Information for
Current
Graduate Students

Information for Prospective Graduate Students

Language Exams
General Exams
Info for Degree Applicants
Deadlines for Degree Applicants
Grad Student Handbook
Graduate Music Forum
Graduate Students of the Department of Music
Grant Info:

Kennedy, Knox, Sheldon, and Lurcy Fellowships
Merit, Whiting, and Graduate Society Fellowships
Music Department Travel Fund
John Knowles Paine Travelling Fellowships
Nino and Lea Pirrotta Graduate Research Fund
Wesley Weyman Fund

Composition Prizes:

"The Bohemians" (New York Musicians Club)
Francis Boott
George Arthur Knight
Adelbert W. Sprague
Hugh F. MacColl Bequest

Links to:
American Musicological Society, Society for Ethnomusicology, Society for Music Theory

Download pdf of survey: On the teaching fellow experience in the music department at Harvard

Language Exam Information

For academic year 2008-2009, language exams will be given during the following weeks:

October 13-17 (M-F) 2008

February 23-27 (M-F) 2009

Language exam guidelines are detailed below. No exceptions will be made regarding the schedule or requirements for notification.

You may request one practice exam when you are notifying the Department Administrator (Nancy Shafman) of your intent to take the language exam.

GUIDELINES for MUSIC DEPARTMENT LANGUAGE EXAMINATIONS

1) Departmental language examinations are given three times during the academic year, in late October, mid-February, and April; students will be notified at the beginning of each academic year as to the precise dates. Students should sign up for an examination with the Director of Administration at least three weeks before the desired examination date. If requested, one sample of each language exam will be provided to the student when they sign up for an examination.

2) A graduate student may retake an examination but only within the regular cycle and in accordance with the guidelines of his or her particular graduate program.

3) Language examinations in German, French, Italian, Latin, and Spanish will be administered by Music Department Faculty members. Special arrangements for tests in other languages must be made no later than six weeks before the examination date.

4) Students should consult with the graduate advisors of their respective programs about language requirements at the beginning of their first semester on campus. At that time, they should agree upon a tentative schedule by which they will satisfy the language requirement.

5) Students anticipating any special language need should raise this issue with the Graduate Advisor at the earliest moment to allow adequate consultation and planning. Under specific conditions, students whose native language is not English may, upon approval of the graduate advisor, satisfy one language examination by taking a special English examination, to be administered by the Department, involving translation of a text from their native language to English.

6) The student and the Director of Graduate Studies will be notified in writing of the outcome of an examination by the faculty member who administers it.

7) Students are permitted to use their own laptop computers or handwrite the examination. Two dictionaries are permitted; for example, an abridged volume for fast access and a complete one for greater detail.

General Exam Information

The General Examination consists of two parts: written and oral. The orals are taken within one or two weeks of passing the writtens. The exams are to be taken at the end of the second year of study, usually in September. 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: The written exam consists of an open-book analysis test conducted over a two-day period (9am to 5pm) and, ordinarily separated by a few days, of a general test given in three sections on two consecutive days (9am-12pm; 2pm-5pm; 9am-12pm). The analysis test asks for a detailed critical commentary on compositional and contextual aspects on two works representative of different style periods. The general test is divided into three parts on the history of music from antiquity to the present: Medieval and Renaissance; 17th and 18th centuries; 19th and 20th centuries. Questions are drawn from the entire field of Western music and not necessarily related to topics covered in seminars. Each part consists of two one-hour essays (chosen from four given topics) and four short questions (chosen from six). Students must pass the written examination in order to be admitted to the oral part. (Sample written exams are available from the Department Office).

 

The oral examination is separated from the written by a few days and extends over one and a half hours. The first half hour is devoted to a discussion of a composition or literary text and questions from a special field chosen by the student. The remainder of the examination focuses on questions posed in the written examination and on issues related to these questions. (The special field is chosen by the student in consultation with a faculty advisor in the spring preceding the examination period.)

Ethnomusicology: The written exam consists of an analysis test and a general test. The analysis test includes two musical examples, one chosen from the student's primary world music area and the second drawn from a contrasting musical tradition agreed on in advance in consultation with the ethnomusicology faculty. The general test is divided into four sections: one on ethnomusicological theory and method; a second on world music; a third on interdisciplinary problems; and a fourth on the intellectual history of ethnomusicology. By request of the student and in consultation with the ethnomusicology faculty, another subject area may be substituted as the focus of the fourth section of the test.

Students must pass the written test in order to be admitted to the oral examination. In ethnomusicology, the oral examination begins with discussion of the primary world music area chosen by the student. The remainder of the examination includes questions about general ethnomusicology not necessarily related to topics covered in seminars, and further discussion of questions posed in the written examination.

