Degree: Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA)
Field of Study: Historical Performance Practice

Program Overview

This program in early music (up to 1850) combines advanced study in performance, music history, and performance practices. Students should expect to spend four years in full-time study in Cleveland.

Additional program information is available on the Department of Music Historical Performance Practice webpage. 

Admission

Applicants with good academic records from fully accredited universities and colleges will be considered for admission to graduate study at Case Western Reserve University. Admission must be recommended by the department or professional school of the university in which the applicant proposes to study and must be approved by the dean of graduate studies. 

Admission to the program is granted to those who demonstrate the potential to be leaders in the field of early music: candidates are expected to show excellent scholarly potential in music history and performance practices, and to demonstrate a high level of performance skill. Students are admitted by audition and interview, and are required to take an initial placement test in music history and theory on matriculation. 

More information about the graduate application and audition process in music is provided on the Department of Music Graduate Application Procedures webpage.

Music Handbook and Advising

Current graduate and professional students in music should review departmental policies and procedures in the Graduate Music Handbook. The handbook provides additional information regarding graduate assistantships, general expectations and responsibilities, program outcomes, decision points, performances, scholarly activity, outside work, prizes/awards, deadlines, petitions, examinations, advancement to candidacy, and student record-keeping.

Additional resources and forms are available on the Department of Music Resources for Current Graduate Students webpage.

Graduate Policies

For graduate policies and procedures, please review the School of Graduate Studies section of the General Bulletin.

Program Requirements

All programs are formulated to suit the needs of the individual student (based in part on a diagnostic examination taken upon entering the program) and require the consent of the Head of Historical Performance Practice. A minimum of 33 credit units of academic coursework is required, together with a minimum of 18 credit units of applied music, proficiency in two relevant foreign languages, a jury,  the first lecture-recital and the recital (3 credit units), all to be completed during the first three years of the degree. Qualifying examinations are taken early in the fall of the fourth year: after the successful completion of these examinations, the student will advance to candidacy and prepare and perform the second lecture-recital (6 units) by the end of the fourth year. Students may also take academic classes during this year, but are not required to.

Coursework and Applied Music

Coursework must include MUHI 610, MUHI 441, MUHI 443), MUTH 416), and at least three seminars in MUHI 442. Electives may include topics courses (MUHI 450), musicology seminars (MUHI 590), or independent study courses by special arrangement (MUHI 601). Each semester of study requires MUAP 698 (0 credit units), applied music (2 credit units), ensembles (0 credit units), and MUAP 500 (1 credit unit to reflect participation in multiple ensembles). Applied faculty will be chosen in consultation with the student.

Ensembles and Outside Engagements

Two or more early music ensembles are required each semester (MUEN). Students are encouraged to take outside engagements that will contribute to their professional development, but any engagements that might have a significant impact on class attendance, TA/RA duties, or ensemble participation must be cleared by the HPP committee. See the Graduate Music Handbook for the policy to request an absence for an outside engagement.

Jury

A jury is required in the spring of the first year MUAP 600. The program should be decided in consultation with the student's applied teacher and should consist of approximately 15 minutes of music. The jury will consist of the applied teacher with at least two other HPP faculty. If the performance is unsatisfactory, the student will have the opportunity to repeat the jury the following semester. If the second attempt is also unsatisfactory, the student will not be allowed to continue in the degree program.

Foreign Languages

Prior to qualifying examination, students must demonstrate the ability to read two languages approved by the HPP committee as relevant to the student's research (generally drawn from German, French, Italian, and Latin, though exceptions can be made). See the Graduate Music Handbook for more details. 

Lecture-Recitals and Document

Two juried lecture-recitals are required: MUHI 751 (3 credit units), taken no earlier than the spring of the second year and MUHI 753 taken in the spring of the fourth year (6 units, 3 each in the fall and spring semesters). The lecture-recital consists of a 45-minute performance generally preceded by a 30-45 minute researched-based lecture dealing with the musical, historical and performance practice issues relevant to the chosen repertoire. The entire lecture-recital should not exceed 90-minutes. See the Graduate Music Handbook for the policy to submit a proposal, prepare for the lecture-recital, and complete the accompanying document.

Recital

A juried recital is required by the end of the third year, MUAP 700 (0 credit units). The recital (50-60 minutes) should feature works from a variety of national school and periods, and should showcase the student's solo performing abilities: the program will be decided in consultation with the applied teacher and HPP advisor, and must be approved by the HPP committee. See the Graduate Music Handbook for the policy to submit a proposal, prepare for the recital.

Qualifying Examinations

Qualifying examinations are taken at the beginning of the fourth year. See the Graduate Music Handbook for detailed information.

Degree Overlap

Students in the DMA program who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and who wish to transfer into the PhD program may petition to do so during their 3rd year of study. If the petition is granted, after successfully passing their qualifying exams such students would advance to candidacy and begin dissertation work in their 4th year. Petitions should be sent to the Head of Musicology and the Head of HPP by November 30.  

Course Distribution

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Students are required to take 3 credits of applied music lessons and ensembles every semester