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Handbook for DMA Students

Admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts (major in piano performance) requires

completion of an online application and an audition of a program equivalent to an MM

recital program. Complete details about the process and admission requirements are

described on the School of Music website (https://music.psu.edu/admissions). The

information in the DMA Handbook is designed to assist students once they have been

admitted to the DMA program and to supplement (not replace) information in the School

of Music Graduate Student Handbook, available on the School’s website (“Information

for Current Students – Student Handbooks”). University policies are outlined on the Penn

State Graduate School website.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Matriculation: Expectations upon arrival 2

Possible sequence to completion of the degree 3

Overview of Coursework 4

Recital Policies 5

Academic Policies 8

Qualifying Examination 9

Comprehensive Oral Examination 10

Final Recital 12

Sample DMA Program Timetables 13

Assistantship Information 17

Facilities 18

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MATRICULATION

A) Arrival. Students must be prepared to arrive on campus in time to take graduate

competency exams in music theory and history. Letters describing the specific dates

of these exams are sent annually to all matriculating students by the Graduate Music

Admission Administrative Assistant. Additionally, students with teaching

assistantships must be prepared to arrive in time for preparatory meetings prior to the

start of school.

B) Competency Exams. Upon entrance, all incoming graduate students must take

competency exams in music theory and history to determine sufficient knowledge in

these areas. Failure to meet the minimum standard on these exams may result in

additional remedial coursework that will not be counted toward the degree. Results

will be made available prior to the beginning of the Fall semester of matriculation for

advising and scheduling purposes. See your advisor (applied instructor) promptly for

results and recommendations for courses.

C) Graduate student orientation. Entering graduate students will be sent detailed

materials and schedules for required orientation activities.

D) Teaching assistant meetings. Students who have been awarded a teaching

assistantship must make themselves available for graduate assistant teaching meetings

prior to the start of the semester. These meetings will be scheduled in the days prior

to the Fall semester of matriculation and will not conflict directly with required

competency exams in music theory and history. These meetings are among the first

official duties required of graduate teaching assistants and attendance is mandatory.

Please see your contract if you have any questions.

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TYPICAL SEQUENCE TO THE DEGREE

(order may be somewhat different, depending on students’ prior coursework)

• Acceptance into the program

• Address deficiency course work in music history, music theory, piano literature,

and/or bibliography, if/as necessary based on competency exam performance.

• Two years of full-time course work including a solo recital and a chamber

music/concerto performance each year (for a total of four recitals)

• Completion of the lecture-recital monograph

• Qualifying (written) examination (generally in the fifth semester of full-time

enrollment)

• Performance of the lecture-recital

• Completion of coursework

• Comprehensive (oral) examination

• Culminating Recital (at least three months following completion of the

comprehensive exam and prior to the date set by the graduate school for

graduation for a given semester. See Grad School/Important Dates for details.)

• Awarding of the degree

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RESIDENCY – OVERVIEW OF COURSEWORK

Also see the sample course of study on pp. 13-16 and use the Check Sheet in the

Graduate Handbook Appendix to track your progress toward the degree.

College Level Teaching Preparation (10 credits) includes six credits of keyboard

literature seminars, Music 585, 586, and 587, and four credits of pedagogy seminars,

Music 519 and 524.

Discipline of Music category (18 credits) includes Music 533, Pedagogy of

Theory/History (2 credits) and 6 credits chosen from Music (theory/history) 531, 532,

535, 572, 573, and 574 as well as 10 credits chosen from a list of eligible music electives.

Applied work: Performance Instruction, 20 credits: Keyboard 580 (16 credits), Piano

Performance Doctoral/Artist Level. Major performance instruction represents the

required minimum four semesters in residence and requires a 30-minute jury each

semester before the entire piano faculty during finals week. Exceptions to performing a

jury may be considered if the student has performed a juried recital shortly before finals

week. Students must enroll in Keyboard 580 each semester of residence until the lecture

recital is complete, but students should NOT be enrolled in Keyboard 580 during the

semester(s) of preparation for the final solo recital (Music 805).

