• overview
• degree programs
• auditions & interviews
• opera productions
• youth programs

DEGREE PROGRAMS

Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance: Voice

Program of Study

Residence Requirement

Repertoire Requirement for Precandidates

Requirements for Candidacy

Dissertation Requirement

Abstract

Final Oral Examination

Program of Study

The program leading to the degree Doctor of Musical Arts in Voice Performance is individually designed for each student, based largely upon the particular needs of the individual. Although residence, pedagogy, and fee hour requirements must be satisfied, the doctoral degree is not awarded on the basis of a specified number of credit hours but rather on the basis of demonstrated competence. Completion of the program normally requires six terms of full-time study beyond the master's degree. Students are expected to attain candidacy effective at the beginning of the sixth term.

The minimum requirements include the following:

1. A basic reading knowledge of two foreign languages is required. The languages are normally French and German, though Italian, Russian, and Spanish are acceptable if considered appropriate by the student's advisor. The requirement in each language may be met by completing courses 111 and 112 with a grade of B or higher. A student with a background in the language may satisfy the requirement by examination or by simply completing course 112 with a grade of B or higher. A placement examination in Italian, French and German diction is required.

2. Musicology 503, Bibliography of Music (3 hrs.), is required. This course is considered necessary as preparation for graduate work in music and for the written and oral examinations prior to candidacy, and should be elected in the first term of enrollment as a precandidate.

3. A minimum of fifteen hours of graduate work in musicology and music theory or at least five courses totaling a minimum of twelve hours are required prior to taking the preliminary examinations. Recommended course elections will be based on a placement examination in music theory and an interview with musicology faculty during the initial registration period. As a general rule, Theory 551 and 552 are recommended. In musicology, each period from the seventeenth century to the present should be covered in courses at or above the 500-level. Musicology 513, Opera from Mozart to the Present (3 hrs.), and 524, The Art Song (2 hrs.), are recommended. At least one of the musicology courses must be at the 600-level.

4. Each doctoral student in Voice Performance is required to audition for a role in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance opera production during at least three terms and, if cast, is required to perform the role, subject to the approval of his or her studio teacher.

5. Each student must elect Voice Performance 891 each term of residence as a precandidate, or at least two terms. Voice Literature 567, Oratorios (2 hrs.) is recommended, but 519, Teaching Voice (2 hrs.) and 520, Teaching Voice II (2 hrs.) are required if not elected earlier. Additional work in opera production and in the coaching of art songs is also recommended.

6. Election of Music Performance 995, Dissertation Candidate (8 hrs.), each term in residence as a candidate, or at least one term.

Residence Requirement

At least one academic year of full-time residence is required.

 

[back to top]

Repertoire Requirement for Precandidates

Because the body of vocal literature is vast and varied, and the differences among vocal categories are obvious, it would be unrealistic to require a specific repertoire for all doctoral students in Voice. A thorough knowledge of the literature and styles of all periods is, however, required of each student, as well as an ability to discuss and perform repertoire representative of each. The following twenty-three categories, with the number of songs, arias, or works to be chosen from each, is considered the minimum for a student completing the doctoral program in voice performance:

1. Baroque and/or Rococo solo cantatas (3 works)
2. Arie antiche 17th and 18th centuries (8 songs)
• Arrangements should be stylistically accurate and could include the following editions: Dallapiccola, Pasrissote, Jeppeson, and Paton.
3. English lutenist (4 songs)
4. Purcell (6 songs)
5. J. S. Bach (2 major roles, one of which may be secular)
• All appropriate arias from 2 major works including extended solo passages and recitatives.
6. Handel (3 arias with recitatives from opera and 3 arias with recitatives oratorio)
7. Mozart (1 complete operatic role, 2 complete sacred works and 2 additional arias which include
   concert arias)
8. Lieder (60 songs which must include one cycle)
9. French art songs (26 songs)
10. 19th and 20th century Italian song literature (12 songs)
11. Russian songs (6 songs in Russian
12. Nationalistic composers ( 7 songs in original language)
13. British songs (10 songs)
14. Contemporary 20th and 21st century American songs (20 songs)
• Must include songs by African-American composers
15. 17th - 20th century French operatic literature (5 arias)
16. 19th and 20th century Italian operatic literature (10 arias)
17. 18th - 20th century German operatic literature (5 arias)
18. Middle European and Russian Operatic literature (3 arias)
19. North American and British operatic literature (5 arias)
20. 18th -21st century oratorios, symphonic, and chamber works employing solo voice(s) (5 works)

 

[back to top]

Requirements for Candidacy

1. Pedagogy. Every doctoral student in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance must satisfy the pedagogy requirement during the first two terms of enrollment. A list of courses that satisfy this requirement may be found in the Handbook for Rackham Students in Music, Dance, or Theatre.

2. Preliminary Examinations Prior to Candidacy.

• Music History General Preliminary Examination (or the coursework alternative)
• Music Theory General Preliminary Examination
• Performance Preliminary Examination in the field of specialization
• Comprehensive Oral Preliminary Examination.

The preliminary examinations required for admission to candidacy are taken after the student has satisfied the language, residence, and pedagogy requirements; has completed most of the course work; and is prepared to concentrate his or her efforts on the dissertation recitals. At least two courses in musicology, including MHM 503, must be completed prior to taking the preliminary examination in that field, and at least two courses in music theory must be completed prior to taking the preliminary examination in theory. During the examination in performance the applicant must satisfy a jury that he or she has achieved the requisite musical competence to undertake the preparation of the public programs to be presented in lieu of a written dissertation. Both the performance and comprehensive oral preliminary examinations are administered by a committee from the Department of String Instruments.

Candidacy will be conferred upon completion of these requirements and examinations. A dissertation committee must have been appointed by the time candidacy is achieved.

[back to top]

Dissertation Requirement

After achieving candidacy, the student must present three performances in lieu of a dissertation, two of which must be song recitals. The third performance may be a major opera role or an oratorio role performed with orchestra. Although the basic requirements for the degree must be met by all students, various specialization's are possible at the candidacy level including, for example, specialization's in pedagogy, theater, musical theater, early music, contemporary music, and chamber music.

Abstract

An abstract listing the music performed and, if space permits, providing program notes and commentary is required.

Final Oral Examination

A final oral examination concerned primarily with the field of specialization will be conducted by the dissertation committee after all of the other requirements have been completed.

 

[back to top]