Information for DMA Students

Coursework

Curriculum outlines for DMA concentrations are found in Section 9 of the SOM Graduate Student Handbook. See Section 7 for specific information on history, theory, ensemble, and elective courses.

MUS 501 Introduction to Graduate Studies and remedial courses in English may be required of DMA students in the first fall semester of enrollment if scores on writing and research components of the diagnostic examinations are low.

DMA performance majors must complete three hours of graduate-level pedagogy appropriate to the major area.

DMA Recital

See Section 1.6 “Important Legal Information” concerning recital credit and compensation policies.

Performance requires three public recitals. Note: Performance majors may receive recital credit for one substitute recital (see 4.2.2). Credit may apply to the degree recital requirement or to the final project recital requirement under Option III (see 4.5).

Choral Conducting requires two public recitals.

Wind Conducting requires two public recitals:

1. One full concert with the wind ensemble
2. The equivalent of one additional concert through partial programs with the UA Wind Ensemble, the Symphonic Band, and/or the Contemporary Ensemble.

Composition requires the equivalent of one public recital of works composed and performed during work toward the DMA degree at UA. The requirement may be met in one of three ways:

1. Through a public recital of performances of the student’s works
2. Through the equivalent of one recital performed on multiple public recitals
3. Through the equivalent of one recital on a professional-quality recording produced and edited by the student

Requirements and Procedures

1. Length and Repertory
   • Each DMA recital includes approximately 50–55 minutes of music. Repertory may not be repeated from any other recital in any degree program for which recital credit has been awarded at UA or at any other institution.
2. Registration, Direction, and Approval
   • A Student must be registered for applied lessons with the major professor in the semester that any recital or recital component is presented. The recital or component must be directed by the major professor, who must approve its scheduling.
3. Prehearings
   • Each area determines the policy on prehearings; students should consult the major professor.
4. Credit and Frequency of Recitals for Credit
   • Recital credit is awarded to only one student for a given recital. A student may receive credit for only one recital, substitute recital, or lecture-recital in a single semester.
5. Location
   • Recitals are given on campus. Under exceptional circumstances, and with permission of the advisory committee, one recital (including the substitute recital) may be given off campus if all other recital requirements are met. The student must supply a high-quality recording for committee review.
6. Grading
   • Grading is pass/fail by simple majority of the advisory committee. Two attempts are allowed to pass a recital. The second attempt must occur in a following semester; the program may not duplicate material from the first attempt. A second failure may result in removal of the student from the program.
7. Scheduling
   • See Section 6 on procedures for scheduling and recording

DMA Performance Substitute Recital

Performance majors may receive recital credit for one substitute recital. Credit may apply to the degree recital requirement or to the final project recital requirement under Option III (see 4.5).

Requirements and Procedures

1. Length and Repertory
   • Substitute recital repertory must be of length and difficulty commensurate with expectations of the recital. Repertoire may not be repeated from any other recital in any degree program for which recital credit has been awarded at UA or at any other institution. Multiple short performances may not be combined to form a substitute recital.
2. Pre-approval
   • The plan for the substitute recital must be pre-approved by the major professor, major area, and advisory committee. With permission of the major professor, who has conferred with the major area, the student may petition the DGS. The DGS will petition the advisory committee and collect responses.
3. Registration and Direction
   • A student must be registered for applied lessons with the major professor in the semester of the recital, but the substitute recital need not be directed by the major professor (e.g. opera role).
4. Prehearings
   • Each area determines the policy on prehearings; students should consult the major professor.
5. Credit
   • The substitute recital may involve awarding recital credit to more than one student (e.g., chamber recitals), but in such cases, each student is graded by the appropriate advisory committee. A student may receive credit for only one recital, substitute recital, or lecture-recital during a single semester.
6. Location
   • With permission of the advisory committee, one recital (including the substitute recital) may be given off campus if it conforms to all other recital requirements. The student must supply a high-quality audio or video recording for committee review.
7. Grading
   • A grade of pass requires a simple majority of the appropriate advisory committee for each student involved.
8. Scheduling
   • See Section 6 on procedures for scheduling and recording.

DMA Lecture or Lecture-Recital

DMA performance and composition students must present a 50-minute public lecture. DMA conducting students must present a 60-minute public lecture-recital.

