This section contains information on performance juries, recital enrollment/registration, and recital procedures. Due to the varied nature of recital options, all recitals require extensive planning and coordination. Recital planning, in close consultation with the Supervisory Committee Chair, should begin as soon as possible during the student’s doctoral study.
Since each recital is part of a multi-component research-informed creative project that will become part of the student’s Doctoral Dissertation Portfolio, specific information about portfolio requirements and processes is included in the DMA Doctoral Dissertation Portfolio section of the handbook. The rest of this section of the Doctoral Handbook pertains to performance juries, registration, scheduling, and procedures surrounding recital planning and delivery.
Performance Juries
All applied music students must take a jury examination at the end of each semester during Finals Week. In effect, the performance jury at the end of every term is the equivalent of a final exam for every applied area of study. If DMA students have performed a recital that semester in fulfillment of degree requirements, they may be exempted from a jury examination.
Scheduling is done by individual sign-up for the Finals Week juries. Approximately 10 days prior to juries, sign-up sheets are posted on the appropriate applied faculty doors (usually the head of the area, such as brass, woodwinds, voice, etc.). The specific content and length of each student's jury is determined by the applied area. A panel of area faculty members serves as the evaluating group; each member registers a grade for the performance and the results are averaged together. The final jury grade is weighed as one third of the current semester's final applied studio grade.
Failure to meet expected standards in a jury can result in probationary status for one semester, at the end of which significant improvement must be demonstrated. If standards are not sufficiently met, dismissal from the applied area or the reduction or elimination of financial support may be considered by the appropriate area faculty member.
Recital Enrollment & Registration
Enrollment
Students must be concurrently enrolled in major applied lessons or seminar in composition during the semester in which they give a degree recital. Enrollment is not required for non-degree recitals unless the student wishes to have the recital recorded on their transcript. If the performance or writing components are not completed and the grade of incomplete is recorded for a recital, the student will be required to register for applied music in the semester during which the make-up recital is given and the accompanying documents are submitted.
Recital Registration
Students must register for each recital, completing the first two recitals prior to admission to Candidacy. The lecture recital is taken after the student is admitted to Candidacy.
MUSR 999A Doctoral Dissertation Recital I (2 crs)
MUSR 999B Doctoral Dissertation Recital II (2 crs)
MUSR 999E Doctoral Lecture Recital (2 crs)
In a semester in which a DMA student has performed a recital in fulfillment of degree requirements, the student may be exempted from the end-of-semester jury.
Recital Duration
Composition
All DMA doctoral students in composition must have their works featured on two recitals of at least 30 minutes duration (composition length) and a lecture recital of at least 50 minutes duration (actual presentation/composition length). If a composition student’s works are featured through several separate performances, recordings of the performances may be compiled into a unified package that will be submitted to the student’s Supervisory Committee for review. This option may only be used for one of the Doctoral Dissertation Recitals (MUSR 999A or MUSR 999B) and may not be used for the Doctoral Lecture Recital (MUSR 999E). Compositions for all recitals should be of sufficient length to represent a major creative statement by the composer.
Conducting
All DMA doctoral students in conducting must perform two full-length recitals of at least 50 minutes and no more than 60 minutes duration (actual performing time). Conducting students will also complete a modified lecture recital wherein a pre-or post-concert lecture will be given. Lecture components may also be integrated into the performance, but students must go beyond brief comments typically delivered in a concert, to the integrated delivery of prepared lecture material within the context of the performance. Conducting students may also present two partial recitals that equal the required 50-60 minutes of performing time when combined. If this option is exercised, separate recital forms must be submitted for each recital. The Supervisory Committee Chair is responsible for tracking these evaluations and submitting a combined recital evaluation when both performances are complete. This option may not be used for the doctoral lecture recital.
Note: Maximum recital lengths apply only to recitals given in Kimball Hall or Westbrook Recital Hall. The total time available for each recital or lecture recital will include fifteen minutes of preparation time in the recital hall and a maximum time of 75 minutes for the recital itself (stage entrance to stage exit).
Performance & Jazz Studies-Performance
All DMA doctoral students in performance and jazz studies-performance must perform two full-length recitals of at least 50 minutes and no more than 60 minutes duration (actual performing time) and a lecture recital of at least 60 minutes duration (actual presentation/performing time).
Performing Considerations Specific to Specializations
Composition - Media and Guidelines
Compositions should reflect a high degree of professional craftsmanship as well as exhibiting qualities of originality.
The media chosen for the composition should be appropriate for the emotional content and formal plan of the work. While a large ensemble such as an orchestra is preferred, it is understood that such media may present practical performance difficulties. It is also understood that commission or promise of performance may dictate choice of media. Further, creative music writing is an individualized, multi-dimensional activity, one in which composers may adopt diametrically opposite procedures in realizing their creative intentions.
