| Music |
The First Two YearsCourses• Sixteen half-courses are required. Historical musicology students must take two half-courses in ethnomusicology and two half-courses in either theory or composition. One seminar in medieval theory will count toward the theory requirement; no more than one analysis course (157X, 157Y, 158) can be counted towards the theory requirement. Ethnomusicology students are required to take at least two half-courses each in historical musicology and in offerings outside the department. Ethnomusicology students must also take at least two half-courses in music theory or composition. It is recommended that at least one theory seminar be in cross-cultural music theory. Theory and composition students do not have a set curriculum and should plan their course of study with their advisor. All students may be allowed academic credit (normally no more than two half-courses) for work done in other graduate schools in the United States or abroad, subject to the evaluation by the department and acceptance by the Graduate School. Petitions may be submitted after the completion of one full year of graduate work in the department. • In general, for all students, 100-level courses should be taken as supplemental to the graduate program, and should not be the major portion of the student’s coursework. • Graduate credit will automatically be given to composition students for any of the following 100-level courses: Music 157x and 157y, 160, 167. In order to receive graduate credit, permission to take any additional half-courses at the 100 level must be granted by the graduate advisor before taking the course. • For theory students, the following courses will count “in their secondary area”; in composition, 166r, 167r, up to a total of two terms in all, 261r, 262r, 264, 265, 270, and 272; in musicology, courses numbered 201 through 219 or any 100-level course that has been specifically designated as satisfying this requirement in a given term by both the graduate advisors in musicology and the graduate advisor in theory. Theory students intending to count graduate credit (toward the sixteen half-course credits) for any 100-level course should obtain written authorization to do so from the graduate theory advisor prior to taking the course.
Analysis/Tonal Writing• Competence and fluency in traditional harmony, counterpoint, strict composition, and analysis (including analysis of 20th-century music) are prerequisites for taking the general examination. Students found to have deficiencies in these skills will be required to take Music B, or other pertinent courses. Work must be undertaken in the first year of study.
Languages• Reading knowledge must be proved before taking the general examination: Historical musicology—German, and French or Italian. Ethnomusicology—a European research language and a second language to be determined in consultation with the Ethnomusicology advisor. Theory—German plus one other language (French, Italian, Latin). Composition—German, Italian or French unless an alternative language is approved in writing by the graduate advisor. Historical musicology students and ethnomusicology students must pass a third language appropriate to the field of specialization after completing the general examinations and within one year of the approval of a dissertation proposal. • Requirements for languages not tested regularly within the department may be satisfied through special examination, or through presentation of other documentation at the discretion of the graduate advisor.
Advising• Advising in the department during the pre-generals period is primarily handled by the appropriate graduate advisors and faculty members in the various programs, with the director of graduate studies available for further advice. After successful completion of the general examinations, students consult with individual faculty members on their proposed fields of concentration, and when a dissertation proposal has been completed, it is presented to the faculty in that field of study. When the dissertation proposal has been approved by the faculty in the program, it is brought to the entire department for final approval, and a dissertation committee is set up for each student. The dissertation committee consists of an advisor and two readers. Any questions or concerns about advising in the department can be brought to the attention of the director of graduate studies or the chair.
General Examinations• The General Examination consists of two parts: written and oral. The orals are taken after passing the written portions. The exam dates differ by program but are usually between May and September of the student’s second year of study. Both the written and the oral parts can be repeated, but no more than once. The format, which is significantly different for each program, is as follows:
Historical Musicology• For historical musicologists, the general test will have three main parts—written, analysis and oral. The written exam consists of essays and short answer questions related to six of eight topics chosen by the student. The two prepared topics not selected for the written exam will be presented in the oral exam. The open-book analysis exam will be given in the summer, at a mutually agreeable time around mid-July. This will be a take-home exam, distributed on a Friday, and returned on Monday, mid-afternoon. It consists of two pieces of music chosen from (1) before 1700, (2) 18th or 19th century, or (3) 20th century. Students will choose one topic on which they will make a ten-minute presentation in the oral examination. Students will choose a second topic on which they will prepare a syllabus for a 13-week graduate seminar on the subject. This syllabus will be presented in written form, and may be the subject of discussion in the oral examination.