Ensemble participation (4 credits minimum): Music 523, Sonata Duos or Music 565,

Studio/Recital Accompanying (1 credit each). Ensembles may be assigned by faculty or

may be found independently. Trios, Quartets, or Quintets may be assigned based on

availability and with priority to those students also registered for Music 804. Instrumental

and vocal collaborators do not need to be registered for Music 523 or 565. Collaborators

for Music 804 do not necessarily have to be students from Penn State. Please consult the

syllabi for Music 523 and 565 for more information.

Culminating Experience category (12 credits): two solo recitals (Music 801, 2 credits

each), two chamber music recitals (Music 804, 1 credit each), a lecture recital (803, 2

credits) with monograph (Music 802, 1 credit), qualifying examination and

comprehensive oral examination, and an independently prepared final solo recital (Music

805, 3 credits).

Other Expectations

Studio classes (0 credits): Each major piano faculty member holds regularly scheduled

studio (performance) classes. DMA students are expected to be leaders in these classes,

performing often, demonstrating a professional demeanor and attitude toward the work,

and contributing as requested.

Concert attendance (0 credits): The piano area requires DMA student concert

attendance at major piano events. These are defined as piano faculty recitals, guest artist

recitals, guest masterclasses, piano workshops, concerto performances on campus, and

DMA recitals and lecture recitals. Excused absences must be discussed in advance with

your instructor. Failure to attend will result in a lowered grade for applied lessons.

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RECITAL POLICIES

General requirements. All repertoire for every recital must be approved by the applied

instructor/advisor. All recitals (solo and chamber music) must consist of repertoire never

previously performed by the student in a degree or certificate program. Students who

attempt to perform repertoire from previous degree recitals will be considered in violation

of the code of academic standards. Repertoire for solo programs must demonstrate a wide

diversity of musical styles. Over the course of the degree, solo repertoire must include at

least one representative work from each of the following:

• Major work by J. S. Bach or Handel that includes significant contrapuntal music

• One complete major classical sonata

• One significant post-impressionist work

Music 801, Doctoral Solo Recitals (2 credits each, for 4 credits total). These two recitals

will be prepared while enrolled in Keyboard 580. Repertoire must be approved by the

applied instructor/advisor. Solo recitals are a minimum of 50 minutes of music.

Music 804, Chamber Recitals (1 credit each or 2 credits total). Chamber music recitals

normally include traditional combinations of chamber music written for solo instrument

with piano and multiple instruments with piano; however, permission to include piano

four-hands works and two-piano works may be given. One recital may consist

exclusively of a memorized piano concerto performed with second piano

accompaniment. If a student elects a concerto for one of the Music 804 recitals, the

second 804 recital must be primarily collaborative works with other instruments and can

include no more than one four-hand or two-piano work of modest length. All repertoire

for every recital must be approved by the applied instructor/advisor.

MUSIC 802-803, Lecture-recital and Monograph. The topic and repertoire for the

lecture recital should be from a repertoire that is distinctive and not part of the standard

canon, or (if standard repertory) it must be analyzed and performed from a new

perspective. The topic must be discussed and approved in consultation with the applied

instructor/advisor and with input from the second reader. The final version of the paper

must be approved prior to enrolling in Music 803 (Lecture Recital). The student will

submit drafts to the advisor (first reader) until the advisor considers it acceptable to be

submitted to a second reader for further editing. The process is as follows:

1. Establish a committee for the Lecture Recital/Monograph: The committee chair

(primary reader) is the student’s advisor/applied instructor, and the second reader may

be a piano faculty member of the student’s choice or a faculty member from another

area of the School. Students are responsible for securing the second reader’s

participation.

