Degree Requirements
Doctor of Musical Arts: Piano Performance
Program of Study (18 units)
Courses outside of the Bienen School of Music do not count toward the minimum 18 units required for the degree.
Applied Studies – 6 units
Students should select the section appropriate to their studio.
- PIANO 561 Applied Piano
Piano Forum – 0 units, 6 registrations required
- PIANO 340 Piano Forum
Music Studies Core – 2 units
Students must enroll in these courses during their first year of study.
- MUSIC 540 Doctoral Music Research, fall quarter
- MUSICOL 400 Graduate Review of History, winter quarter
Music Studies Electives, 300 level or above – 4-7 units
Music Studies Electives are Music Studies courses of the student’s choosing. Music Studies courses are 1 unit, academic in nature, and typically begin with the subject MUS_COMP, MUS_TECH, MUS_THRY, MUSIC_ED, and MUSICOL. Courses must be at the 300 level or above. Students must select at least one MUS THRY Elective.
- MUS_THRY Elective, 1 unit
- Music Studies Electives, 3 units
An additional 3 units of Music Studies Electives at the 400 level or above are required for students who select the Extra Coursework Final Project. Students must earn a “B” or higher in these courses to fulfill the Extra Coursework Final Project requirements. Students who select the Extra Coursework Final Project complete 7 units of Music Studies Electives during the two years of coursework.
Students must pass the incoming music theory diagnostic exam or the MUS_THRY 401 Graduate Review of Music Theory course before enrolling in other MUS_THRY courses.
Music Electives, 300 level or above – 5 units
Music Electives are courses within the Bienen School of Music of the student’s choosing. Courses must be at the 300 level or above.
Music Theory Requirement
Students must pass the incoming music theory diagnostic exam or the MUS_THRY 401 Graduate Review of Music Theory course.
Recitals – 0 units, 3-4 registrations required
- PIANO 580 DMA Recital
Students are required to complete four recitals. The final recital is entirely self-prepared. Students who select the PIANO 585 Lecture Recital Final Project may count the lecture recital as one of the four required recitals.
Learn more about DMA Recital Requirements
Qualifying Examinations
Students may not attempt the Qualifying Examinations until after the two years of coursework is complete. Students must pass both Parts One and Two of the Qualifying Examinations before starting work on the Final Project.
Learn more about DMA Qualifying Examinations
Final Project – 1 unit
Students must select one of the below.
- PIANO 585 Lecture Recital/Performance Document
- PIANO 590 Lecture Recital/Extra Coursework
- PIANO 595 Major Research Document
Students must obtain approval from the Music Studies program and the applied lessons professor during the first year of coursework to pursue the PIANO 595 Major Research Document Final Project after completing MUSICOL 400 Graduate Review of History. Students who select the PIANO 585 Lecture Recital Final Project may count the lecture recital as one of the four required recitals.
Learn about DMA Final Project Requirements
Graduate Assistantship
Students are required to serve as graduate assistants during the six quarters of coursework. Graduate assignments are made by the applied lessons professor.