Digital Musics - Graduate

Chair: TBA

Professors M. A. Casey, W. Cheng, K. Dong, T. C. Levin, S. Pinkas, S. R. Swayne; Associate Professor A. R. Fure (Director, Graduate Program in Digital Musics); Assistant Professors C. Alvarez, R. A. Beaudoin; A. Martin;

Senior Lecturers L. G. Burkot, M. L. Cassidy, J. Halloran, E. C. Mellinger, S. W. Nam, J. E. Polk, M. E. Zsoldos; Lecturers  V. Aschheim, R. L. Braude, T. H. Bynum (Director, Coast Jazz Orchestra at Dartmouth), E. J. Carroll, F. Ciabatti (Director, Dartmouth Symphony Orchestra; Interim Director Glee Club and Handel Society), J. Dunlop, J. P. Ennis, A. R. Garapic, O. Guey, P.J. Kennelly, B. E. Messier (Director, Dartmouth Wind Ensemble and Marching Band), R. Moseley, S. Rogers,  A. Subero, J. Taitt, P. M. Webster; Adjunct Associate Professor H. F. Shabazz; Postdoctoral Fellow with the Society of Fellows D. A. Simon.

To view Music Undergraduate courses, click here. 

To view Music Graduate requirements, click here.

To view Music Graduate courses, click here.

Requirements for the Master of Arts Degree (M.A.) in Digital Musics

The field of digital music requires knowledge and skills in music, computer science, cognition or neuroscience, engineering or physics, as well as some significant expertise in one or more of these disciplines. In addition to music, graduate students in our program may bring to bear experience in other, widely diverse fields (such as visual art, philosophy, mathematics, etc.). Candidates for admission to the Master of Arts program typically hold one of the following degrees, together with relevant experience:

1. Music: A bachelor’s degree in music or equivalent experience and demonstrated accomplishment in musical composition and/or performance.
2. Computer Science: A bachelor’s degree in computer science or equivalent experience. This might include knowledge of applied mathematics, machine learning, or related areas of science and engineering.
3. Engineering Sciences or Physics: A bachelor’s degree in engineering sciences or physics, or equivalent experience. This could include knowledge of acoustics, digital electronics and microprocessors, techniques of modeling and analyzing systems, or general hardware design.
4. Music Cognition: Demonstrated knowledge and experience in the field.
5. Proven excellence or demonstrated potential in some other field, in preparation for advanced work in digital musics.

Regardless of a student’s area of specialization within the program, the requirements for completion of the Master of Arts Degree in Digital Musics include:

1. A minimum of seven terms in residence.
2. Demonstrated experience and expertise on an acoustic musical instrument; an understanding of Western music theory that includes four-part harmony, modulation, and form and analysis; a knowledge of musical styles that includes the music of the world’s peoples, twentieth-century art music, American popular music and traditional Western art music.
3. Enrollment in the Proseminars in Music and Technology (MUS 101-105), given each term, for a total of 6 graduate seminars. Students generally take each Proseminar at least once, Composition (MUS 104), twice.
4. A number of electives in different disciplines (as well as music), including, but not limited to engineering, psychology, computer science, mathematics and physics. The electives and the specific courses in computer science and engineering will depend on the student’s background and area of specialization within the program. Electives may be used to remedy deficiencies in mathematics, computer science, engineering, or music.
5. Directed research (thesis courses). Two courses (MUS 138) taken under the joint supervision of a member of the music faculty and a member of another cooperating department.
6. A thesis approved by the student’s graduate committee demonstrating a mastery of the materials in the student’s area of concentration within the program.