Conducting - Recital Performing Forces
Performing forces for DMA conducting recitals are obtained in one of the following three ways:
Most customarily, students organize their own ensembles, of a size appropriate to the repertoire approved for the recital. Ensemble personnel consists primarily of UNL student musicians engaged by the student conductor; when necessary, these forces may be augmented by professional musicians from outside UNL. Any expenses incurred in the formation of the recital ensemble are the responsibility of the conducting student. Performing personnel should be selected in close consultation with studio faculty in the student's performing area, and a complete written list of performers must be approved by the Chair of the student's Supervisory Committee prior to the first rehearsal. The student also assumes responsibility for all rehearsals, rehearsal space, rehearsal accompanists, instruments, scores and parts, and performance location.
Less commonly, a standing ensemble of the Glenn Korff School of Music may be available for use in all or part of a DMA conducting recital. Again, this situation arises relatively rarely, always at the discretion of the ensemble's director and instructor of record, and with the approval of the Chair of the student's Supervisory Committee.
In exceptional circumstances, a standing ensemble from outside the Glenn Korff School of Music may be used for a DMA conducting recital. These circumstances are likely to exist when the conducting student is affiliated with an outside ensemble as its director or as an associate conductor, and when the outside ensemble is judged by the student's Supervisory Committee to exhibit a technical and artistic level of performance commensurate with the level of conducting technique and interpretation expected of a student in the DMA program. Any UNL graduate student conductor desiring to use a non-UNL ensemble must request permission, in writing, from the student’s Supervisory Committee. The conducting student presenting the recital is responsible for initiating the written petition and must obtain signatures from all Supervisory Committee members as well as approval from the Graduate Committee before the recital is scheduled. A copy of the approved petition is to be filed in the student's official folder.
Performance - Chamber Music
Recitals may contain one or more works of chamber music at the discretion of the Supervisory Committee and in accordance with the policies of the student’s performance area.
A student participating in chamber music during a recital can simultaneously enroll for Graduate Chamber Music or Small Jazz Group credit along with recital credit if coaching and engagement with the chamber/small jazz combo music continues throughout the semester. Collaborating students can also register for chamber music or small jazz combo credit with the same provision that coaching and engagement with the chamber/small jazz combo music continues throughout the semester.
Pianists enrolled in chamber music may not charge an accompanist's recital fee for the enrolled recital.
- Note: A faculty member coaching a chamber ensemble that is performing for DMA recital credit in a given semester is not assigned load credit for this coaching unless the ensemble rehearses throughout the semester and meets the chamber music course performance requirements.
Recital Scheduling
Students giving degree-required or non-degree required recitals in Glenn Korff School of Music facilities must follow certain rules and regulations. Degree-required off-campus recitals are also bound by the recital processes outlined in this section.
Students performing degree recitals (both on and off campus) must complete recital scheduling procedures and pay recital fees. Recital scheduling takes place at the start of each semester with graduate students receiving priority scheduling beginning at the start of the second week of classes. Recital sign up continues through the end of the fifth week of classes. Priority in scheduling goes to graduate students over undergraduates, and to degree recitals over non-degree recitals. Students enrolled for recital credit can schedule a recital by visiting https://unlscheduling.nebraska.edu/, logging in (top, right corner), and choosing the appropriate reservation form.
The graduate degree recital form is available starting on Monday in the second week of classes. Both recital forms will close on Monday of the sixth week of classes. Once you secure a recital date and time, you will receive an email that will include a linked form. The form generates a contract that will include your recital date, time, location, and advisor/committee contact email addresses. Your recital contract will then be sent to your committee for signatures. When the contract is signed by all committee members, you will receive instructions for submitting your program information. At this time, you will also see a charge for the recital fee posted to your UNL student account for the next month’s billing cycle.
Students must follow all deadlines in the recital contract. Careful adherence to policies and procedures surrounding use of facilities and publication of program information is essential for successful completion of the recital.
Piano Accompanying for DMA Studio Lessons, Juries, and Degree Recitals
In order to provide a positive studio and performance environment for students, the Glenn Korff School of Music employs staff accompanists and graduate teaching assistants to support applied studio lessons, semester juries, and departmental recitals as much as possible.
GTA assignments are managed by the Faculty Coordinator of Accompanying based on requests submitted by applied and ensemble faculty. Studio assignments are made based on a priority system that considers degree status, recital preparation, and the availability of accompanists. It is the responsibility of the instructor, the student, and the accompanist together to decide upon suitable lesson times for the semester.
Additional services beyond those that can be supported by the GKSOM in any given semester (services such as degree recitals and/or recital preparation) must be contracted directly by students with accompanists at their hourly rates. To avoid potential misunderstandings, students should determine all costs with their accompanists prior to any engagement.
Recital Media & Technology
DMA students giving recitals that incorporate multimedia and other technologies should contact the Sound Recording / IT Associate well in advance of the date of the recital regarding availability, information, and training on the presentation equipment in the recital hall.