Courses
Students in the first three years of the program will normally take nine quarters of Music 34000 (Composition Lessons) and twelve quarters of Music 34100 (Composition Seminar). Starting in year 4, students work with one dissertation adviser by appointment. Students also complete twelve courses of 30000- or 40000-level instruction, including the following:
- MUSI 31100: Analysis of Tonal Music I
- MUSI 31300: Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music
- MUSI 32800: Music since 1900
- A 30000-level course in ethnomusicology; students are strongly encouraged to take either MUSI 33500 (Introduction to World Music) or an area-studies course focused on non-Western music.
- A course in Advanced Orchestration, either in traditional orchestration/instrumentation (34600), or a Special Topic (s/a 36715, Composing for Orchestra in the 21st Century).
- At least two quarters of Computer Music. If the student is already coming in with a more advanced background, these courses can be taken in outside departments such as Computer Science, DoVA, etc. Courses which fulfill the requirement are agreed upon in consultation with the Director of the Computer Music Studio and the Director of Graduate Studies.
- MUSI 38000: Score-reading and Conducting (a one-year course for one course credit)
- Four electives, of which three will be used to fulfill Minor Field requirements. These electives will be chosen in consultation with the faculty mentor or DGS to meet individual objectives and with a view toward expanding, rather than simply reinforcing, the student’s base of knowledge.
Entering with an M.A. in Music
Students entering with an M.A. (or equivalent degree) in Music and pursuing Track 1 will normally complete nine quarters each of Music 34000 and 34100 (Composition Lessons and Composition Seminar) and nine courses of 30000- or 40000-level instruction, including the following:
- MUSI 31300: Analysis of Twentieth-Century Music
- A 30000-level course in ethnomusicology; students are strongly encouraged to take either MUSI 33500 (Introduction to World Music) or an area-studies course focused on non-Western music.
- A course in Advanced Orchestration, either in traditional orchestration/instrumentation (34600), or a Special Topic (36715, Composing for Orchestra in the 21st Century).
- At least two quarters of Computer Music. If the student is already coming in with a more advanced background, these courses can be taken in outside departments such as Computer Science, DoVA, etc. Courses which fulfill the requirement are agreed upon in consultation with the Director of the Computer Music Studio and the Director of Graduate Studies.
- Four electives, of which three will be used to fulfill Minor Field requirements. These electives will be chosen in consultation with the faculty mentor or DGS to meet individual objectives and with a view toward expanding, rather than simply reinforcing, the student’s base of knowledge.
Colloquium
All students must enroll in six quarters of Colloquium (MUSI 41000). Students may register for Colloquium in any quarter.
Musicianship
The successful completion of two different musicianship activities that expand the student’s skills and professional horizons.
Languages
A reading knowledge of one foreign language, normally chosen from German, French, and Italian. Another language may be substituted upon approval of petition. The student’s language of origin (parent tongue) may not be used to fulfill this requirement. See Language Examinations for further details.
Comprehensive Examinations
A three-part examination consisting of
- an analysis examination of either tonal or post-tonal materials, to be fulfilled over a 72–hour period in June
- a written composition examination, to be fulfilled over a 72–hour period in September
- a two-hour oral examination on musical repertory, focusing on six compositions. A list of works with guidelines will be made available to the students in Week 1 of Spring quarter.
See the general discussion of comprehensive exams for more details.
Minor Field
The minor field consists of three courses that will prepare the student to write the Minor Field Paper. The department approves four minor fields for composers: Ethnomusicology, Musicology, Theory and Analysis, and Research in Computer Music.
The minor field in ETHNOMUSICOLOGY consists of
- MUSI 33000 or MUSI 33500
- One other course numbered between MUSI 33100 and 33700
- A seminar on an ethnomusicological topic (to be determined in consultation with the faculty mentor or DGS)
The minor in MUSICOLOGY consists of
- one course numbered either MUSI 32500 or 32600
- MUSI 32700
- one seminar on a musicological topic (to be determined in consultation with the faculty mentor or DGS)
The minor in THEORY AND ANALYSIS consists of
- two courses from among the following: MUSI 31200; 31400; 31500; 37100; 37200
- one seminar on an analytic or theoretical topic (to be determined in consultation with the faculty mentor or DGS)
The minor in RESEARCH IN COMPUTER MUSIC consists of
- MUSI 266: Composing with Sound
- MUSI 267: Advanced Topics
- MUSI 268: Introduction to Computer Music
- Alternatively, students who have already taken one or more courses equivalent to the above may substitute a course in Computer Science, DoVA, Cinema and Media Studies, etc., on the approval of the faculty mentor and/or DGS. Multiple courses outside the department can fulfill this requirement. In any event, students must still take a total of three courses toward their computer music minor field.