2. Establish parameters for repertoire and paper length. The text for the Lecture Recital

should be of a length that can be delivered in 30-40 minutes. The repertoire length

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should not exceed the length of the lecture and must be a minimum of 25 minutes.

The monograph should be 20-40 pages in length, excluding table of contents and

bibliography.

3. Propose a topic and write the monograph. Also see the Graduate Handbook – Lecture

Recital (DMA):

• Discuss your ideas for the topic with your committee chair; gather input from the

second reader.

• Prepare and submit to your committee chair a one-page outline indicating the

overall trajectory of your paper.

• Research your paper by seeking and reading appropriate source material, consulting

with your committee chair as your ideas develop.

• Write a rough draft of your paper, seeking help as needed from the PSU Writing

Center, if English is your second language. While your committee chair will gladly

assist with content and organization, you are responsible for style, spelling,

punctuation, and other grammatical issues prior to submitting your draft. Be

prepared to spend significant time revising and editing during this stage.

• When the draft is completed to the satisfaction of your committee chair, submit to

the second reader -- not before.

• Following consultation with your chair and second reader, complete and submit the

Draft Submission Form (Graduate Handbook: General Graduate Program

Information) with 2-4 pages addressing the topic, plus appropriate bibliography, for

approval of the Graduate Committee.

4. Dates/deadlines. Typically, the written proposal is made available to the Graduate

Committee by the end of the semester prior to the semester in which the student is

enrolled in Music 802, Lecture Recital Monograph, e.g., December before enrolling

in Music 802 in January. Consult with your committee chair to establish realistic

deadlines for the monograph proposal, draft, and final monograph the semester before

registration.

5. Final approval form. The full text will be submitted to the committee for final

approval at least two weeks prior to the lecture recital. See the Graduate Handbook

for the Final Approval Form. Students are to submit the final version of their paper to

https://libraries.psu.edu/getting-started-scholarsphere. The guide at this website will

take students through the process of uploading and labeling a document to

ScholarSphere, Penn State’s secure repository service.

NOTE: Academic integrity. Students should own a copy of and be familiar with A

Manual for Writers of Research Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, by Kate Turabian,

(Chicago University Press) for proper formatting and citations. In no version of a

submitted paper (any draft or final version) shall materials be copied from the internet or

other sources without appropriate citations; doing so is a violation of academic standards

for the University and may result in disciplinary measures.

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MUSIC 803, Performance of the DMA lecture-recital. There should be an evenly

divided focus in the performance of the lecture-recital between the lecture (which may

include demonstrations at the piano to assist in making points) and the performance of the

repertoire. In no case should the performance exceed the time length of the lecture. The

performance should be a minimum of 25 minutes of music. Students may employ on-

screen presentations, handouts, or other means to assist in communicating the content of

the lecture to the audience.

MUSIC 805, DMA Final Solo Recital (3 credits). This third solo recital consisting of a

minimum of 60 minutes of music must be prepared independently (i.e. without lessons

and instruction on the chosen repertoire) after both the oral and written comprehensive

examinations are passed. Repertoire selections for the final recital should be chosen in

consultation with the applied faculty member. Candidates may perform the works in

applied faculty studio classes, and once or twice for the applied instructor as part of a

total program dress rehearsal, but must not seek lessons or instruction on the repertoire

either from Penn State faculty or elsewhere.

Scheduling recitals

DMA students must be registered for Music 801, 802, 803, 804 or 805 before securing a

recital date. Only the applied instructor may register the student for a required recital;

students may not register for required recitals independently.

Students should do a preliminary consultation with the room scheduling office to find a

list of available and potential dates for recitals for the semester. The student will be

allotted three hours of rehearsal in the hall, including dress rehearsal time. Students must

consult with their applied instructor for a mutually agreeable dress rehearsal time.

For Music 801, 803, and 804, the student must secure a date with any and all

collaborative ensemble members, the applied instructor, and at least one additional piano

faculty member. The applied instructor and any other piano faculty members present will

constitute the evaluation committee for that particular recital. All parties must sign a form

from the scheduling office indicating their availability for the proposed recital date. All

recitals must be video-recorded and submitted to the music office within a week of the

performance.