Requirements and Procedures

1. Length
   • The 50-minute lecture or 60-minute lecture-recital topic and presentation must demonstrate the candidate’s ability to research, organize, and communicate information coherently. Members of the advisory committee and the audience should be allowed opportunity for questions during and after the lecture.
2. Content
   • The material contained in the lecture may not be taken directly from the DMA final project but may relate tangentially to it.
3. Prospectus
   • The student must develop a prospectus including a prose summary of content and methodology, an outline, and a bibliography.
4. Prospectus Submission
   • With the permission of the major professor, and at least one month prior to the anticipated date of the lecture or lecture-recital, the student submits the prospectus to the DGS. The DGS reviews the format and submits the thesis to the advisory committee.
5. Prospectus Approval
   • The prospectus must be approved by the advisory committee at least one week before the anticipated date of the lecture; otherwise, the presentation may not take place. The committee approves the prospectus via email; the DGS will call a committee meeting only if dictated by committee response.
6. Location of the Presentation
   • The lecture is given at the SOM and may be scheduled in the recital hall or an appropriate classroom.
7. Grading
   • A grade of pass requires a simple majority of the advisory committee. Two attempts are allowed to pass a lecture. The second attempt must occur in a following semester; it must cover a different topic from the first. A second failure may result in removal of the student from the program.
8. Scheduling
   • See Section 6 on procedures for scheduling and recording.

DMA Comprehensive Written Examinations

DMA students take a comprehensive written examination in the major area.

1. The exam may be scheduled no sooner than the first fall or spring semester after successful completion of all MUS required courses except MUS 699 Document Research (used for any written component of the DMA final project).
2. The exam must be passed no later than the fall semester before an anticipated spring or summer graduation or the spring semester before an anticipated fall graduation.

Requirements and Procedures

1. Scheduling
   • Examinations are offered only once during each fall and spring semester, typically just before fall and spring breaks. Dates for the examinations are found in the SOM Graduate Calendar. Exam dates and times must take precedent over any other SOM or University of Alabama curricular commitments scheduled concurrently.
2. Registration
   • Students must register for MUS 696 Comprehensive Examination at the beginning of the semester during which they plan to take the examination. Late registration for this course is not allowed.
3. Length
   • Each examination consists of four discrete sections, with three hours allocated to each. The exam takes place over two consecutive days, with a morning and afternoon section on each day.
4. Content
   • Note: This serves as a guideline for basic expectations of all doctoral level comprehensive exams. Specifics within a candidate’s major may differ slightly, but this language applies to all.
   • Material for the exam can be drawn from any information the student’s advisory committee believes a doctoral candidate should reasonably be expected to comprehend. An advanced level of study, thorough preparation, organization of ideas, and clarity of writing style are expected of all doctoral candidate exams.
   • Faculty advisors are to refrain from supplying specific questions to a candidate in advance of exams. The candidate is not to create his/her own questions from which exam questions are drawn. A faculty advisor may suggest or guide a student toward certain topics without being overly specific or supplying actual questions in advance of the exam.
   • Exam topics are not limited to a student’s coursework in the DMA program, though such coursework will serve as a guideline for the exams. Material pertaining to potential thesis topics may be considered on the recommendation of the advisory committee.
   • Topics and templates from which exam questions may be drawn:
     • Repertoire topics
       • Questions based on style, genre, specific composers, national schools, etc.
       • Specific topics related to coursework or thesis topics
     • Pedagogy topics
       • Teaching fundamentals, pedagogical history of discipline, technique, etc.
       • Specific topics related to coursework or thesis topics
     • Term identification
       • Defining musical terms relevant to the candidate’s field
     • Score identification
       • Repertoire selected predominantly from the major area, but at least one selection will come from outside the candidates’ major area (i.e. a vocalist would be expected to write intelligently on an instrumental work, a pianist on a string quartet, a horn player on an oratorio).
       • Candidate is expected to identify theoretical and/or musicological aspects to support their analysis of each score.
     • Score analysis
       • May include (but not limited to) figured bass realizations, harmonic analysis, etc.
     • Miscellaneous topics based on committee’s knowledge of candidate’s specific interests (i.e. professional aspects specific to field, entrepreneurship, technology in the field)
   • Examinations are based on, though not limited to, each student’s coursework in the DMA program and may include material pertaining to thesis topics under consideration.
5. Compilation
   • Examinations for each student are prepared by the student’s advisory committee under the direction of the chair of the advisory committee. The chair consults the committee, compiles the examination, and submits the examination to the DGS no later than one week before the examination date.
6. Administration
   • Examinations are administered by the DGS, who distributes copies of the completed examinations to appropriate committee members.
7. Grading
   • The examination is graded by the advisory committee; each of the four sections is graded pass/fail. Grades are collected by the DGS and reported to the committee. To pass the exam, a student must receive a simple majority vote of “pass” on all four sections (see ‘Second Attempt’ below).
8. Second Attempt
   • Students are allowed two attempts to pass the examination, each in separate semesters. No examination questions will be repeated on the second attempt. At the discretion of the committee, the second attempt may encompass all four sections or fewer sections with an optional oral component. The committee may require the student to retake the entire exam or only those parts failed on the first attempt.
9. Postponing the Examination
   • Students who register for the examinations but postpone them are responsible for dropping MUS 696 by the last day to receive a grade of W (withdrawn). A grade of Incomplete will be given only for students who are required to take the examination a second time.

