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Doctor of Music (D.M.A.) - Vocal Accompanying

**This program is closed to new students**

 

DOCTOR OF MUSICAL ARTS IN VOCAL ACCOMPANYING

  Prerequisites and Entrance Requirements

Acceptance as a graduate student is required. The applicant must have extensive performance and teaching experience after receiving a master's degree from an accredited institution in piano, vocal accompanying, or chamber music performance. The applicant must submit the following to the advisory committee:

  1. as stated in the Admission Process section above, two letters of recommendation (including one from a professional colleague, not teacher of the applicant) attesting to the applicant's past and potential ability as a concert performer;
  2. programs and critical reviews, if available
  3. completed repertoire and professional experience record, obtainable at: https://music.catholic.edu/academics/graduate/index.html.

The applicant must successfully complete the following entrance requirements:

  1. A 15-minute audition of classical repertoire. The audition should consist of works in contrasting tempos and styles from the vocal repertoire. The audition repertoire must be performed with a vocalist. Applicants may be asked to sight read. Memorization is not required.
  2. written placement examinations (two hours each) in (a) music history and (b) music theory.

Placement examinations are given during the first and second semester registration periods. An interview with the committee takes place after the examinations are completed. 

Program of Study

Based on the results of the entrance examinations, the advisory committee, in consultation with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 hours beyond the master's degree. Candidates must pass language examinations in French, German and Italian. Graduate courses in these languages may be taken as part of the core courses with the advisor's approval. The courses and repertoire to be completed as part of the degree requirements will be communicated to the student in writing. Although the program will be organized to meet the individual needs of the student, a typical program may include:

Program of Study Semester Hours
Piano Private Instruction (four semesters) 9-12
Chamber Music MUS 605 or MUS 605A 2
Music History 6-12
Music Theory 3-9
Opera Coaching Techniques (musical preparation) 6
Core Courses in Vocal Literature, Performance Practice, etc. (by advisement) 15-28
Six Required Recitals (see below) 13
Final Recital MUS 997A w/classes; MUS 997B w/o classes (see below) 0

Total

 54-72

The contents of the six required public recitals are to be selected by the candidate in consultation with the committee and each is to be of approximately 70 minutes playing time. They may be given in any order:

  1. four vocal-accompanying recitals to consist of: one French art song recital, two German Lieder recitals, each of which must contain a major song cycle, and one 20th century song recital; (MUS 912 or MUS 913, each 2 Semester Hours);
  2. one vocal-instrumental recital (MUS 912 or MUS 913, 2 semester hours);
  3. one chamber music recital (MUS 907 or MUS 908, 3 semester hours).

A final 70-minute public recital (MUS 997A w/ classes; MUS 997B w/o classes) (0 semester hours), consisting of music of different periods proposed by the candidate with the committee’s approval, is the final comprehensive examination. The program content of this recital will be communicated to the candidate 60 days in advance of the performance. To be prepared by the candidate without the aid of a teacher or coach, this recital should demonstrate high professional standards of performance.

Minor in Latin American Music

The advisory committee, in consultation with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 semester hours beyond the master's degree, which will include at least 12 semester hours of Latin American music electives. Repertoire for applied instruction and of recital programs must include a significant proportion of Latin American music.

Minor in Musicology

The advisory committee, in consultation with the student, will arrange a program of study of 54 to 72 semester hours beyond the master's degree, which will include at least 12 semester hours of musicology courses beyond the minimum number of hours required for the degree. Three of those semester hours must be Research Methodology (MUS 731), unless the student has taken a similar course for the master's degree. At the conclusion of coursework, the student will take a written, four-hour minor comprehensive examination (based on four musicology courses selected by the student).