Theory: The exams in Music Theory divide into four parts. The first part, a repertoire exam, is typically taken at the beginning of the summer. The two main parts of the exams are usually written in late August/early September, before the new academic year begins, and the fourth part consists in an oral exam following the written tests.

Part 1 is an oral exam with 1 hr preparation time. At the beginning of the preparation time, 10 score excerpts are handed out, broadly taken from canonical works (substitutions can be arranged). The student is asked to identify, contextualize, or classify all of them, and to make more detailed analytical observations on three of them. The oral exam during which the findings are discussed doubles as a "dress rehearsal" for the more substantial oral that concludes the general examinations later during the summer.

Part 2 includes four written exams. They are held in four three-hour exams over the course of several days. Each exam requires students to choose two questions from a larger selection, and to write an essay on each. The exams are in the following subjects:

(1) Theoretical Systems
This paper consists of three sections (Schenker, Neo-Riemannian Theory, Pitch-Class Set Theory - with permission from the Theory Adviser one section may be substituted for an equivalent alternative). The two essays must be from different sections. The questions tend to offer an opportunity for critique and analysis in a given theoretical tradition.

(2) History of Music Theory
This paper consists of three periods (Early Modern, 18th Century, 19th Century - with permission from the Theory Adviser, one section may be substituted for a different period). In the past, some questions have required detailed knowledge of specific theories or theorists, while others have aimed at sketching a broader historical perspective of developments in the History of Music Theory.

(3+4) Special Topics I and II
Both Special Topics are arranged and prepared with the Theory Faculty. The topics should prepare the student for their likely field of dissertation work and help them survey and critique the existing literature. Each of the two exams consists of three questions, of which two must be answered.

Part 3 is a take-home exam in musical analysis. Four pieces are handed out: 2 tonal, 2 post-tonal - substitions of repertoire are possible with permission of Theory Adviser. One piece from each section must be selected. The student writes substantial analytical essays--with graphs, sketches, written descriptions--on the two selected pieces. The pieces are handed out Fri at 9am, the essays are due the following Mon at 3pm.

Part 4 consists of an oral exam. This typically last 2 hours, and follows the successful completion of the written exams, usually within one to two weeks. The oral examination follows up the work on the written examination and may broaden to engage any related issues in Western music and Music Theory, without restriction as to historical field.

Composition: The Composition General Exam focuses on analysis of works from the standard literature. Currently, the written portion of the exam is given at the end of the second year, over the course of a long weekend (Friday morning to noon on Tuesday). There are two parts to the written portion of the exam. The first part is an analysis paper; you will be given one short piece without identification of composer or title. Recent exams have used Bartok's Contrasts, Chopin's Ballade in G minor, and Webern's 5 Pieces for String Quartet, op. 5. The second portion of the written exam will be a composition for a specified instrumental combination (It is not necessary to produce a complete piece).

The oral portion of the exam is undertaken after the written exam has been successfully completed. It is currently being given just before the fall semester of the student's third year. The oral exam will cover a total of four works and may raise issues from the written exam as well. Three works are assigned during the latter part of the second year of the program for intensive study. Recent choices have included Berio's Sinfonia, Carter 's String Quartet No. 2, Schumann's Dichterliebe, Mozart's Jupiter Symphony and Beethoven's String Quartet no. 16 in F major, op. 135. The fourth work will be a piece by the student of her/his own choosing in consultation with the advisor. A very detailed knowledge of the scores is expected of the student. Although often conducted as a question and answer session, it is best to prepare the orals as a presentation: be prepared to take charge of the discussion, speaking about the works in a clear and organized way. The use of scores and visual aids is allowed during the exam. The oral exam usually takes 1-2 hours, although its exact length is decided by faculty based on their assessment of the student's performance. Historically, the exam has been given in one of the faculty offices, and students are notified about exact scheduling details shortly before the exam is given.

 

Information for GSAS Degree Applicants

Application for the Degree

Degree applications are available from academic departments, the Registrar's Office (20 Garden Street) , and the Dean's Office (University Hall). They must be completed by the student, signed by the Department Chair and filed with the Registrar's Office by the appropriate due date. In unusual circumstances late applications may be accepted for the next two weeks only; there is a penalty fee for late applications.

Reactivation

If a student does not receive the degree on the date it was applied for, the student must reactivate the degree application for conferral at a later date. Reactivation forms are available at the above offices; they also need the signature of the Department Chair, and must be filed by the appropriate due date for degree applications: Students may reactivate a degree application once without a fee; for any subsequent reactivation there is a fee.

