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Percussion M.A., D.M.A.

The University of Iowa Percussion Program nurtures the serious study and creative exploration of percussion. Percussion students at Iowa have the advantages that a large and vital university community offers, while enjoying the individualized attention and supportive atmosphere that the Percussion Area provides.

Iowa Percussion’s comprehensive approach to education gives students the extensive background necessary to pursue future endeavors in the field. 

Facilities for percussion at Iowa are excellent, with ten dedicated practice and storage rooms, and a large inventory of top-quality instruments. Iowa Percussion and the Hawkeye Drumline play exclusively Yamaha concert and marching percussion instruments and Sabian cymbals, and endorse Latin Percussion (LP) instruments and Innovative Percussion sticks and mallets.

Master of Arts in Percussion (M.A.)

General Admission Requirements
  1. The application for admission must be accomplished no later than the application deadline prior to each session set by the Graduate College and Registrar (July 15 for Fall semester; December 1 - Spring semester).
  2. In addition to meeting University and School of Music admission requirements, students wishing to apply for admittance into graduate programs in the percussion area must provide an audio or video tape that contains no less than 30 minutes of music. Performances should show a variety of percussion skills such as keyboard, snare drum, timpani, multi-percussion, or drum set. In addition to the 30 minutes of solo/chamber performances, video tapes should, if possible, include examples of conducting. Students applying for percussion teaching assistant positions must also audition/interview in person on the University of Iowa campus. In most cases, percussion teaching assistants serve a maximum term of two years for M.A. candidates.
Final Examination

The final examination committee is selected by the percussion professor and the student. The percussion professor and faculty members from both the theory and musicology areas complete this three-member committee.

Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.)

General Admission Requirements
  1. The application for admission must be accomplished no later than the application deadline prior to each session set by the Graduate College and Registrar (July 15 for Fall semester; December 1 - Spring semester).
  2. In addition to meeting University and School of Music admission requirements, students wishing to apply for admittance into graduate programs in the percussion area must provide an audio or video tape that contains no less than 30 minutes of music. Performances should show a variety of percussion skills such as keyboard, snare drum, timpani, multi-percussion, or drum set. In addition to the 30 minutes of solo/chamber performances, video tapes should, if possible, include examples of conducting. Students applying for percussion teaching assistant positions must also audition/interview in person on the University of Iowa campus. In most cases, percussion teaching assistants serve a three year maximum term for D.M.A. candidates.
Specific Performance Requirements
  1. Qualifying Recital
    The qualifying recital is to be presented by the end of the first term of registration (excluding summer session). A qualifying recital (of different repertoire) may be repeated once at the discretion of the examining committee. The M.A. recital may serve as a qualifying recital with the prior approval of the instructor.
  2. D.M.A. Recitals -- 6 s.h.
    The D.M.A. recital committee is selected by the percussion professor and the student. The percussion professor and other School of Music faculty members from the applied, conducting and theory/musicology areas complete this five- member committee. Students have the option of requesting that the qualifying recital count as one of the three required D.M.A. recitals. A maximum of one non-pass recital is allowed. One work on each program (including the qualifying recital) is to be presented by the student without assistance from the instructor.
Language Requirement or Secondary Area of Music

The D.M.A. student has a choice of satisfying a language proficiency requirement OR completing coursework in a secondary area of music. See details for these requirements on the D.M.A. checklist.

Comprehensive Examination

The comprehensive examination committee is selected by the percussion professor and the student. The percussion professor and other School of Music faculty members from the applied, conducting and theory/musicology areas complete this five-member committee.

Doctoral Essay

The doctoral essay committee is also selected by the percussion professor and the student. The committee consists of the percussion professor and three other faculty members from the School of Music plus one non-music faculty member.

Questions?

For more information on the Percussion Program at The University of Iowa, please contact Dr. Dan Moore, (319) 335-1632 or daniel-moore@uiowa.edu.