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College of Creative Arts and Media School of Music

Performance, DMA

The primary objective of the Doctor of Musical Arts degree is the recognition of the highest achievement in music performance and teaching, preparing artist-pedagogues for careers in higher education and in the professional world.

The degree may be taken in performance and literature (with specialization in piano, collaborative piano, voice, vocal pedagogy, percussion, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, saxophone, horn, trumpet, trombone, tuba, low brass, violin, viola, cello, double bass, or conducting) or in composition.

Historical and theoretical knowledge sufficient to support individualized interpretations for performers and original creative work for composers is expected, as are writing and speaking skills needed to communicate clearly and effectively. To assist the student in achieving these objectives, the course of study includes requirements in performance or composition, academic coursework, and research.

Interested students should check the program website for specific audition and application information.

Your Degree Plan

Prepare for a career in higher education or the professional world with a rigorous course of study in the instrument of your choice.

As a DMA Performance student, you will gain:

  • Advanced competencies in performance.
  • Knowledge and skills in one or more fields of music outside the major, such as theory and analysis, history and literature, musicology and ethnomusicology, and pedagogy.
  • Competencies sufficient to understand texts in the repertoire. Voice majors are expected to be proficient in English, German, French, and Italian diction, and to have general phonetic knowledge and skills that can be applied to other languages.

Learn by Doing

Get involved outside the classroom.

Performance majors may specialize in the following:

  • Piano
  • Voice
  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • Clarinet
  • Bassoon
  • Saxophone
  • Horn
  • Trumpet
  • Trombone
  • Tuba
  • Low brass (DMA only)
  • Percussion
  • Violin
  • Viola
  • Cello
  • Double Bass

Places and Spaces

See where you’ll study, research, and create.

View of Creative Arts Center from a distance on a spring day

Canady Creative Arts Center

The Loulie, Valerie, and William Canady Creative Arts center boasts 4 exhibition spaces, 5 performance spaces, 33 individual practice rooms, and 50 classrooms and studios with plenty of space to create. The loading dock at the rear of the building is a wonderful open-air space with stunning acoustics.

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Requirements

To be eligible for admission into a graduate program at WVU an applicant must submit official, bachelor's degree transcripts from a regionally accredited institution and hold a GPA of at least 2.75. WVU operates decentralized admissions. Decentralized admissions allows each graduate program to set its own application requirements in addition to the University requirements.

Admission Requirements

Additional application considerations include:

  • An audition is required for admittance. Please contact the School of Music at music@mail.wvu.edu to receive further information about the audition process, including audition dates, scheduling an audition, and requirements. Please also contact the School of Music for additional application requirements which include letters of recommendation and a repertoire list.

Applications that are incomplete or are submitted after the deadline may be reviewed if openings remain.

International applicants must also submit required documents for international applicants.

Application Deadlines

Each graduate program sets their own terms for admission and application deadlines. Applicants can only apply for admission for the terms displayed below. Any questions regarding the application deadline should be directed to the graduate program representative.

  • Fall: March 1
  • Spring: January 1

Request Info

Want to know more about Performance at WVU? Fill out our request form to receive more information.

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