Doctor of Musical Arts
The Doctor of Musical Arts at Waikato focuses on both performance and research. You'll be immersed in musical works that have artistic and creative integrity. Your performance of these works will be backed up by a written thesis that sets out your own independent research.
If you're passionate about musical performance – the Doctor of Musical Arts (DMA) is the doctoral degree for you. If your interests relating to music are more in the areas of composition, research-based musicology, multimedia work, music technology or electroacoustic music, then consider enrolling in the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) instead.
While working towards your DMA at Waikato, you'll spend half your time doing performances based on your research, and the other half putting your written thesis together. You'll perform every week, and during these performances you'll demonstrate to your supervisor what you've learned from your research. At Waikato, your DMA supervisors are leading musicians and you'll be able to use a state-of-the art performing arts venue for your practical lessons.
The Waikato DMA sets you up with the skills you'll need to turn your passion for musical performance into a career, whether that be as a solo artist, a chamber or orchestral musician, an accompanist, recording artist or repetiteur. You might prefer to use the skills you've learned in a different way, and work in either radio or print music journalism. You might also want to share what you have learned during your DMA and take on a teaching role, either as a performer-academic working in the tertiary area or as an instrument or vocal teacher.
You'll be able to choose a research topic that interests you. Topics previously chosen by students completing a DMA include those focusing on particular composers (such as New Zealand cellist and composer Arnold Trowell and New Zealand composer John Ritchie); a particular aspect of musical composition in performance (such as J.S. Bach's use of the variation form in treating Lutheran chorales); musical education (such as the application of ICT in the music classroom: Tools and trends in the New Zealand secondary classroom from 2007-2009); specific cultural music traditions (such as Kīngitanga and Music: An examination of repertoire and composition of Māori waiata and puoro relating to the Kīngitanga (King Movement) from 1912 to 2008); and using technology in music (such as a mouse driven interface for virtual stringed instrument controller).
Key information
| Years: | 3 |
|---|---|
| Study Locations: | Hamilton |
| Start Dates: | Trimester A (March) and Trimester B (July) |
| Estimated Fees* (Domestic): | $6,591 - $7,067 per year |
| Estimated Fees* (International): | $7,221 per year |
| Area of Study: | |
| *Tuition fees shown are indicative only and may change. There are additional fees and charges related to enrolment please see the Table of Fees and Charges for more information. You will be sent an enrolment agreement which will confirm your fees. | |
Degree Planner
Entry requirements
To enter, DMA students must have completed a MMus (Performance) with First or Second Class Honours (Division 1) or equivalent, comply with the postgraduate entry regulations of the University of Waikato, and audition successfully on an applied instrument or voice.
Scholarships and prizes
Visit our Scholarship Finder for information about possible scholarships
PhD research opportunities
Browse our available PhD or Doctoral opportunities, our research areas and potential supervisors.
Contacts
Supervision Enquiries:
University of Waikato Conservatorium of Music
Phone: 0800 800 145 or +64 7 838 4380
Email: [email protected]
School of Graduate Research
The School of Graduate Research is located at Level 0, downstairs in the Student Centre, M Block
Email: [email protected]
Website: School of Graduate Research
Phone: +64 7 858 5096
Have a chat with one of our friendly advisers to help you plan your degree.
Phone: +64 7 807 9275
Email: [email protected]