Minor Field Paper
A paper, normally 30-50 pages in length, presented to and approved by a committee of two or three faculty members, including one member of the Composition faculty. The completed paper will normally emerge from coursework done in pursuit of the minor field, typically in one of the four following fields outlined above (Computer Music, Ethnomusicology, Music History, Music Theory). Students wanting to work between fields or carry out a minor field in another area should consult with the DGS.
Students are encouraged to take advantage of the Dissertation Development Seminars that can help in the preparation and drafting of the minor field paper.
Plan for the Minor Field
The student must submit to the Director of Graduate Studies a plan, consisting of 1) a list of the courses that will complete the course requirements for the student’s minor field, 2) a one-page proposal for the minor field paper, and 3) the names of the faculty members who have agreed to advise the project and serve on the committee. Once approved by the DGS, the plan will be filed in the student’s dossier in the Department of Music. After drafting the paper, the student will defend it before the two- or three-person committee. The drafted Minor Field paper must be submitted to the Committee no later than two weeks before its defense.
Timing
Students are strongly encouraged to outline, write, and defend the Minor Field Paper during year 3. The Minor Field Paper should in any case be completed by the end of Scholastic Residence (the end of year 4). Candidacy/ABD status cannot be attained without successful defense of the Minor Field Paper, which must therefore commence in all cases no later than nine months prior to defense of the dissertation.
Dissertation
Prospectus
Students shall draft a one-page document describing the dissertation composition in as much detail as possible, specifying the instruments, personnel, hardware, and software to be used, as well as setting out any other parameters that might affect the final realization of the composition. Students shall present the Composition Prospectus to the faculty adviser and the intended dissertation committee members for discussion. The defense of the Composition Prospectus should not be scheduled until all parts of the Comprehensive Examination have been successfully completed. Following approval of the Prospectus, the document will be filed in the student’s dossier in the Department of Music. Substantive changes in the proposed composition should be submitted to the Director of Graduate Studies for faculty approval.
Admission to Candidacy
Following the completion of all of the above requirements, including the submission of the composition prospectus, the student will be recommended by the Department of Music to the Dean of Students for admission to candidacy for the Ph.D. degree.
Dissertation
A substantial work with score (and a full set of parts where relevant), accompanied by a program note and a set of instructions for the performers (where relevant). If the composition exists solely in an electronic format (as a compact disc, videotape, or both), it must be submitted together with a description of the hardware and software used and a time line that describes graphically or verbally the relationship between raw musical material (acoustic or electronic), electronic processing, and final acoustic event. The composition should be completed within three years after admission to candidacy. Extensions, however, may be granted under special circumstances.
Defense
A final oral examination in defense of the dissertation composition. The three-to-five person faculty committee must include at least two members of the Composition faculty. At least nine months (three quarters) must normally elapse between admission to candidacy and the dissertation defense. All other requirements must be completed before the defense is scheduled.
N.B.: Students may not apply for the Ph.D. degree until all degree requirements have been met.
Satisfactory Progress Requirements
The following specific requirements for the program in Composition should be read in the context of the general comments on satisfactory progress provided above. The following requirements are a minimal lower limit; students are encouraged to exceed these requirements at whatever rate suits them.
During year 1 students should complete at least eight courses, one musicianship activity, and/or one language.
- Students with an M.A. degree in Music pursuing Track 1 should complete the following requirements by the end of year 1: nine courses plus either two musicianship activities or one language and one musicianship activity.
By the end of year 2 students should have completed all courses (with the exception of composition lessons and the composers’ seminar) plusthe language examination and one or two musicianship activities.
By the end of year 3 students should have completed all of their musicianship activities and language examinations, and passed all sections of the Comprehensive Examinations.
By the end of year 4 students should have completed and defended their minor field paper and dissertation composition prospectus.
Year 5 should be dedicated to composing the dissertation piece.
M.A. Degree en Route in Composition
Students may apply to receive the Master of Arts upon completion of the following requirements:
- 12 courses in the Department of Music, including 6 courses in Composition, and including at least 4 other required non-elective courses
- 1 language exam
- 1 musicianship activity
- An M.A. composition written in residence. Normally the composition will be more than 8 minutes in duration. The composition should be submitted to the Department in final form at least one month before Convocation. A bound, legibly written copy of the composition is to be deposited in the Department of Music.
Students who enter with a Master’s in music may only receive the Masters en route if they are pursuing Track 2.