Overview
Candidates for the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the University of Miami Frost School of Music must possess and demonstrate a gift of musical leadership based upon broad experience with choral ensembles and a strong foundation of skills from previous training. Admission requirements include baccalaureate and masters degrees in music and practical experience in choral conducting through church, school, or community ensembles. Enrollment in this major is only by special permission after completion of the application and audition process.
The mission of the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting at the Frost School of Music is to:
- Provide a music performance-based education and to train conductors to further develop knowledge and skills on and off the podium
- Promote a platform of learning that includes excellence in performance, creativity, artistry, and scholarship
- Foster a sense of community involvement in the arts and the greater musical world
This degree combines scholarship with practical concerns in a way that prepares graduates for a diverse life in choral music, whether they choose to focus on an academic career, professional career, or a combination of the two. Emphasis on excellence in conducting and teaching, negotiating the job market, becoming an outstanding clinician and adjudicator, and exploring administrative opportunities has allowed this program to consistently place graduates in outstanding positions throughout the country.
Admission Requirements
All applicants to the Frost School must submit the following items:
· An online application
· Application fee
· Resume
· Three letters of recommendation
· Official transcripts from every post-secondary school attended
This graduate degree program also requires submission of certain supplemental materials, including:
· Prescreen/performance
· Live audition (preferred)
· Conducting sample
· Writing sample
· TOEFL/IELTS score, as applicable
For more detailed information, please visit our Graduate Admission website.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Conducting Courses | ||
| MVP CD7 | Conducting (two semesters at 1 credit each; 2 semesters at 2 credits each) | 6 |
| Choral Conducting Workshop | 6 | |
| Choral Conducting: Major Works | ||
| Choral Conducting Workshop: Shorter Choral Works | ||
| Chamber Singers (four semesters at 1 credit each) | ||
| Choral Ensembles | ||
| Choral Ensembles MVP 700 level (four semesters at 1 credit each) | 4 | |
| Choral Studies | ||
| MVP 608 | Choral Score Study | 2 |
| MTC 615 | Choral Arranging | 3 |
| MCY 635 | Choral Literature I | 3 |
| MCY 636 | Choral Literature II | 3 |
| Allied Music Courses | ||
| MTC 717 | Analytical Techniques (or other MTC course) | 3 |
| MED 790 | Teaching Music in College | 1 |
| Applied Voice or Piano | 2 | |
| Allied Music Electives | 3 | |
| Creative Activities | ||
| MVP 830 | Pre-Candidacy Doctoral Project Preparation | 1 |
| MVP 831 | Doctoral Project (Choose from Doctoral Essay or Lecture Recital with Research Paper) | 8 |
| MVP 832 | Doctoral Recital (Three recitals at one credit each) 1 | 3 |
| Cognate/Electives | ||
| Select 12 credit hours of Cognate/Electives | 12 | |
| If not selecting a cognate, suggested options include, but are not limited to: | ||
| Music Bibliography (Strongly encouraged for students selecting to complete a doctoral essay as their final project) | ||
| Psychology of Music | ||
| Vocal Methods and Materials in Music Education | ||
| Vocal Pedagogy | ||
| Advanced Vocal Pedagogy | ||
| Lyric Diction for Singers - English and Italian | ||
| Lyric Diction for Singing - German and French | ||
| Stagecraft Acting for Opera | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
- 1
Students in this degree program take MVP 832 three times, at 1 credit each for a total of 3 credits.
- Doctoral Qualifying Exams must be complete prior to the defense of the DMA Final Project proposal.
MCDC Plan of Study
| Year One | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| MCY 635 | Choral Literature I | 3 |
| MVP Choral Ensemble | 1 | |
| MED 790 | Teaching Music in College | 1 |
| Applied Voice or Piano Lessons | 1 | |
| MTC 717 | Analytical Techniques (or MTC Elective) | 3 |
| MVP 784 | Chamber Singers | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MCY 636 | Choral Literature II | 3 |
| MVP Choral Ensemble | 1 | |
| MVP 608 | Choral Score Study | 2 |
| MVP CD7 | Conducting | 1 |
| MVP 832 | Doctoral Recital | 1 |
| Applied Voice or Piano Lessons | 1 | |
| MVP 784 | Chamber Singers | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Two | ||
| Fall | ||
| MVP 772 | Choral Conducting: Major Works | 1 |
| MVP Choral Ensemble | 1 | |
| MVP 784 | Chamber Singers | 1 |
| MVP 830 | Pre-Candidacy Doctoral Project Preparation | 1 |
| MTC 615 | Choral Arranging | 3 |
| Cognate or Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MVP 773 | Choral Conducting Workshop: Shorter Choral Works | 1 |
| MVP CD7 | Conducting | 1 |
| MVP 832 | Doctoral Recital | 1 |
| MVP Choral Ensemble | 1 | |
| MVP 784 | Chamber Singers | 1 |
| Cognate or Approved Elective | 5 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Year Three | ||
| Fall | ||
| MVP CD7 | Conducting | 2 |
| MVP 832 | Doctoral Recital | 1 |
| MVP 831 | Doctoral Project | 3 |
| Cognate or Approved Elective(s) | 4 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Spring | ||
| MVP CD7 | Conducting | 2 |
| MVP 831 | Doctoral Project | 5 |
| Cognate or Approved Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 10 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 60 | |
* This is a suggested Plan of Study. Your actual course sequence may vary depending on your previous academic experience as well as current course offerings. Students should meet with their academic advisor each semester to determine the appropriate course selection.
*Doctoral Qualifying Exams must be complete prior to the defense of the Doctoral Essay/Dissertation proposal.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting is:
- To provide a specifically music performance-based education and to train conductors to firmly establish and demonstrate professional level conducting skills;
- To provide a platform of learning that includes performance, creativity, scholarship, and significant research;
- To foster a sense of community involvement of the arts and in the arts.
Because choral conducting students are working with an "instrument" comprised of human singers, the variables with which they must work (as opposed to a solo instrument) are various.
Goals
After graduation, they are prepared to work in any number of venues, including academia, sacred music setting (church music), professional choir, community choir, and more.
Student Learning Outcomes
- Students will, through the completion of 3 degree recitals, demonstrate the ability perform as conductors with musical/stylistic awareness, as well as professional presentation and demeanor.
- Students will demonstrate a high level research and scholarship skills.