Requirements When Submitting the Doctoral Thesis

When PhD applicants obtain a degree application or reactivation form, they should also receive two questionnaires: The Survey of Earned Doctorates, which is conducted by the National Research Council, and a combined Student Exit Interview from the GSAS Dean's Office and Survey of Postgraduate Plans from the Office of Career Services. Student must complete both forms and return them to the Registrar's Office (20 Garden Street), when they are turning in their thesis.

The Doctoral Thesis

Detailed information about the preparation, submission and microfilming of the thesis is contained in the booklet The Form of the Doctoral Thesis, which is available from the Department Administrator, at the Dean's Office, and at the Registrar's Office.

One bound and one unbound boxed copy of the thesis and thesis acceptance certificate (separate; not bound in) are to be submitted to the Registrar's Office, 20 Garden Street, (495-1519) by the appropriate due date. One bound copy is also required by the Department of Music at date of submission for placement in Isham Library. An abstract of not more than a page and a half, double-spaced, should be included in all copies of the thesis immediately following the page containing notice of copyright. The bound copy of the thesis submitted to the Registrar will be stored in the Harvard University Archives. The unbound, boxed copy is sent to University Microfilms International (UMI) for microfilming; a microform copy will be placed in the University Archives.

Microfilming of the thesis by UMI is required by GSAS, which pays the necessary fees, including the copyright fee if a student has authorized UMI to register it. When filing the thesis at the Registrar's Office, students must submit a signed UMI Doctoral Dissertation Agreement Form, with an additional copy of the title page and the abstract. Thesis title, student's name, and thesis advisor's name should appear on the abstract. UMI Agreement Forms are available at the Registrar's Office, Music Department and the Dean's Office.

Students may request that UMI return the unbound copy of the thesis after it has been microfilmed, by filling out a form at the Registrar's Office, or by written request, when the thesis is filed.

Registration and Tuition Requirements

All degree candidates must register continuously until completion of the requirements for the degree. PhD candidates must have paid two years of full tuition and two years of reduced tuition before receipt of the degree, unless they have completed the PhD in less than four years from initial registration. All PhD candidates must pay the facilities fee in their last term of registration (unless a higher tuition has been paid). Resident students automatically will have paid at least the facilities fee for the term. Non-resident students who paid the active file fee for the term will be charged the facilities fee and given credit for the active file fee already charged. This final charge for the Ph.D. is billed when a student applies for the degree; it is cancelled if the degree is not received at that time.

For students receiving degrees in November, the last term of registration is the previous spring term; for degrees in March the last term is the previous fall; and for degrees in June the last term is the spring term. Students who are uncertain whether they will finish in time for degrees in November or March are encouraged to register for the fall or spring terms respectively, either in residence or on leave of absence, to avoid late registration fees if they miss the degree deadlines. If they then do finish in time, their registration for the term will be cancelled. Students should see the GSAS Handbook section on Medical Fees regarding health fees coverage.

Diplomas

Diplomas may be obtained with identification at the Registrar's Office, 20 Garden Street. Students may also indicate a mailing adress on the degree application; the mailing fee is payable when the application is filed. Diplomas are sent by certified mail; there is a small fee for for mailing in tthe United States, Canada, and Mexico; and a slightly higher fee for mailing abroad.

Once the thesis, thesis acceptance certificate and departmental recommendation for the degree are on file in the Registrar's Office, a student may request, in person or in writing, certification of the expected degree. Requests should be addressed to the GSAS Degree Office, 20 Garden St. The first three certifications are free; there is a nominal charge for each additional certification.

Commencement

All students who receive degrees in November, March and June of a given academic year may participate in the Commencement celebration held in June. In April, the Dean's Office (495-1816) sends information about the Commencement Day schedule, tickets, and academic regalia to all recipients of November and March degrees and all applicants for June degrees.

Deadlines for Degree Applicants

For Degrees Awarded Wednesday, November 5, 2008:

Monday August 11, 2008	Degree application due at Registrar
Monday August 11, 2008	Department Thesis deadline (unbound copy)
Monday September 29, 2008	Thesis and thesis acceptance certificate due at Registrar

 For Degrees Awarded Wednesday, March 4, 2008:

Friday November 28, 2008	Degree application due at Registrar
Friday November 28, 2008	Department Thesis deadline (unbound copy)
Friday January 23, 2009	Thesis and thesis acceptance certificate due at Registrar

 For Degrees Awarded Thursday, June 4, 2009:

Monday March 30, 2009	Degree application due at Registrar
Monday March 30, 2009	Department Thesis deadline (unbound copy)
Friday May 22, 2009	Thesis and thesis acceptance certificate due at Registrar

For Degrees Awarded November 4, 2009:

Thursday August 13, 2009	Degree application due at Registrar
Thursday August 13, 2009	Department Thesis deadline (unbound copy)
Monday, September 28, 2009	Thesis and thesis acceptance certificate due at Registrar

Graduate Music Forum