DMA Final Project

All DMA students must complete a final project that includes a scholarly written component. More specific information about the written component may be found in Sections 11 and 12 of this handbook. Three options are available; they are described in detail in Section 4.5.1 with requirements and procedures in 4.5.2:

• Option I requires a 60-page document.
• Option II requires a professional-quality recording and a 25–30-page manuscript that provides a context for the project.
• Option III requires two recitals (in addition to the three required for the degree), the last accompanied by a 25–30-page manuscript that provides a context for the recital.
  • Non-professional recordings of the two final-project recitals must be available to the advisory committee when the project is submitted.

Option-Specific Requirements

• Option I
  • Any DMA student may choose to write a document of approximately 60–70 pages.
  • For Performance and Conducting students:
    • The DMA document is of narrower scope than a dissertation but involves the same high level of research and rigorous documentation. It demonstrates the candidate’s ability to communicate general and specific information about the area of specialization and results in an original contribution to knowledge. Topics might include an analysis of a work or set of works, a critical edition of a work for which none exists, a catalog of a composer’s works or a substantial update if none exists, a descriptive inventory of an archival collection, a description of a musical document (collection of antebellum sheet music, etc.), a study of a performance practice, a biography or original contribution to the biography of a significant musical figure, a history of a musical organization. More specific information about the DMA Document may be found in Section 11. DMA Document Guidelines.
  • For Composition students:
    • The student must compose a large original work (medium unspecified) in addition to and distinct from any work done for other degree credit in the DMA program. Work on the document will be supervised by the major professor and the advisory committee. The project does not require a recording of the composition.
• Option II
  • Performance and Conducting students may produce a professional-quality recording featuring the student as primary soloist, primary ensemble performer, or conductor, accompanied by a 25–30-page contextualizing manuscript, liner notes, and a cover.
  • The student is responsible for execution of all aspects of the recording and must assume a leadership role in all aspects of the project, including planning, production, and editing of the recording.
  • The recording must be a professional-quality, produced, studio recording; it cannot be simply a recording of a live concert.
  • Approximately 50% of the recording may be taken from material on the recitals required for the DMA degree.
  • The content of the recording must constitute a cohesive program (see Cohesive Program below).
  • The student must be registered for applied lessons with the major professor in the semester the recording is completed.
  • The student must submit a 25–30-page manuscript that provides a context for the recital, the rationale behind the choice of program, historical and/or analytical information where pertinent, biographical notes about the performers, etc.
  • The student must submit a cover and liner notes condensed from the manuscript.
• Option III
  • Performance students may add two recitals (in addition to the three required for the degree); the fifth recital must be accompanied by a contextualizing manuscript of 25–30 pages.
  • This option is available only to DMA performance students.
  • The content of the fifth recital must constitute a cohesive program (see Cohesive Program below).
  • The student must submit a 25–30-page manuscript that provides a context for the recital, the rationale behind the choice of program, historical and/or analytical information where pertinent, etc.
  • Duplication of material from any previous recital for which credit for a degree has been earned is not allowed.
• Cohesive Program: Options II and III
  • Possibilities for the cohesive program required for the recording in Option II and the fifth recital in Option III might include performances of a composer’s complete works in a particular genre or for a particular instrument; tracing a genre, such as the sonata, through several centuries; featuring representative works in a national tradition; or exploring meaningful connections between seemingly unrelated composers or works (e.g., innovative works for the instrument).
    • For conductors in particular, a single large work may suffice. A program of unrelated works is unacceptable.