For Music 805 (Final DMA Examination Recital), the DMA candidate must secure a date

with the entire piano faculty, and representative members from outside fields (one

member from the music theory/history faculty, and one member from outside the School

of Music). See your advisor for assistance and protocol in securing these additional non-

piano faculty members, if necessary. These faculty members will constitute the student’s

final evaluation committee and must be the same as those who participated on the oral

exam committee. The recital must be scheduled on a date in advance of the Graduate

School deadline in the semester in which the student wishes to graduate. Deadlines are

available each semester from the Graduate School at this site

(http://gradschool.psu.edu/current-students/etd/thesisdissertationperformance-calendar/).

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No later than two weeks prior to the proposed date, students must submit an

Examination Request Form to the Graduate School that includes signatures from all

committee members indicating their availability for the proposed recital date. This form

is to be secured from the music office (Irene Kohute). All recitals must be video-

recorded and be made available for additional evaluation/archives as necessary.

The student must secure the venue with the room scheduling office and confirm by email

the availability of the room with each member of the established committee.

For Music 801 and Music 805, a 10-15 minute pre-recital hearing must take place before

the entire piano faculty no later than two weeks before the scheduled date of the

recital. Failure on this hearing will result in cancellation of the recital and a required re-

scheduling at a later time. Students who have earned an A in their most recent solo recital

will be excused from a hearing.

Recital cancellation/postponement fee. A fee may be assessed to the student for recitals

that are cancelled, postponed, or rescheduled within two weeks of the performance date.

ACADEMIC POLICIES

Failing a recital. If a recital performance does not earn a passing grade (B or higher)

from the committee, the recital performance and its associated credits will not be counted

toward the degree program. To complete the degree requirement, the student must repeat

the recital with a pre-recital hearing under the same course number in a subsequent

semester. Registration for additional credits will be required in every such case with no

exceptions. One failed recital will require probationary status; a second failed recital at

any point in the curriculum will be cause for immediate dismissal from the program.

Academic Standards. A grade of B or higher is required in all non-elective music

courses (major area courses). Any major area course in which the earned grade is B- or

lower will not count toward the degree requirements and must be repeated for credit

toward the degree. Please see the School of Music Graduate Handbook for additional

information.

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QUALIFYING EXAMINATION

Written Qualifying Exam –The written qualifying exam will be offered after the student

has successfully completed at least FOUR semesters of full-time required DMA course

work. The exam is typically offered at the beginning of the Fall of the student’s fifth

semester. Written exams for the DMA are not offered during the summer. The written

exam must be passed prior to taking the oral (comprehensive) exam. Successful

completion of the written exam will change the student’s status from ‘student’ to ‘DMA

candidate.’ This new status must be registered with the Graduate School by the student’s

academic advisor. Students who take the exam will receive an advisory statement from

their committee chair, who will suggest areas for improvement.

From the Graduate Degree Programs Bulletin: All graduate students are required to

have a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 for work done at the University and may

not have deferred or missing grades at the time the doctoral oral comprehensive

examination is given. The graduate student must be in good academic standing and must

be registered as a full-time or part-time graduate degree student for the semester

(excluding summer session) in which the doctoral examination is taken (this includes

Qualifying Exam, Comprehensive Exam, and Final Performance Exam).

Format and Timetable. The written exam is typically 6 hours total (3 hours per day over

two days), and includes long essays, short essays, short identification, score

identification, and score analysis (both harmonic and formal).

Should a student not pass the written exam on the first attempt, s/he may be offered one

more opportunity to pass the exam, but never in the same semester (i.e. only one written

exam attempt per semester is permitted). If the student does not successfully pass the

second exam attempt, s/he will be dismissed from the DMA program at PSU.

