Kathryn Green, Graduate Pedagogy Program Director
Ruebush Hall, Room 238; (540) 665-4556; kgreen@su.edu

The Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy-Voice curriculum educates and trains future vocal pedagogues to prepare them for careers in teaching, leadership and voice research. This degree could be called a “low residency” online program, as it can be completed almost fully online or by a combination of face-to-face and online courses. We have three residency courses in the summer that are part of the CCM Vocal Pedagogy Institute which we require students to attend in person.

The curriculum encompasses contemporary and classical functional training for the singing voice as well as the choice of specialization in cognate areas; leadership or voice science research. The core Interdisciplinary course work for both curricula targets pedagogy, performance, writing skills, applied voice and career skills providing the education required to succeed professionally at the collegiate level and in the private sector as a voice pedagogue. 

Program Outcomes:

Students completing the Doctor of Musical Arts in Pedagogy degree will be able to:

• teach by integrating advanced knowledge of the singing voice, informed by voice science and pedagogy, vocal repertoire and 21st century studio business practices;
• perform a variety of musical styles and genres in a manner reflective of expert-level musicianship; and
• employ research and writing skills to communicate to both a general and professional community.

Degree Requirements

A minimum of 55 credits is required in the DMA Pedagogy-Voice program. Shenandoah Conservatory will accept ten graduate credits beyond the master’s degree when earned at an accredited university or institution. All transfer credit beyond the master’s degree must fulfill curricular requirements in the DMA Pedagogy-Voice degree. Deficiencies will be identified through a thorough academic transcript review. Successful fulfillment of deficiencies and required remediation are a condition of degree completion.

All specific requirements, in terms of courses and credits in each of the degree categories, at the doctoral level must be fulfilled regardless of the credits presented in the master’s degree. An overall grade point average of 3.0 (“B”) is required for graduation.