06.03.10 DMA – Major in Conducting – Registrar

06.03.10 DMA – Major in Conducting

Emphasis: Conducting majors will declare an emphasis for their studies in one of the following areas: literature and performance of (1) orchestral music, 2) orchestral music (contemporary ensembles), (3) choral music, or (4) wind ensemble music, and will concentrate on that specialization. A substantial portion of time also will be devoted to conducting in areas other than one’s principal repertoire. A feature of the conducting program is regular tutorial sessions in conjunction with a significant amount of contact with the School’s ensembles.

Prerequisites: Candidates must have significant professional experience as performers and conductors.

Upon entry to the program, students take placement exams in music theory and history. If remediation is required, the appropriate courses are taken, but their credit does not count towards the degree. The same is true of any English-language instruction that is required and any instruction in bibliography that is needed.

Residency: For conducting majors, two years beyond the master’s degree must be in full-time residence. See section 05.01 (Residency) for more information.

Requirement	Credits
CND 541-544 (DMA Conducting I-IV) – 4 semesters	16
CND 441-444 (Colloquy in Conducting) – 4 semesters	2
Research and Writing Seminars Consisting of one of the following: (A) four MHS 594s (B) three MHS 594s plus one of the following: TH 481, TH 482, TH 525, TH 526, TH 581, TH 582, TH 590, MUY 400- or 500-level course, or independent study at the 500 level (major document required) (C) two MHS 594s (6 credits) plus a doctoral research project¹ – (6 credits) (D) Dissertation¹ – (12 credits)	12
Theory Complete the following three courses for a total of 9 credits: TH 401 (Topics in Tonal Literature & Analysis) – 3 credits, TH 402 Topics in Twentieth-Century Literature & Analysis (3 credits) and One additional graduate-level theory course of the student’s choice. (3 credits) TH 400 may not be used. With special permission of the theory department chair, TH 511 may be substituted for TH 401 and/or TH 513 may be substituted for TH 402.	9
Electives Students whose emphasis is orchestral (contemporary ensembles) conducting will register for four semesters of CND 451-452: Contemporary Repertoire (0.5 credit/semester) If the student elects to complete a doctoral research project that does not involve work in music history, then at least six credit hours of MHS coursework are required in the elective category. MHS 421-426: DMA students may take only one MHS 42x course (as part of the minor, or as elective credit) within the 60-credit degree program. Other MHS 42x courses may be required as remediation, or elected above and beyond the 60-credit limit. Exceptions to this policy must be approved by the GPC. Electives may include up to 6 credit hours of applied music lessons. May also include a minor area of concentration. See section 06.03.05 (Program of Study) for more information.	21
Remedial courses – Please refer to 05.03 Orientation, Placement Examinations, and Remediation.	–
ESM 508: Public Performance and Lecture Recital	–
Total Credits	60

¹ If option C or D is chosen, the student must submit a proposal to the Graduate Professional Committee. The Graduate Committee will vote on the proposal. At least one member of this faculty committee will be from the music education, musicology, or music theory departments. In addition, if option C or D is chosen and the doctoral research project/dissertation does not involve work in music history, then students will be required to take a total of 9 credits of MHS 590 courses, 6 credits of which will count within their research and writing component of the degree, and 3 credits of which will count in the elective category. See section 06.03.08 (Doctoral Dissertation/Research Project) for additional information.

Foreign Language: DMA students in choral and orchestral conducting should have foreign- language proficiency equivalent to two years of undergraduate study in French, German, or Italian, with a grade of B+ or higher. The degree of proficiency will be assessed by a transcript review upon matriculation. If the student does not possess the necessary degree of proficiency, a foreign language will be a mandatory part of the student’s curriculum until it is attained. On the recommendation of the chair and the approval of the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies, up to two credits in a required foreign language at the 200-level or higher may be used for degree credit.

There is no language requirement for orchestral (contemporary ensemble) and wind conducting students.

Comprehensive Examinations: Required. See section 06.03.07 (Comprehensive Examinations – DMA) for more information.

Public Performance: Conducting students must present one or more public performances of repertoire in the candidate’s field of emphasis. A level of professional proficiency is required.

Lecture Recital: The lecture recital is to be presented in a rehearsal at least two weeks prior to the public performance described above. A proposal for the lecture recital must be approved by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies at least two months prior to the projected date of the lecture recital. The student will register for ESM 503 (Doctoral Lecture Recital) during the semester that the lecture recital is presented. DMA students majoring in conducting will follow the same lecture-recital procedures as DMA PRL students. The student will student will choose two faculty co-advisors to serve on their lecture-recital committee; the third member will be appointed by the Associate Dean of Graduate Studies after a formal lecture-recital proposal is submitted to the Office of Graduate Studies. See section 06.03.06 (Lecture Recital – DMA) for additional information.