Content. DMA students who successfully pass the written qualifying exam will be

thoroughly familiar with the following factual information:

(a) History, form, and influence of various genres, including, but not limited to: Sonata,

Etude, Concerto, Prelude, Fugue, Character Piece, Variation, Toccata, and Suite

(b) Principal solo piano repertoire, concerto repertoire, and chamber music repertoire

involving piano of major composers, including, but not limited to:

• J. S. Bach, Handel, D. Scarlatti, (non-organ keyboard works)

• Beethoven, Mozart, Haydn

• Schubert, Schumann, Chopin, Liszt, Mendelssohn, Brahms, Tchaikovsky,

Rachmaninoff, Grieg, Brahms

• Debussy, Ravel, Stravinsky, Bartok, Prokofiev, Schoenberg, Webern, Berg,

Messiaen, Copland, Sessions, Ligeti, Scriabin, Cage, Crumb, Cowell, etc.

(c) Stylistic traits and terms of the common practice musical eras, including

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• Pre-Baroque

• Baroque

• Classical

• Romantic

• 20th and 21st century

(d) Analytical techniques and pedagogical material/strategies appropriate for the major

repertoire, including:

• Form/phrase analysis

• Harmonic analysis, including Roman numeral analysis, modulations, etc.

• Set theory, modes, and principal 20th century compositional techniques

• Pedagogical materials, sequencing, and strategies

• Elementary and intermediate bodies of piano literature by major composers for

students and/or children

• Logical sequencing for introducing students to the music of a given major composer

• Strategies for teaching common difficulties to intermediate and advancing students

(e) A strong general knowledge of the principal works of major composers for the

following genres will also be expected:

• Art Song

• Symphony

• String Quartet

• Opera

• Symphonic Poems

COMPREHENSIVE ORAL EXAMINATION

After passing the written comprehensive exam, the DMA candidate can begin the

process of scheduling a date for the comprehensive oral exam. The oral exam must be

scheduled in the middle to late part of the fall semester, and no earlier than one

month after passing the written exams. The comprehensive oral examination must be

taken while the candidate is still in residence. The candidate must be registered for at

least one credit in the semester s/he takes the comprehensive oral exam. Both exams

(qualifying and comprehensive) include testing in the major subject material of piano

literature, performance, and pedagogy, as well as the ancillary topics of music history and

music theory.

Doctoral Committee. After the student is admitted to candidacy, the Doctoral

Committee should be formed. The Doctoral Committee oversees the Comprehensive Oral

Examination and the Final Recital. This committee is appointed by the director of

Graduate Enrollment Services upon recommendation of the head of the major program,

soon after the student is admitted to candidacy; however, the selection of the committee

typically begins with candidate discussing options with his/her studio applied professor.

See the Graduate Handbook: Doctoral Examinations and the University Bulletin:

Graduate Programs for current procedures. Because this committee must include a

member of the Graduate Faculty outside the School of Music, the Graduate Committee of

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the School of Music maintains a list of appropriate individuals who may be invited to

serve on the Doctoral Committee.

Comprehensive Oral Exam. After passing the written comprehensive exam and

securing a Doctoral Committee, the DMA candidate can begin the process of scheduling

a date for the comprehensive oral exam. As with the qualifying examination, graduate

students are required to have a minimum grade-point average of 3.00 for work done at the

University and may not have deferred or missing grades at the time the doctoral

comprehensive examination is given. The graduate student must be in good academic

standing and must be registered as a full-time or part-time graduate degree student for the

semester (excluding summer session) in which the doctoral examination is taken.

