Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)
Harrisonburg, USA
PhD
DURATION
3 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
TUITION FEES
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* Apply early, by 1.12.2022 for consideration for a graduate assistantship.
Key Summary
The Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.) program is the most advanced course of study offered in the School of Music at James Madison University. The program has been designed to make graduates more marketable in higher education by emphasizing pedagogy and literature along with advanced performance or conducting skills. The program seeks candidates who have the potential to pursue the highest level of achievement in conducting/performance and teaching.
The three-year degree requires completion of 60-72 credit hours, including core and concentration requirements. There is a two-year residency requirement. In the third year of the degree, D.M.A. students must pass comprehensive written and oral examinations.
Degrees Offered
Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)
Concentrations
- Conducting
- Performance
- Brass Area
- Percussion Area
- Piano Area
- String Area
- Vocal Area
- Woodwind Area
Earn your D.M.A. at JMU
We are seeking candidates who have the potential to pursue the highest level of achievement in conducting/performance and teaching.
Degree Objectives
Students graduating from the D.M.A. program (with Concentrations in Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature or Conducting, Pedagogy and Literature) will be able to:
Performance, Pedagogy, and Literature:
- Demonstrate the application of musical and technical mastery through the performance of advanced repertoire in the student’s area of specialization (instrumental or voice).
- Create and deliver effective pedagogical instruction.
- Analyze the standard solo, chamber and ensemble repertoire in the student’s area of specialization (instrumental or voice).
- Communicate effectively about music through a) writing and b) speaking.
Conducting, Pedagogy and Literature:
- Demonstrate the application of musical and physical conducting skills through the performance of advanced repertoire in the student’s area of specialization (instrumental or vocal).
- Demonstrate effective rehearsal techniques through the preparation of representative repertoire in the student’s area of specialization (instrumental or vocal).
- Create and deliver effective pedagogical instruction.
- Formulate advanced insights into the artistic and formal structure of music through score study in the student’s area of specialization.
- Communicate effectively about music through a) writing and b) speaking.
Many students enrolled in this program receive graduate assistantships.
The chief source of aid for graduate study for DMA students is through graduate assistantships. Teaching assistantships are awarded each year on a competitive basis. In keeping with the pedagogical nature of the D.M.A. degree at James Madison University, all doctoral assistantships will include a variety of supervised teaching experiences; assisting professors in classes and/or being responsible for teaching a class, teaching applied lessons (for performers), and conducting ensembles (for conductors).
Full or partial assistantships may be awarded. Full assistantships pay for 20-24 credits per year and are accompanied by a stipend that is typically sufficient to cover the cost of housing, food and some personal expenses.
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