Courses
Introduction
The Doctorate of Music in Performance began in 2006 and offers a unique programme focusing on performance underpinned by academic study. It thus provides an ideal synthesis of performance and scholarship. The programme maintains a reputation for high performance standards and academic excellence.
The duration of the programme is usually four years and comprises taught modules, assessed performances and a research dissertation. Candidates are expected to be performers of the highest standard and have an interest in musicological research and performance studies.
Degree awarding body: Dublin City University
Course duration: Four years full time
Fees and funding: Contact the general office for details: generaloffice@riam.ie
Application deadline: 1 April of proposed year of entry. Late applications may be considered at the discretion of the programme committee.
Course Description
Performance
The performance element of the programme will consist of the following:
• three full-length recitals
• two concerto performances
• one chamber music recital
• one lecture recital
Works previously studied will not be approved (except in the case of instruments for which the repertoire is very small).
Academic studies
An original dissertation of at least 30,000 words will be undertaken under the direction of an academic supervisor.
Students will undertake three courses during their first year: two core modules (Introduction to Musicology and Methods of Musicological Research) and one auxiliary module. The auxiliary module may vary from year to year. The module offered in 2008-2009 is ‘Church Music’; previous modules include ‘Wagner: Man, Myth and Musician’ and ‘Programme Music and its Polemics’.
Attendance at the Guest Lecture Series is also mandatory.
Admission criteria
Candidates will normally hold a Master’s degree or equivalent and have a track record of professional achievement. Applications are also invited from performers who have attained a very high standard professionally but would not have had the opportunity to undertake postgraduate studies at an earlier stage in their career.
Application procedure
Candidates must submit a detailed Curriculum Vitae and examples of written work, whether essays, articles, programme notes, of not less than 500 and not more than 3,000 words.
In addition, candidates are required to submit a proposal of no more than 1,000 words outlining:
1. why they wish to undertake doctoral studies; what they hope to achieve; and why they specifically wish to study at the Royal Irish Academy of Music
2. suggestions for topics they might explore in their theses and an indication of the areas of music/musicology that interest them.
Application forms may be obtained from the general office: generaloffice@riam.ie
Selection process
Short-listed candidates will be auditioned and interviewed. They will be selected on the basis of the strength of their performing ability as well as the compatibility of their individual research interests with the research interests of the members of each Faculty in the Academy. Only the best-qualified applicants will be accepted, and it is therefore likely that the numbers on the programme at any one time will restricted to a maximum of five.
In addition, an entrance assessment comprising two essays of approximately 2000 words each are required to be submitted before the interview and audition. A choice of titles will be given to candidates on invitation to interview.
The audition for the Doctorate will require a proposal for a 1-hour stylistically balanced programme to be submitted. Candidates will be asked to perform 20-30 minutes from the submitted programme.
For example, for pianoforte candidates the programme must include:
1. A baroque work by Bach, Handel or Scarlatti
2. A classical sonata by Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven or Schubert
3. A major work from the early Romantic period by Mendelssohn, Schumann, Chopin, Brahms or Liszt
4. A work by Debussy or Ravel
5. A major work from the 20th Century
6. An etude by Chopin, Liszt, Rachmaninov, Debussy or Prokofiev
7. Any extra works needed to make up the required length of programme
Candidates for other disciplines should request repertoire lists from the head of the relevant faculty in advance of audition.
For further information and application forms please contact the general office: generaloffice@riam.ie