Typically, the oral exam is scheduled in the middle to late part of the fall semester, and

no earlier than one month after passing the written (qualifying) exam. The comprehensive

oral exam is the final examination that must be passed prior to performing the final

recital. This exam, no more than two hours in length, covers much of the same material

as the qualifying exam, but also includes listening (both stylistic and specific

identification from the common piano performance practice repertoire), and discussion of

general history and philosophy as it affects music, exploring the piano repertoire in

context with other contemporaneous musical movements and genres. Candidates must

demonstrate a strong enough familiarity with music history to be able to teach a freshman

music history survey course. Weaknesses identified in the student’s written qualifying

exam will be addressed in the oral examination, and the student will have been notified of

these weaknesses by his/her advisor.

The School of Music program head will notify Graduate Enrollment Services, providing

two weeks' notice, when the candidate is ready to schedule the comprehensive

examination or the final oral examination/final performance. Doctoral examinations are

scheduled and announced officially by the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services upon

recommendation of the program head, and must not be held without official notification

from the Graduate School. Two weeks' notice is required by the Office of Graduate

Enrollment Services for scheduling any doctoral examination, thus, the School of Music

program head must be notified at least three weeks prior to the desired examination date.

The candidate will meet with the advisor for results and advising immediately after the

exam. Should a candidate not pass the oral exam on the first attempt, s/he may be offered

one more opportunity to pass the exam. If the candidate does not successfully pass the

second exam attempt, the candidate will be dismissed from the DMA program.

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FINAL RECITAL

Final Recital MUSIC 805 (3 credits) constitutes the final exam for the course of study.

This recital must be presented at least three months after successfully completing the

comprehensive oral examination. After successfully passing the oral exam, students may

schedule their final recital date, and by University Graduate School policy, this recital

can be no earlier than three months (12 weeks) after the oral exam completion date and

no later than the date specified by the Graduate School during the semester in which the

student intends to graduate. See Grad School/Important Dates for details.)

International students are strongly advised NOT to register for Music 805 in the same

semester as the Comprehensive Exam because, if the student does not pass the

Comprehensive Exam, the 12-week scheduling policy will likely mean that the student

must do a “late drop” of the Final Solo Recital course or petition for an “Administrative

Course Cancellation.” Depending on the student’s status, this might result in the student

being in non-compliance status with Directorate of International Student and Scholar

Advising (DISSA) and visa regulations.

Directorate of International Student and Scholar Advising (DISSA): International

students should consult the DISSA website or seek guidance from a DISSA adviser to

ensure compliance with visa regulations. International students in F-1 and J-1 status are

required to be registered full time during fall and spring semesters. Full time for graduate

students is 9 credits. Students do not have to be enrolled in summer unless they were

admitted for summer. U.S. regulations do allow reduced course loads in restricted

situations (for example, in the last semester of enrollment while preparing the Final

Recital). Students should never assume that they have the right to a reduced course load

at any time during their program of study. Moreover, students must get permission in

advance from the DISSA for a reduced course load by completing the Reduced Course

Load eForm in iStart. Otherwise, under-enrollment will be reported in SEVIS as a

violation, and the student’s SEVIS record will be terminated for “unauthorized drop

below full course level.” All authorizations for reduced course loads must meet criteria as

set forth in the F-1 regulation

OTHER INFORMATION

The Graduate Handbook: General Graduate Program Information includes valuable

information about doctoral recitals and examinations, required papers, and other degree

requirements, as well as various forms that are used for proposals and approvals, and

sample pages for the Lecture Recital monograph. The Handbook also includes

information about courses available in the School of Music, funding for graduate student

travel to enhance professional development, and other resources. Graduate students

should review these materials thoroughly.

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Sample DMA program timetable No. 1

(assuming entrance in an odd-year Fall) *These courses are offered on a rotating basis every two years.

