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College of Creative Arts and Media: School of Music

Conducting, DMA

The primary objective of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree is the recognition of the highest achievement in music performance and teaching, preparing artist-pedagogues for careers in higher education and in the professional world.

The curriculum prepares you for careers in higher education and in the professional world. You will study repertoire and technique specific to ensembles in all three major performance areas: wind band, choir and orchestral. Demonstration of knowledge, skill, expressive fluency and general conducting competency will be developed through public performance preparation with all three areas; however, most performing will be completed in your primary area of emphasis.

Your Degree Plan Learn by Doing Places and Spaces Admission Requirements Take the Next Steps

Your Degree Plan

Intro

Aerial view of Martin and Woodburn Halls

Prepare for a career in higher education or the professional world by studying technique specific to ensembles in three major performance areas.

As a DMA Conducting student, you will gain:

  • Advanced knowledge in major field of study (wind band, choral or orchestra) and competencies in the other two areas
  • Advanced competencies in conducting, score study and rehearsal techniques
  • Advanced knowledge of repertoire
  • Knowledge and skills in one or more fields of music outside the major such as history and literature, theory and analysis, musicology and ethnomusicology, performance and pedagogy.

Take advantage of special options related to this major:

  • Honors

    Expand your curiosity — and enhance your curriculum — through the WVU Honors College. Two programs are offered: Honors Foundations for first- and second-year students and Honors EXCEL for third- and fourth-year students.

    Explore Honors

Learn by Doing

Learning happens outside the classroom. Get involved.

Outside of the Evansdale Crossing building.

What you learn outside of the classroom is just as important as what you learn during class. We’ll help you follow your curiosity.

Places and Spaces

Learn about all of the places and spaces you'll learn in.

Program Facility - Creative Arts Center

Canady Creative Arts Center

The Loulie, Valerie and William Canady Creative Arts center boasts 4 exhibition spaces, 5 performance spaces, 33 individual practice rooms and 50 classrooms and studios with plenty of space to create. The loading dock at the rear of the building is a wonderful open-air space with stunning acoustics.

Explore the Canady Creative Arts Center
  • Virtual Tour
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  • Student Life
    You will have it all here — epic traditions, quality academics and a supportive community that feels like home.
  • Visit
    Experience WVU in person and start imagining life as a Mountaineer!

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

Ready to take the next step?

Learn how to join the WVU family.

Request Info

Want to know more about Conducting at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

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Visit

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Apply

Your first step to becoming a Mountaineer is applying for admission using our convenient online application.

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