Program Overview
College of Performing and Visual Arts
Director: Carissa Reddick, Ph.D.
Associate Director: Erik Applegate, M.M.
Location: Frasier Hall 108
Telephone: 970-351-2993
Website: arts.unco.edu/music/
Graduate Coordinator: Deborah Kauffman, D.M.A.
Doctoral students enrolled in the Doctor of Arts in Music Performance with a concentration in Composition will develop advanced skills in research, teaching, and music composition. In addition, each doctoral student will choose a secondary area of study to broaden their expertise and increase their marketability.
The Music Performance D.A. is distinct from a Doctor of Musical Arts degree in that it combines high-level training in musical performance and research with training to teach at the college level. In addition to courses in the primary area of study, each doctoral student will choose a secondary area of study to widen their expertise and increase their marketability. This broad approach leads to graduates who are exceptionally well-rounded and suited for both academic and performance careers.
The Doctor of Arts in Music at UNC is part of the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) established by the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE). In most cases, WRGP students pay tuition at Colorado resident student rates; prospective Doctor of Arts students may direct inquiries concerning the WRGP to the School of Music.
Each new doctoral student entering the Doctor of Arts in Music Performance is required to take graduate placement examinations in Music Theory and Aural Skills. Students who do not pass these exams may take the exam a second time. Students who do not pass the Music Theory exam on the second attempt must enroll in MUS 401 (Music Theory Review). Students who do not pass the Aural Skills exam on the second attempt enroll in MUS 402 (Aural Skills Review). Students must either pass the exams or pass the corresponding review courses with a grade of C or better before they can enroll in the graduate-level theory courses required to graduate from their program. MUS 401 and MUS 402 are not graduate-level courses and will not count toward the doctoral degree. Tuition for these courses will not be covered by graduate assistantships.
Primary area and world language proficiency placement exams are required for some concentrations. If required, the program coordinator will send information to admitted students.
Doctoral interviews take place at the end of the first semester in residency. At that time, doctoral students will develop a plan of study, choosing primary area courses, secondary area courses, and one of the two dissertation pathways. The completed doctoral plan of study will be used to guide coursework for the remainder of the degree.
Students enrolled in the Doctor of Arts in Music Performance will take written comprehensive examinations in 1) Music History, 2) Music Theory, 3) their Primary Area and 4) their Secondary Area. Some areas also require a world language examination as part of the primary area comprehensive examination. Students must pass all written comprehensive examinations before scheduling the oral examination. Oral examinations synthesize all four areas of the written comprehensive examinations.
For additional information, see the School of Music Graduate Handbook linked on the PVA Advising Center web page.
Admission
Location: Greeley
Start Term: Fall and Spring
General Doctoral Degree Admission Requirements
Deadline
Applications are accepted until the end of the spring semester to be considered for admission for the following fall. Applications received by March 1 will receive priority consideration for scholarships and assistantships.
Admission Requirements
Each applicant must:
- Possess a master’s degree in music from an accredited college or university in the United States or a comparable degree from an international institution.
- Have a cumulative GPA of 3.00 or better (on a 4.00 scale) for the most recent degree earned or current degree in progress.
- If you are still completing your master's degree at the time you apply, admission will be based on your current cumulative GPA, and you will need to re-submit your official transcript (showing your conferred degree and final GPA) during your first semester. If your final GPA fell below 3.00, you will be given additional requirements as defined by the academic program that must be met within one calendar year to remain enrolled at UNC.
- The School of Music does not require the GRE.
Take the following steps to be considered for admission to the DA in Performance – Composition Concentration
- Send requests to three people who can comment on your musical and academic ability. You will be asked to supply contact information for your recommenders in the Graduate School application.
- Request transcripts early in the application process. See below for details.
- Complete the Graduate School Application
- Register for a UNC Account.
- On the UNC Account home page, click “Start New Application” and choose UNC Graduate Application.
- Submit the Graduate School application and pay the non-refundable application fee. The Graduate School is waiving application fees for all current UNC students and alumni. (The waiver applies only to the UNC Graduate School application.) Click for details.