General Requirements and Procedures

Prospectus

1. Prospectus Preparation
   • Through research and consultation with the major professor, other committee members, and other appropriate persons, the student selects a final project and writes a formal prospectus. The prospectus details the scope of the project and its significance, the components required, working methods, and other supporting information. A brief narrative, an outline, and a working bibliography are required.
2. Prospectus Submission
   • The prospectus may be submitted after the student earns 12 DMA credit hours (excluding remediation). With the major professor’s approval, the student submits the prospectus to the DGS, who reviews the format and submits the prospectus to the advisory committee.
3. Prospectus Approval
   • The DGS polls the committee and, if all agree, schedules a prospectus defense. Approval by the advisory committee is required for work to proceed. See 4.6 Admission to Candidacy.
4. Document Advisor
   • At the prospectus defense, the DGS appoints a document advisor from among the committee members.

First Draft

1. First Draft Preparation
   • After successful defense of the prospectus, the student completes a draft of the written component and a progress report on other parts of the project (recording, recitals), with supporting evidence.
   • The written component must conform to Graduate School regulations for electronic theses and dissertations and to a style guide approved by the Graduate School. The Graduate School website gives full information under the heading “Current Students” and then “Preparing Theses and Dissertations.” The SOM’s default style guide is The Chicago Manual of Style, notes and bibliography format; individual committees may approve a different style guide if it is accepted by the UA Graduate School.
   • Note: Students should include the dedication and acknowledgments pages with headings and page numbers only; texts of those sections should not be added until after the defense.
2. First Draft Submission
   • With the approval of the document advisor, the student sends the first draft to the DGS, who reviews the format and submits the draft to the advisory committee.
3. First Draft Approval
   • The DGS polls the committee and, if all agree, schedules a first-draft meeting. The first draft components are evaluated. Corrections and suggestions must be incorporated into the final version of the project.

Final Version

1. Final Project: Submission
   • After completion of all components, and with the major professor’s approval, the student sends all components of the project to the DGS, who reviews the format and submits to the advisory committee.
     • Option I: 60-page document.
     • Option II: professional-quality recording, jacket with program notes, and the 25–30-page manuscript.
     • Option III: non-professional recordings of the two recitals with the 25–30-page manuscript.
2. Final Project Defense
   • With the advisory committee’s approval, and if all other requirements for the degree have been completed successfully, the DGS convenes the committee for the project defense. See 4.7.
3. Grading
   • The advisory committee grades the defense pass or fail.
4. Minor Changes after the Successful Defense
   • The advisory committee may require minor changes to components of the project; the major professor is responsible for monitoring the changes before the student submits the project to the Graduate School.
5. Substantial Changes after the Defense
   • If substantial changes are recommended during the defense, the project will not be submitted, and forms will not be signed until a complete revision has been presented to the advisory committee.
6. Graduate School Submission
   • After a successful defense, the student submits the document or manuscript to the Graduate School, following procedures given on the Graduate School website.

Information on requirements and procedures for submission of electronic theses and dissertations (for DMA, documents or manuscripts) are available on the Graduate School website. It is the responsibility of each student to understand and to follow the guidelines in these websites.

Admission to Candidacy

DMA students may be admitted to degree candidacy after passing the written comprehensive examination and obtaining advisory committee approval of a final project prospectus. The advisory committee will sign the Admission to Candidacy form when both conditions have been met.

**From this point, the Graduate Catalog requires continuous enrollment in MUS 699 in all fall and spring semesters until graduation.

Final Project Defense and Oral Examinations

All DMA students will take an oral examination as the final step toward completion of the DMA degree. The exam must follow the successful completion of all other degree requirements; it will address the final project and related matters.

Requirements and Procedures

1. Status
   • The examination must follow the grading of all required recitals, lectures, and lecture-recitals. The examination may not take place until the student and the advisory committee consider all components of the final project ready for submission to the Graduate School.
2. Registration
   • Students must register for MUS 697 (oral examination) at the beginning of the fall or spring semester during which they plan to take the examination. Late registration for MUS 697 is not allowed.
3. Requirements for Scheduling
   • A tentative date for the oral examination may be set at the first-draft meeting but the examination may not be held until all committee members consider all components of the final project complete and in a format that follows requirements for submission to the Graduate School.
4. Forms
   • Graduate School forms will be signed at the oral examination.
5. Scheduling
   • The DGS schedules all oral examinations and defenses. These may be scheduled in summer only under extraordinary circumstances and with the consent of the entire advisory committee and the DGS.
6. Second Attempt
   • Students are allowed only two attempts to pass the oral examination; the second attempt may not take place during the same semester as the first.