Boston

Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) in Performance

DMA Performance students must take a minimum of 18 credits of applied lessons (maximum of 23
credits). The 18 credits must be taken over six semesters of study, with no more than 4 credits per
semester. No more than 5 credits of extra applied lessons may be applied to the degree as elective
credits.

Learning Outcomes
At the completion of the programs, students are expected to demonstrate:

 Performance techniques and skills in the area of concentration.

 Broad knowledge of repertory and literature from all periods.
 Knowledge and skill in related fields such as music theory, musicology and
ethnomusicology, and pedagogy.
 Superior proficiency in verbal communication of musical ideas and concepts.
 Capability for producing professional-level written documents such as program notes or
scholarly essays.
 Capacity for artistic growth and skills for navigating the professional world.

Performance Majors
 Bassoon  Flute  Organ  Trumpet

 Cello  French Horn  Percussion  Tuba

 Clarinet  Harp  Piano  Viola

 Collaborative Piano  Harpsichord  Saxophone  Violin

 Double Bass  Oboe  Trombone  Voice

Each student is assigned to a member of the faculty for private instruction. Individual instruction is
given in one-hour lessons; every effort is made to consider the student’s preferences in studio
assignment.

Degree Requirements
The Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance is granted upon successful completion of a program of
study, written and oral qualifying examinations, and terminal projects appropriate to the student’s
field of specialization. Students must earn a minimum of 48 course credits with grades no lower
than B− in graduate-level coursework. For performance majors, 18 of these credits must be in the
field of the applied major instrument, and additional credits must fulfill graduate music electives
(14 for Recital Track and 12 for Dissertation Track). Graduate music elective courses may include
ME, MH, MP, and MT courses numbered 500 and higher. PDP courses, e.g., tennis, dancing, or
yoga, do not count as graduate music electives for graduate students. All degree requirements must
be completed within seven years of the date of matriculation.
All DMA students must take at least 15 credits combined in music theory (at least 9) and
musicology (at least 6), including CFA MT 701 Doctoral Pro-Seminar: Skills and CFA MT 702
Doctoral Pro-Seminar: Analysis. All MH and MT courses used for the component must be at the
600 level or higher. Double majors are not permitted at the doctoral level.
Participation in musical organizations is a vital component of the graduate programs in
performance. All DMA Performance Majors in Strings, Harp, Brass, Winds, and Percussion are
required to participate in BU Orchestras (MP 500/600 A1) and/or BU Wind Ensemble (MP 502/602
A1) as assigned, during their first four semesters of doctoral studies (regardless of the number of
credits taken).

Proficiency Examinations
All entering Doctor of Musical Arts students are required to take proficiency examinations in the
areas of music theory and musicology. These examinations are administered online before the start
of classes. Incoming students are notified of the exam dates and contents in advance and are
responsible for taking them by the specified deadline. Exam results are used for purposes of
advisement and may establish prerequisite or required coursework. Material covered in these
examinations is commonly presented in most undergraduate degree programs in music. No retakes
of the exam will be permitted.
Required Courses
Any deficiencies identified by the proficiency exams must be addressed as soon as possible,
regardless of whether or not the student plans to take other courses in these areas. Students may not
take advanced graduate courses in a particular area OR graduate until all deficiencies have been
addressed. Prerequisite and other required courses may include:

 CFA MH 401 Graduate Music History Review 1

 CFA MH 402 Graduate Music History Review 2
 CFA MT 401 Graduate Music Theory Review
 CFA MT 601 Analytical Techniques 1
 CFA MT 602 Analytical Techniques 2

Language Requirement
Reading proficiency is required in one language, chosen from German, French, and Italian. Students
may demonstrate proficiency in a foreign language by passing its corresponding reading course at
the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences: GRS LG 621, GRS LF 621, or GRS LI 621. Students may
also satisfy the requirement by passing a foreign language examination, administered once each
semester by the School of Music.
Program of Study
A minimum of 48 graduate credits is required for the degree. Students are expected to declare either
Dissertation or Recital Track by the beginning of the second year of study.

Dissertation Track
DMA Performance Curriculum (Dissertation Track)
Applied Lessons 18 cr
MT 701 Doctoral Pro-Seminar: Skills 3 cr
MT 702 Doctoral Pro-Seminar: Analysis 3 cr
Courses in Musicology (MH) (must be 600 level or higher) 6 cr
Courses in Music Theory (MT) (must be 600 level or higher) 3 cr
MU 995 Dissertation 3 cr
Graduate Music electives 12 cr
Total credits 48 cr

Recital Track

Qualifying Examinations
In any semester, after all required courses have been completed and there are no incomplete grades
outstanding, students may undertake the doctoral qualifying examinations, written and oral. There
are three written examinations: one in the area of music theory (in four parts, of which two may be
taken in a given semester), one in the area of music history, and one in the major field. Any
combination of these examinations may be taken in a given semester. These exams may be taken
after the completion of a minimum of 30 credits, with passing grades earned in all courses and no
incomplete grades outstanding. There is one exception to this policy: students may take the
corresponding written qualifying exams in music theory during the semesters in which they are
registered for MT 701 or MT 702. Students are expected to take a sufficient variety and number of
courses during the first two years of study, including courses in music theory and musicology, to
prepare them adequately for success in the qualifying examinations.
Once a student has passed an individual area exam, they need not repeat it even if required to retake
another area exam. The student proceeds to the oral examination only after passing all written
examinations. Requirements vary by concentration.
Students who fail any portion of the DMA qualifying examinations (written or oral) three times may
be subject to dismissal from the program.

Dissertation Track and Dissertation Presentation Recital

Performance majors in the DMA dissertation track programs are required to give three public
recitals and one public dissertation presentation recital. Students must pass a recital permission
examination prior to each of the three public recitals and must be enrolled for private lessons in the
major area during the semesters in which these recitals are given.

 Two public recitals must be solo recitals, each at least 60 minutes of music.
  One of the three recitals must include works for chamber music groups. Consult individual
departments for repertoire requirements.
 The Dissertation Presentation Recital must be based upon the candidate’s dissertation and is
approximately 60 minutes in length. The following timeline must be observed:
 At least eight weeks prior to the presentation, the supervisor agrees that it is a
complete and full document, and the draft is submitted to the second and third
readers for review.
 At least four weeks prior to the presentation, the second and third readers agree that
the presentation may proceed. At this point, the presentation date and venue should
be confirmed.
 It should be understood by all that all major editing is completed prior to the
presentation and that only minor edits will be necessary following the presentation.
Students pursuing the DMA Dissertation Track must write a substantial document demonstrating
the ability to conduct independent research. This document should stress source materials,
comparative editions, score analysis, and performance practice. The student must give a
Dissertation Presentation Recital based on this document and use the medium of performance to
illustrate it. The Dissertation Presentation Recital must be attended, supervised, and approved by
assigned faculty readers. A copy of the presentation must be included as an appendix in the final
copies of the document.

Recital Track
The Doctor of Musical Arts recital track option does not involve writing a dissertation. Five recitals
are required (as opposed to three in the dissertation track), along with a smaller-scale written
document keyed to one of the recitals. This option is available within the following departments:
Brass, Woodwinds, Percussion, Collaborative Piano, Historical Performance, Piano, Strings, Harp,
and Voice. Each department specifies its own set of program requirements, which can be found on
the DMA Policies website under the heading Recital Track. Students must be enrolled for private
lessons in the major area during the semester in which each recital is given (with the exception of
the self-prepared recital). Students must also enroll in CFA MP 705 in order to prepare for the
lecture-recital.