- Once you submit your Graduate School application you will be assigned an Admissions Portal, allowing you to begin the School of Music Application. Through your portal, you will be able to upload supplemental items and track your application through the admissions process. To be considered for admission to the Music Performance DA – Collaborative Piano Concentration, submit the following supplemental items through your portal:
- Curriculum Vitae/Resume
- Statement of Goals
- Three representative scores and their corresponding recordings; while midi recordings are accepted, live recordings are preferred
- A list of compositions with corresponding instrumentation, dates of first performances, and the performing ensemble(s)
- Assistantship Application (optional): Applicants who would like to be considered for a graduate assistantship must upload a letter outlining their teaching or professional experience as it relates to music.
- School of Music Application and Interview Request
5. Before the interview date, upload all supplemental materials requested by the Graduate School and School of Music. You cannot be officially admitted or considered for scholarships or assistantships until your application is complete.
6. International applicants (those who are not U.S. citizens or Permanent Residents) please refer to the International Admissions Requirements page for further information about submitting transcripts, English proficiency scores, passport copy and financial documentation.
7. An interview is required for the Music Performance DA: Composition Concentration. Interviews may be in person or online.
Transcripts
Request one official transcript from each institutionally accredited college or university where a bachelor’s degree or higher was earned or is in progress (if you have earned multiple degrees, bachelor’s level or higher, an official transcript is required from each college or university where a degree was conferred). If you received a degree from UNC, you do not need to request a transcript from UNC. You may also be required to provide official transcripts from colleges or universities you attended but where no degree was conferred. Applicants who have earned or are directly pursuing a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution without receiving a bachelor’s degree may be eligible to apply to the Graduate School without the conferral of a bachelor’s degree.
Exception for veterans: If you intend to use veteran’s education benefits, an official transcript from all colleges or universities attended (whether or not a degree was conferred) is required to maintain compliance with Veteran’s Affairs policies.
How to submit your transcripts to UNC
The Office of Admissions does not accept transcripts directly from applicants.
- Printed official transcripts from U.S. institutions must be sent via mail directly from the educational institution in an unopened, sealed envelope to:
University of Northern Colorado
Office of Admissions
Campus Box 10
501 20th St
Greeley, CO 80639
- Digital official transcripts may be sent electronically directly from the issuing institution to: grad.admissions@unco.edu.
All official transcripts, submitted as part of the application process, are retained by UNC and not returned to applicants or admitted students. UNC retains submitted transcripts, from institutions other than UNC, for admitted students for up to five years after graduation or date of last attendance at UNC. Transcripts provided by applicants who were not admitted, denied admissions or did not complete their application are destroyed after one (1) year. The Office of Admissions will make every attempt to use previously submitted transcripts if they are within these timeframes. However, if the Office of Admissions cannot locate previously submitted transcripts, the transcripts fall outside the timeframes listed above or they are considered illegible, applicants must provide new transcripts.
Applicants with academic credentials from outside the U.S. will need to follow the requirements for submission of foreign transcripts. Click on the Transcripts tab for information about international transcripts.
For more information about the admission process, please email the Office of Admissions at grad.admissions@unco.edu or call 970-351-2881.
Degree Requirements — 67-71 credits
Research Core — 15 credits
| MUS 700 | Introduction to Doctoral Research | 3 |
History Core — 6 credits
Complete two of the following:
| MUS 507 | History of Instruments and Instrumental Practices | 3 |
| MUS 643 | Seminar: Medieval Music | 3 |
| MUS 644 | Seminar: Music in the Renaissance | 3 |
| MUS 645 | Seminar: The Baroque Period | 3 |
| MUS 646 | Seminar: The Classic Period | 3 |
| MUS 647 | Seminar: The Romantic Period | 3 |
| MUS 651 | Seminar in Music History: Late Romanticism to 1945 | 3 |
| MUS 652 | Seminar in Music History: 1945 to the Present | 3 |
Theory Core — 6 credits
Complete two of the following:
Required Courses
Complete the following required courses:
Dissertation — 16 credits
Students may choose one of two paths toward completion of Dissertation Credits.
Choose 16 credits from one of the following two groups:
Traditional Path
| MUS 797 | Doctoral Proposal Research | 1- 4 |
| MUS 799 | Doctoral Dissertation | 1-12 |
MUS 797: Take 4 credits
MUS 799: Take 12 credits
- All DA students must have a doctoral interview, choose a path to degree completion, and file a plan of study by the end of the first semester in residence.