Ethnomusicology• The written test for ethnomusicologists is divided into three sections: one on ethnomusicology theory and method, a second from two areas of world music, a third on interdisciplinary problems. The analysis test includes two examples, one from the student’s major area (i.e. North Indian music, Swedish music, etc.) and a second from the Western art music tradition. The oral examination in ethnomusicology focuses on the special field or area chosen by the student, but may include questions about general ethnomusicology not necessarily related to topics covered in seminars. The remainder of the examination focuses on questions posed in the written examination.Theory• The written examination consists of four different parts: 1. A preliminary oral examination on repertoire and analysis (“single sheets”), lasting 30 minutes, with one hour preparation time, usually taken at the beginning of the summer. 2. Four written exams of 3 hours each: (a) systematic theories, (b) history of music theory, (c + d) two examinations in special fields relevant to dissertation research. 3. Analytical essays on two musical works from different periods (take-home paper over 4 days).
Composition• For composers, a written analysis is to be completed in three days at the end of the spring term of the second year of graduate study. It consists of a piece or set of pieces that should be analyzed by the student in the allotted time period. Students are also required to write an original composition of 7–10 minutes length with an imposed instrumentation, to be submitted by August 15. The oral examination is based on an in-depth discussion of three major works that are assigned in the late spring of the second year of graduate study, plus an analytical presentation of the student’s original composition.
Teaching• Beginning in the third year, graduate students in good standing are eligible for teaching fellowships. Most teaching fellows devote two-fifths TIME to teaching.
Third Year Requirements• The third year is primarily devoted to developing a dissertation proposal and the beginning of work on the dissertation. All students will complete their required courses; in most cases, that will mean two half-courses, the topics of which may be assigned by the faculty as a result of the general examination. Musicology students will begin their third language (to be completed within one year of the approval of a dissertation proposal).
Dissertation• Within the academic year in which the General Examination is passed, the PhD candidate is expected to develop a proposal for a dissertation, which should be a major original contribution to the field. The proposal must be submitted for approval to the program, which is responsible for assigning the student a committee consisting of a dissertation advisor and two other faculty members. Normally, the complete dissertation must be submitted within five years after passing the General Examination, and satisfactory progress must be demonstrated every year in order that the student remains in good standing. If the dissertation is submitted thereafter the department is not obligated to accept it. The formal requirements for the dissertation are set forth in The Form of the PhD Dissertation, provided by the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. The department requires one bound copy for the Music Library, in addition to the two copies required for the Registrar.
Colloquium• Musicology and theory students, after the approval of their dissertation proposal, will participate in the doctoral colloquium until the dissertation is accepted. Exceptions are made for Traveling Scholars researching outside of Harvard.
AM Program and Degree Requirements• The AM in Performance Practice is a two-year program in which students take departmental courses focused on this specialty and write an AM thesis. Students wishing to continue at Harvard for the PhD will apply in the normal manner, and their applications will be considered in the customary way. Students admitted to the PhD program will be granted credit for work done at Harvard or elsewhere according to departmental guidelines, which normally grant credit for two graduate courses taken before entering the PhD program.
Courses• The student’s program must be approved by the department at the time of registration. The AM degree will be awarded on completion with passing grad (B- or above) of at least eight and no more than twelve half-courses. Courses, selected with approval of the department, typically include Music 201, Music 182, Music 183, three graduate seminars, Music 300, and Music 299.
Languages• Students will be expected to demonstrate a reading knowledge of French, German, or Italian by the beginning of the third term.
Residence• There is a minimum residence requirement of three terms. Two years will ordinarily be required to complete the degree.
Thesis• Students will submit an AM thesis, the subject and scope of which will be determined in consultation with the advisor. |