Doctor of Musical Arts
(Performance)  

Performance Home

Available for majors in flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, horn, trumpet trombone, percussion, violin, viola, cello, guitar, organ, piano, voice, and piano accompanying. 

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance curriculum emphasizes presentation in a specific performing medium at the highest professional level with historical and theoretical knowledge supporting the development of individualized interpretation. Competencies also include broad knowledge of repertory, literature, and studies in pedagogy.  Career objectives for students in this curriculum include performance and teaching at the collegiate level or in studio settings.  

Links within this document:

• Entrance Requirements
• Degree Requirements 
• Residency
• Comprehensive Examinations
• Candidacy
• Financial Assistance

Entrance Requirements

A committee of members of the graduate faculty of Shenandoah Conservatory, chaired by the Conservatory Dean, reviews application materials and makes acceptance decisions.

Students have a period of eight (8) years to complete the DMA-Performance degree from their initial enrollment date.

Specific requirements for admission to the DMA-Performance program include the following.

• Completion of admissions procedures:
  Admissions procedures are outlined in the Shenandoah University Graduate Catalog, and including the following specifics.
   

• Completion of baccalaureate degree in music:
  Completion of a baccalaureate degree in music, or the equivalent, from a regionally accredited institution is required. The Dean of the Conservatory makes determinations regarding equivalence based upon transcript analysis.
    

• Completion of masters degree:
  Completion of a masters degree, or the equivalent, in the designated performance area, from a regionally accredited institution or the equivalent is required. This masters degree must parallel the Master of Music in Performance degree offered at Shenandoah University and must include a culminating full recital. The Dean of the Conservatory makes determinations regarding equivalence based upon transcript analysis.
    

• Submission of transcripts:
  Transcripts from all post-high school study must be submitted, with presentation of a minimum grade point average of 3.25 for work completed at the masters degree level. Applicants must submit official transcripts before they can be evaluated and admitted to the curriculum. Students may not enroll in classes before they are accepted. Prompt requests for transcripts expedite the admissions process.
   

• Letters of recommendation:
  The applicant must submit two letters of recommendation sent directly to the Admissions Office by the writer. These letters should be from individuals familiar with the applicant's performance capabilities.
    

• Audition in the performance area:
  For the audition, the applicant will prepare a thirty-minute formal recital with stylistically and historically balanced content. Full concerto and sonatas (all movements) are required rather than single movements. The audition material should be designated on a formal program. The audition committee is comprised of three members of the Conservatory doctoral faculty. Voice applicants should present one selection in each of the Italian, French, and German languages.

The accompanist is provided by the auditionee. When the auditionee wishes to secure an accompanist on the Shenandoah campus, arrangements must be made well in advance and the auditionee should contact the Conservatory Office to discuss rehearsal times and fees.
 

In person auditions are preferred and may be arranged through the Conservatory Admissions Coordinator (540) 665-4502 or (800) 432-2266 or the Conservatory Office (540-665-4600). Video taped auditions of good quality are accepted from persons who live at great distances from the campus. The preferred video format is a VHS cassette in NSTC format.

• Resume:
  As part of the application, the applicant should attach a formal resume that documents professional experience in all performance areas and includes a complete repertoire list.
   

• Personal Statement:
  As part of the application, the applicant should attach a formal statement that responds to the following:
    

  • Comment on your interest in earning the Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance degree at Shenandoah Conservatory and how this degree will relate to your long-term career goals.

  • Comment on what you consider the most significant era of development in repertoire for your performing medium, and defend your selection.

  • Comment on what role, if any, you feel teaching will have as part of your performing career.
     

• Examinations:

International students must take the TOEFL examination and earn a minimum score of 550. Complete information regarding the requirements for non-native speakers of English are available from the Office of Admissions (540) 554-4581.

  
Diagnostic and placement examinations in theory, analysis, and music history will be administered after acceptance into the curriculum. Students with deficiencies indicated by these tests will be required to remove them early in the program. Further discussion of Diagnostic and placement examinations appears below.

  

The first applied major jury following acceptance serves as a diagnostic evaluation that will guide further study.

  

Voice majors must demonstrate competence in language skills at the audition for admission to the program.

 

The Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is not required for admission to the DMA-Performance curriculum.

Degree Requirements:

The DMA in Performance program includes required performance studies (applied major study, recitals, including a lecture recital, and applied pedagogy and repertoire), selected courses in music theory and literature, a research component, and elective study.

Courses numbered at the 500 and 600 levels may be shared with masters level students. Courses numbered at the 700 level or above are for doctoral students alone. Specific degree requirements with semester hours and course levels are outlined on the following page.

The degree requirement is 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, 30 of, which may be presented in the form of a completed masters degree from an accredited college or university when the work relates to the curriculum.

The credits from the masters degree, based on the Master of Music in Performance degree currently offered at Shenandoah University, that apply to the DMA in Performance curriculum will be specifically identified and applied. When a student presents a masters degree transcript that does not include all of the content/competencies in the Shenandoah Master of Music in Performance curriculum, he must complete the missing areas as part of the study for the DMA in Performance. This includes a culminating, full recital. When a student presents a masters degree transcript that includes credits beyond that specifically in the Shenandoah Master of Music in Performance curriculum, the credits will be applied (as appropriate) to the DMA in Performance requirements. The Dean of the Conservatory makes final decisions regarding transcript analysis.

All specific requirements, in terms of courses and credits in each of the degree categories must be fulfilled - regardless of the credits presented in the masters degree and must earn a minimum of a B.

Residency

Residency is required within the DMA program. This can be achieved by either 1) enrollment as a full time student during the fall and spring semesters, or 2) enrollment at Shenandoah over three (3) consecutive terms (spring/summer/fall) with a registration of a minimum of eighteen (18) credits within those terms. It is anticipated that these registrations include a summer session, with the majority of credits achieved and individual work on the dissertation during the fall and spring terms. It is strongly recommended that students plan their approach to residency with their academic advisor.

Comprehensive Examinations

A comprehensive review will occur at, or near the conclusion of degree study in the form of three comprehensive examinations. The examinations are written, administered at the Conservatory, and are set on a day specified by the coordinator of graduate performance studies. The examinations, graded pass or fail. The examinations include the areas of:

• performance practice

• music literature

• music theory

Should the student fail a first attempt at the examinations, a second attempt is possible. Students are not permitted a third attempt at completing the Comprehensive Examination.

Candidacy

Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance degree students achieves candidacy upon successful completion of the comprehensive examinations and after any deficiencies identified in diagnostic examinations are removed.

Degree Requirements and Course Load

The degree requirement is 90 credit hours beyond the baccalaureate degree, 30 of which may be presented in the form of a completed masters degree from an accredited college or university when the work relates to the curriculum.

Curriculum Requirements

* Minimum grade of "B" required.

Financial Assistance

Financial assistance is available in the form of  fellowships, loans, and opportunities for teaching and other employment. For more information, please refer to the Graduate Financial Assistance area of this site. 

GENERAL INFORMATION  
No information contained herein shall be deemed to amend or modify the official catalogue of Shenandoah University. This replica is intended to provide information that will assist Conservatory students. The University reserves the right to make changes in policy, regulations, and fees, as circumstances dictate subsequent to the reproduction of this replica.