Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) Keyboard Performance & Pedagogy
Overview
What to expect
The Doctor of Musical Arts in Performance, Keyboard Performance & Pedagogy is a high-level research-intensive performance degree for students of solo or collaborative piano, piano pedagogy, organ, or harpsichord. Students prepare a major work of original scholarship on a significant question in keyboard music while refining their musical skills through personalized studio lessons. They give three formal recitals over the course of their studies and defend their thesis before a committee of examiners at the end.
Why it stands out
Students receive instruction and close supervision from experienced musician-scholars of international distinction. They have access to the formidable range of expertise and resources of a top-ranked world university. They study at the heart of a major city with a vibrant musical culture.
Who it's for
Students wishing to be engaged at the highest levels of their creative and intellectual abilities are ideal candidates for the program. They emerge as expert keyboard scholars and musicians.
Outcomes
Opportunities for study
Study opportunities include participation in an annual recital competition, community outreach concerts, children’s and adult pedagogy programs, and masterclasses with guest artists. Students may work with voice, opera, and instrumental studios and collaborate with student and faculty composers during the Faculty’s New Music Festival. Organists have options for engaging in organ improvisation activities.
Opportunities after graduation
The degree prepares graduates to thrive as intellectually informed professional musicians and also qualifies them for careers in post-secondary teaching and research.
I highly recommend studying music at the Faculty of Music, University of Toronto. During my DMA, I had the opportunity to work with world-class Faculty and fellow students. The libraries are top-notch, and I was able to locate all materials I needed for my research, culminating in original findings that I could confidently share with the academic world and beyond. The network one gets to be a part of is incredibly important, and I felt supported by my mentors, colleagues, and administrative staff. There are incredible opportunities for working in ensembles within many different kinds of genres. I will forever be grateful for having the chance to study, work with and learn from a diverse group of talented professionals at the Faculty of Music!
– Hanné Becker
Bachelor of Music in Performance 2014 - Organ Doctor of Musical Arts 2021 - Organ Performance
The program’s core consists of individual instruction in the student’s primary performance medium (the equivalent of two full-year courses) in preparation for three recitals candidates are required to perform during their program. Required courses also include a seminar on performance-related topics (the equivalent of one full-year course) and a preliminary independent research project conducted under the supervision of a faculty advisor (a 0.5 full-year course).
Electives
Students choose the equivalent of one full-year course and a 0.5 full-year course from a range of performance-related graduate seminars.
Other Requirements
Students must complete a language requirement, major field exam, three recitals, and a thesis consisting of original research related to their performance specialization.