- Students may earn dissertation hours throughout the entire program, while taking other coursework.
- The 12 credits allotted to the doctoral dissertation (MUS 799) will be divided between recital and dissertation requirements. The two recitals count for 3 credits each and the dissertation counts for the remaining 6 credits.
- No more than 6 credits of MUS 799 may be taken before the student is admitted to candidacy.
- To be admitted to candidacy, students must have passed their comprehensive written and oral examinations, language proficiency (if required), and have their dissertation proposal accepted by the Graduate School.
Major Project Path
MUS 790: Take 4 credits
MUS 791: Take 4 credits
MUS 792: Take 4 credits
MUS 793: Take 4 credits
- All DA students must have a doctoral interview, choose a path to degree completion, and file a plan of study by the end of the first semester in residence.
- Candidacy
- To be admitted to candidacy, students must have passed their comprehensive written and oral examinations, language proficiency (if required), and two of the three recital projects (790, 791, and 792).
- DA students may not complete more than 10 credits of MUS 790 – 792 before being admitted to candidacy.
- MUS 793 may not be completed until the student has been admitted to candidacy.
- DA Committee
- The DA committee must be formed before the first doctoral project may be completed.
- The chair of the DA committee must hold the Doctoral Research Endorsement. All members of the committee must have Graduate Faculty status.
- For MUS 792 and MUS 793 the student will select one member of the faculty advisory committee to serve as the main advisor (not necessarily the committee chair), who will guide the student in preparing a written prospectus, which is then submitted to the DA committee for their suggestions and approval. Deadlines for submission depend on the project and are detailed in the syllabi but in all cases, the written portion of the project must be in its final form before any public presentation. A second dissertation committee member must be assigned as reader for MUS 792. The entire DA committee must evaluate MUS 793. The method of that evaluation will depend on the project chosen.
- Credits and order of projects
- Students may earn dissertation hours throughout the entire program, while taking other coursework.
- No grade will be assigned for a project until four credits are amassed for the course number.
- Recital projects (MUS 790-792) may be completed in any order, according to the guidance of the major advisor and the student’s committee.
- MUS 793 may not be completed until admission to candidacy.
- Students are encouraged to propose projects that have a practical application for the beginning stages of their professional careers.
- Taken together, DA dissertation projects must meet the standards of scholarly research and writing as understood at UNC; they must be based upon original investigation, show critical discernment, and make a significant contribution to the knowledge in the student’s field.
Primary Area — 18 credits
The primary area develops expertise in scholarship and performance related to classical composition. Courses are selected by advisement based upon the candidate's specific area of focus and goals.
Individual Instruction — 8 credits
Complete 8 credits in the primary area of concentration:
| MUS 635 | Advanced Individual Instruction in Conducting | 2 |
| MUS 665 | Individual Instruction in Collaborative Piano | 2 |
| MUS 670 | Individual Instruction in Voice | 2 |
| MUS 671 | Individual Instruction in Keyboards | 2 |
| MUS 673 | Individual Instruction in Strings | 2 |
| MUS 674 | Individual Instruction in Woodwinds | 2 |
| MUS 675 | Individual Instruction in Brass | 2 |
| MUS 676 | Individual Instruction in Percussion | 2 |
| MUS 677 | Individual Instruction in Composition | 2 |
| MUS 678 | Individual Instruction in Harp or Guitar | 2 |
Composition Concentration — 10 credits
Complete 10 credits from the following:
Electives — 4-7 credits
Any 500 or 600-level course with MUS prefix may count as an elective.
Secondary Area — 8-10 credits
The secondary area develops a scholarly and/or performing focus. The secondary area and its courses are selected by the candidate with the approval of the program advisor and a secondary area advisor. Complete 8 – 10 credits from an approved secondary area: Classical Composition, Collaborative Piano, Conducting (Choral, Orchestral or Wind), Instrumental Performance, Jazz Composition, Jazz History, Jazz Instrumental Performance, Pedagogy, Jazz Studies, Jazz Vocal Performance, , Music Education, Music History and Literature, Music Industry/Business, Music Theory, Opera Studies, Piano Pedagogy, Piano Performance, Vocal Pedagogy, or Vocal Performance.
Upon advisement, students may also choose a secondary area outside Music with appropriate graduate-level coursework.