Semester I Fall

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 585* Keyboard Literature 2 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music xxx Music elective1 2-3 credits

Music 804 DMA Chmbr/Cncrto Recital 1 credit

12-14 1Suggested option: Music 419* Beginning Piano Pedagogy*

Semester II Spring

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 586* Keyboard Literature 2 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music xxx Music elective2 2-3 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 801 Solo piano recital 2 credits

13-15 2Suggested option: Music 424 Intermediate Piano Pedagogy*

Semester III Fall

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 519* Intermediate Piano Pedagogy 2 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music xxx Music elective3 2-3 credits

Music 804 DMA Chamber/Concerto Recital 1 credits

12-14 3Highly recommended option: Music 481 Piano Literature Survey*

Semester IV Spring

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 802 Lecture-recital monograph 1 credit

Music 524* Advanced Piano Pedagogy 2 credits

Music 533* Pedagogy of Theory/History 2 credits

Music 587* Keyboard Literature 2 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music 801 Solo piano recital 2 credits

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14

Semester V Fall

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 803 DMA Lecture-recital performance 2 credits

9-11

Qualifying Written Exam (in the first four weeks) and Final Oral Exam

Semester VI Spring

(Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits)

(Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit)

Music xxx Music elective 2-3 credits

Music 805 Final Solo Recital** 3 credits

5-6

**Final Oral Exam must have been passed at least 12 weeks prior to the scheduled final recital.

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Sample DMA program timetable No. 2

(assuming entrance in an even-year Fall) *These courses are offered on a rotating basis every two years.

Semester I Fall

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 519 Intermediate Pno Ped Sem* 2 credits

Music xxx Music elective1 2-3 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music 804 DMA Chamber/Concerto Recital 1 credits

12-13 1Highly recommended option: Music 481 Piano Literature Survey*

Semester II Spring

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music 533 Pedagogy of Theory/History* 2 credits

Music 587 Keyboard Literature* 2 credits

Music 524 Advanced Pno Ped Sem* 2 credits

Music 801 Solo piano recital 2 credits

13-14

Semester III Fall

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 585 Keyboard Literature* 2 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music xxx Music elective2 2-3 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music 804 DMA Chamber/Concerto Recital 1 credits

12-14 2Suggested option: Music 419 Beginning Piano Pedagogy*

Semester IV Spring

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 802 Lecture-recital monograph 1 credit

Music 586 Keyboard Literature* 2 credits

Music xxx Music elective3 2-3 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music 801 Solo piano recital 2 credits

14-16 3Suggested option: Music 424 Intermediate Piano Pedagogy*

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Semester V Fall

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music xxx Music elective 2-3 credits

Music 5xx Theory/History option 2-3 credits

Music 803 DMA Lecture-recital performance 2 credits

9-11

Qualifying Written Exam (in the first four weeks) and Final Oral Exam**

Semester VI Spring

Keyboard 580 Applied piano 4 credits

Music 523/565 Ensemble 1 credit

Music xxx Music elective 2-3 credits

Music 805 Final Solo Recital** 3 credits

5-6

**Comprehensive Oral Exam must have been passed at least 12 weeks prior to the scheduled final recital.

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ASSISTANTSHIP INFORMATION

Application Process. See current information on the School of Music website –

Graduate Admissions: Financial Aid Information. Typically, the process begins with the

student completing the Graduate Assistantship Application, often as part of the initial

admissions process. Exceptional students who matriculate without an assistantship,

however, may be considered for an award at a later time, based on the availability of an

award and the piano faculty’s evaluation of their work in applied and academic areas

throughout their first or second year of the DMA.

Criteria for awarding. The criteria for awarding graduate teaching assistantships is

based on the availability of an assistantship and the piano faculty’s evaluation of the

strength of the entering audition or jury/recital performance, in combination with the

strength of the candidate’s academic portfolio and communication skills. For those

students whose first language is not English, successful completion of American English

Oral Communication Test (AEOCPT) is required. Awards are offered on a competitive

basis beginning in mid-March.

Hours. Normally, awards are made at the quarter-time level, meaning that a ten-hour

work week is expected for each of the 15 weeks of fall and spring semesters for the

duration of the assistantship. Sometimes, work may be lighter in one week than another,

but the average should work out to be approximately 1/4 of a 40-hour work-week.

