer evidence of past proficiency (e.g. recital programs, letters, reviews, video or audio tape of a performance, etc.)

Appropriate faculty will assess knowledge of literature appropriate to the applicant’s desired area of specialization.

Composition

Applicants for entrance to the DMA in Composition should send a portfolio of compositions that music include a major work (master’s thesis or equivalent) and two or three other shorter works in various genres. The score may be on paper, bound the usual way, or as computer-notated files (Coda Software’s Finale preferred) on compact disc or ZIP disc. Portable document file format (Adobe Acrobat) is acceptable. Please do not use floppy discs. Music files may be sent as attachments to an e-mail message (jobeall@mail.wvu.edu), Recordins of application compositions are welcome but not mandatory. NOTE: Doctoral instruction in composition is generally in classical styles; no more than one application work may be in some other style (jazz, popluar song, etc.) Questions about the application portfolio compositions should be addressed to the Composer-in-Residence or Director of Graduate Studies.

Curriculum
The exact amount and nature of course work undertaken will be determined by the student’s advisor with the approval of the doctoral committee in light of previous preparation and field of specialization. A paradigm detailing recommended courses and other requirements is available upon request.

Candidacy
Upon completion of the requirements of the Division of Music and the general WVU graduate studies requirements, the student will be recommended for admission to candidacy for the degree. These requirements are (in order of occurrence):

Pass written qualifying examinations
Satisfactorily pass a comprehensive oral qualifying examination

Graduate students who have met these requirements and who have maintained a minimum average of B (3.0) in courses completed shall be admitted to candidacy. The qualifying examinations shall be considered one integral examination consisting of written and oral parts. If the first attempt is unsuccessful, the student is allowed to try the entire examination a second time. The second attempt will be considered final. The applicant’s committee may elect to discourage a second attempt if the first does not indicate probable success upon repetition.

Residence Requirements
Completion of the requirements for this degree normally requires at least three years of full-time graduate work. A minimum of two consecutive semesters must be spent in full-time graduate study at WVU beyond the master’s degree or its equivalent. Exceptions to this requirement may be presented to the Graduate Committee.

Performance Requirements
Performance requirements (for performance majors) include private lessons, master classes in applied repertory, and public performance of at least two solo recitals and other types of presentations appropriate for the preparation of an artist-teacher, such as chamber music programs, concerto performances, major roles in opera or oratorio, or major accompaniments. Credit for each public performance is established in advance by the student’s committee. Academic course requirements include courses in music history and theory, and an appropriate course in the literature of the major performance area.

Composition Requirements
Composition requirements (for composition majors) include private lessons and the creation of a composition portfolio. Credit for each composition is established by the student’s committee prior to its completion; it will be subsequently evaluated on a pass-fail basis. Ten credits of the composition portfolio must be completed before admission to candidacy. Work on the major project may commence only after admission to candidacy. Academic course requirements include courses in music history and theory.

Research Requirements
Research requirements are intended to develop theoretical and historical investigative techniques sufficient to enable the performer to form valid individualized interpretations and to assist the composer in developing an original style. These requirements consist of the course Introduction to Music Bibliography (MUSC 771), demonstration of reading proficiency in a foreign language of major importance, for composers a doctoral seminar, and for all students a research project culminating in an extended written study related to the student’s area, although not necessarily constituting original research. This project will be supervised by a regular graduate faculty member who is a member of the student’s doctoral committee in consultation with the entire doctoral committee.

Final Examination
For performers, the final examination will consist of a major solo recital (which will be regarded as the equivalent of the Ph.D. dissertation defense). Immediately following the public performance the candidate’s committee will meet to evaluate the performance as evidence of mature musicianship and finished technique. The final recital will not occur in the same semester as the qualifying examination. For composers, when all compositions and the major project have been approved and all other requirements have been fulfilled, the candidate’s doctoral committee will administer the final oral examination. At the option of the committee, a written examination may also be required. The final examination(s) shall be concerned with the compositions, the major project, and the candidate’s grasp of the field of specialization and its relation to other fields. The final examination will not be given in the same semester as the qualifying examination.

Time Limitation
Following admission to candidacy, doctoral students are allowed five years to complete all remaining degree requirements. An extension of time may be permitted only upon repetition of the qualifying examination and completion of any other requirements specified by the student’s doctoral committee.