Performance Practice Track

Performance Practice Track (en route A.M. degree)

Doctoral candidates for Musicology have the option of pursuing a Performance Practice track. By completing the coursework for the Ph.D. in Musicology and the additional requirements below, you may earn a Master of Arts in Performance Practice degree en route to your Ph.D. Note: we do not admit students to a performance practice degree program. This opportunity is only offered as part of the Musicology doctoral program. All coursework and the recital must be completed prior to the Preliminary Examination.

Course and Recital Requirements

In addition to the courses required for the Ph.D. in Musicology, the following must be completed:

  • MUS 792: Independent Study in Performance Practice
  • Present a public recital (35-50 minutes)
  • Produce a program and notes for the recital
Guidelines for Independent Study in Performance Practice

Independent Study in Performance Practice (Music 792) must include scholarly content as well as applied instruction in your instrument (or in voice). It must have conceptual coherence and include a final product: for example, a term paper or a lecture-recital. Topics in the past have included performance practice studies in basso continuo, French Baroque organ music, organ music of César Franck, harpsichord music of François Couperin, early Iberian keyboard music, 16th-century Italian organ music, organ literature published in the 1620s, and organ improvisation techniques in 17th-century northern Germany.

Guidelines for Public Recital

Recital Review Committee:  The recital review committee includes three individuals: a recital supervisor appointed by the DGS and two additional members of the Graduate Faculty. By the middle of the semester before your planned recital, you need to request the DGS to appoint a recital supervisor. Ordinarily this will be the faculty member who supervised you in your independent studies (MUS 792). The supervisor will serve as chair of the Recital Committee, to which two additional Graduate Faculty members will be appointed. After your committee has been appointed, the submission of an informal proposal of the program is advisable.

The recital committee will attend the recital, and will vote pass or fail. At least two passing votes are required to satisfy the recital requirement. An informal discussion between you and your committee, concerning the performance and program notes, will be scheduled for a few days after the recital.

Timing

Your public recital should be scheduled late in semester 2 or early in semester 3 to avoid conflict with examination preparation. Note: You may propose other concerts before this official Master's-level recital, provided at least one language exam has been passed. At least five weeks prior to your recital, you must supply a program and notes to your committee and the Director of Graduate Studies for approval. The committee may ask for changes in either the program or notes. Program and notes should be between 600 and 800 words.  At the recital, you must provide a copy of the approved program and notes to your recital review committee. Please coordinate with the department Concert Manager to schedule the recital performance.