In addition to coursework, students shall complete a research or creative project as part of the secondary area.
Collaborative Piano — 8-10 credits
Take all of the following:
| MUS 540 | Techniques of Vocal Coaching for Pianists | 2 |
| MUS 541 | Chamber Music Literature for Keyboard | 2 |
| MUS 665 | Individual Instruction in Collaborative Piano | 2 |
MUS 665: Take two semesters for a total of 4 credits
Choose 2-4 credits from the following:
Final Project: 45-minute Collaborative Recital
Conducting (Choral) — 10 credits
Complete all of the following:
| MUS 550 | Score Reading and Analysis | 1 |
| MUS 551 | Individual Instruction in Conducting | 1 |
| MUS 558 | Choral Literature and Techniques | 2 |
| MUS 650 | Seminar: Choral Music | 2 |
Choose two credits from the following:
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Conducting (Orchestral) — 9 credits
Complete all of the following:
| MUS 512 | Symphonic Repertoire | 2 |
| MUS 550 | Score Reading and Analysis | 1 |
| MUS 551 | Individual Instruction in Conducting | 1 |
| MUS 580 | String Techniques for the Conductor | 2 |
MUS 551: Take 4 semesters for a total of 4 credits
Final project: Prepare an assigned piece to conduct in live performance with the UNC Symphony Orchestra.
Conducting (Wind) —8 credits
Complete all of the following:
| MUS 511 | Wind Band Literature and Techniques | 2 |
| MUS 550 | Score Reading and Analysis | 1 |
| MUS 551 | Individual Instruction in Conducting | 1 |
MUS 550: Take 2 semesters for a total of 2 credits
MUS 551: Take 4 semesters for a total of 4 credits
Final project: Prepare an assigned piece to conduct in live performance with UNC Concert Band.
Instrumental Performance (excluding Piano) — 8-9 credits
Choose 4 credits in individual instruction from the following:
| MUS 631 | Applied Music Instruction | 1 |
| MUS 673 | Individual Instruction in Strings | 2 |
| MUS 674 | Individual Instruction in Woodwinds | 2 |
| MUS 675 | Individual Instruction in Brass | 2 |
| MUS 676 | Individual Instruction in Percussion | 2 |
MUS 631: Take 4 semesters for a total of 4 credits
MUS 673: Take 2 semesters for a total of 4 credits
MUS 674: Take 2 semesters for a total of 4 credits
MUS 675: Take 2 semesters for a total of 4 credits
MUS 676: Take 2 semesters for a total of 4 credits
Choose 2-3 credits from the following (as advised):
| MUS 514 | String Chamber Music Literature, Styles, and Techniques | 2 |
| MUS 517 | Comprehensive String Pedagogy for String Players | 3 |
| MUS 541 | Chamber Music Literature for Keyboard | 2 |
| MUS 626 | Orchestral Excerpts | 1 |
| MUS 658 | Brass Pedagogy | 3 |
| MUS 661 | Percussion Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 662 | Woodwind Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 663 | Trumpet Literature and Pedagogy | 2 |
Choose 2 credits of a performance ensemble or chamber music:
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Jazz Composition — 8 credits
Complete all of the following:
| MUS 547 | Advanced Arranging | 2 |
| MUS 555 | Seminar in Jazz Composition | 2 |
| MUS 632 | Music Composition Instruction | 1 |
| MUS 637 | Individual Instruction in Jazz Composition | 2 |
MUS 632: Take 2 semesters for a total of 2 credits
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Jazz History —8-9 credits
Choose 6-9 credits from the following:
Approved titles of MUS 695:
Special Topics in Music "New Orleans: Then and Now" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "First Decades of Jazz" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "Post Bop Practices" (3 credits)
If 6 credits are taken above, choose 2-3 credits from the following:
| MUS 526 | Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop | 1-4 |
| MUS 641 | Standard Latin & Jazz Repertoire | 1 |
| MUS 651 | Seminar in Music History: Late Romanticism to 1945 | 3 |
| MUS 652 | Seminar in Music History: 1945 to the Present | 3 |
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Jazz Instrumental Performance — 8-10 credits
Take 4 credits from the following:
| MUS 636 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
Take 2 credits from the following:
Choose 2-4 credits from the following:
Approved titles of MUS 695:
Special Topics in Music "New Orleans: Then and Now" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "First Decades of Jazz" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "Post Bop Practices" (3 credits)
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Jazz Pedagogy — 8-10 credits
Complete all of the following:
| MUS 542 | Jazz Pedagogy | 2 |
| MUS 543 | Jazz Program Administration, Planning and Development | 2 |
Choose 4-6 credits from the following:
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Jazz Studies — 8-10 credits
Choose 2–3 credits from the following:
| MUS 526 | Jazz Rhythm Section Workshop | 1-4 |
| MUS 631 | Applied Music Instruction | 1 |
| MUS 636 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
| MUS 637 | Individual Instruction in Jazz Composition | 2 |
Choose 4–5 credits from the following:
Approved titles of MUS 695:
Special Topics in Music "New Orleans: Then and Now" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "First Decades of Jazz" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "Post Bop Practices" (3 credits)
Choose 2 credits from the following:
Final Project decided upon in consultation with the secondary advisor.