Duties. The duties for the teaching assistantships vary, but generally include such

activities as preparation for and teaching of secondary group piano, secondary private

lessons, and collaborative work as assigned by the piano area. Also included may be

assistance to an applied professor as needed either in substitute teaching of non-majors,

or preparation/assistance in group piano, collaborative piano, or piano literature. Duties

are communicated upon arrival to campus in consultation with the faculty and following

the results of the entrance exams.

Stipends and Benefits: Stipends for DMA students are currently offered at Grade 13,

with a grant-in-aid covering full tuition and fees and a subsidy for medical insurance. The

stipend amount and other details will be clarified in a “Terms of Offer” agreement, which

outline the conditions of the appointment.

Teaching Assistant Handbook. The graduate teaching assistant electronic handbook is

available on Canvas. Teaching assistants will be assigned to the Canvas group where

there is a great wealth of information relative to the assigned teaching duties. You are

responsible for knowing this information. Much of the information will be discussed in

detail at the Graduate Teaching Assistant orientation meetings in August of each year.

Teaching Assistant Evaluation Procedures. Please refer to the School of Music

Graduate Handbook: General Information for information about teaching assistant

evaluation procedures., registering for Music 602 (Supervised Experience in College

Teaching), and the mid-semester course evaluation process for new GTAs.

18

FACILITIES

Practice rooms and pianos. The piano major practice rooms are kept locked and

students who are accepted into jury-track lessons are issued keys for these rooms. In

addition, there are two graduate assistant rooms reserved for teaching duties assigned to

TAs. After all teaching assignments are met, these rooms may be used by the assigned

TAs for additional practice on a first-come, first served basis.

Keys. Practice room keys are issued upon payment of a refundable deposit. The deposit

is refunded upon return of the key at the end of studies.

Practice room signups. During the second or third week of each semester, practice room

sign ups occur in the office of administrative assistant Irene Kohute (234, Music Building

I). After piano teaching assistants, graduate piano majors receive top scheduling priority.

Graduate students in piano are allotted four hours of pre-scheduled practice each day. No

single room may be signed out for more than three hours per day. Practice room

schedules remain in effect until the end of the last week of classes each semester. There

are no practice signups for graduate piano TA rooms.

Practice room use. To claim a pre-scheduled practice room, arrive at the room no later

than ten minutes after the scheduled time. Later arrival will result in the forfeiture of the

right to claim the room from any current occupant. Use of practice rooms is limited to

practicing. Leaving the practice room vacant for more than 15 minutes at any point

during your scheduled time may result in forfeiture of the room to another student. Pre-

scheduled practice rooms left vacant for more than 15 minutes may be claimed for

practicing on a first come, first served basis. If you are claiming a vacant practice room,

please stack any belongings left by the previous occupant and place them in the corner of

the room for retrieval. No eating or drinking is allowed in the practice rooms and no

smoking is permitted in the School of Music building at any time. Unlocked practice

rooms not in use or not occupied by a properly signed up student are free for use to

registered Penn State University students. These same policies apply to graduate piano

TA rooms regarding practice, though TAs may wish to keep materials stored in the

studio; please use care and respect, however, when entering the room, so as not to disturb

scheduled teaching. When not being used for teaching or practicing, the room may be

used to study, but the first priority is for practice.

Rehearsal rooms. Several rehearsal rooms are available to be scheduled for large

ensemble rehearsals; these include MBI Room 112, MBII Room 128, MBII 122, MBI

Room 121 (Esber Rehearsal Hall) and as permitted by schedule and recital hall policies,

Recital Hall. All of these rooms are equipped with at least one grand piano; Room 122

and the Recital Hall are equipped with two grands apiece (subject to change).

Performance spaces and recital halls. The School’s new Recital Hall (opening in fall

2018) is available for required DMA recitals. The hall is equipped with two Hamburg

Steinway concert grand pianos, state-of-the art audio-visual, recording, and live-

streaming technology.