Jazz Vocal Performance — 8-10 credits
Complete 4 credits from the following course:
| MUS 636 | Individual Instruction in Jazz | 2 |
Complete 2 credits from the following course:
Choose 2-4 credits from the following:
Approved titles of MUS 695:
Special Topics in Music "New Orleans: Then and Now" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "First Decades of Jazz" (3 credits)
Special Topics in Music "Post Bop Practices" (3 credits)
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Music Education — 9 credits
Complete all of the following:
| MUS 519 | Foundations of Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 533 | Curriculum Trends in Music Education | 3 |
| MUS 612 | Psychology of Music Teaching and Learning | 3 |
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor
Music History — 9 credits
Complete the following course:
Take 6 credits from the following:
| MUS 643 | Seminar: Medieval Music | 3 |
| MUS 644 | Seminar: Music in the Renaissance | 3 |
| MUS 645 | Seminar: The Baroque Period | 3 |
| MUS 646 | Seminar: The Classic Period | 3 |
| MUS 647 | Seminar: The Romantic Period | 3 |
| MUS 651 | Seminar in Music History: Late Romanticism to 1945 | 3 |
| MUS 652 | Seminar in Music History: 1945 to the Present | 3 |
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor.
Music Industry/Business — 8-9 credits
Take at least one of the following:
| MUS 535 | Music Business - Industry Studies | 2 |
| MUS 537 | Music Business for the 21st Century Musician | 2 |
Choose an additional 6-7 credits from the following:
| MUS 535 | Music Business - Industry Studies | 2 |
| MUS 537 | Music Business for the 21st Century Musician | 2 |
| MUS 556 | Recording Techniques | 2 |
| MUS 622 | Directed Studies in Music | 1- 4 |
| PVA 520 | Arts Entrepreneurship II | 3 |
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor
Music Theory — 9 credits
Complete the following course:
Choose 9 credits from the following:
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor
Opera Studies — 8-10 credits
Complete all of the following:
MUS 560 Note: Options include the following.
Produce full Opera Scenes Program (2 credits)
Assistant conduct an opera (1 credit, repeatable)
Assistant Coach for a mainstage opera (1 credit, repeatable)
Coach for a chamber opera (1 credit, repeatable)
Final Project: direct or conduct a chamber opera, with a correlative paper
Piano Performance — 10 credits
Complete all of the following:
Complete 4 credits from the following:
| MUS 631 | Applied Music Instruction | 1 |
| MUS 671 | Individual Instruction in Keyboards | 2 |
Complete 2 credits from the following:
| MUS 630 | Small Ensembles and Chamber Music | 1 |
Final project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor
Vocal Pedagogy — 8 credits
Complete the following courses:
Choose 4 credits from the following (See Note):
| MUS 622 | Directed Studies in Music | 1- 4 |
| MUS 623 | Individual Studies in Effective Teaching | 1- 3 |
Note: Students may choose to take summer vocal pedagogy workshops for graduate credit and transfer the credit to UNC.
Capstone project to be agreed upon by the student and the Secondary Advisor
Vocal Performance —9-10 credits
Complete the following course:
Take at least 3 credits:
Choose one of the following:
Choose one of the following:
Choose an addition 1-2 credits from the following:
Final project: 45-minute recital