The Best Graduate Schools for Music
Each music graduate school has its own specialty programs and departments. Music conservatories, such as Juilliard, specialize in music performance whereas other music schools, such as Princeton, specialize in musical research and composition. A graduate program may focus on performance, music history, composition or even ethnomusicology. Graduates of the best music schools often go on to become composers, conductors, performers or musicologists.
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Princeton School of Music
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Students applying for a graduate degree at the Department of Music at Princeton must choose between composition and musicology. Because the Princeton School of Music is not a conservatory, there are no degrees offered in musical performance although private music lessons are available. Princeton does offer courses in music theory and ethnomusicology, and it encourages those interested to apply for either program. Students admitted into the graduate department design their own course of study and work closely with each department's faculty members.
Eastman School of Music
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Many graduates of the Eastman School of Music hold prestigious posts in orchestras, bands and music colleges. The Eastman School of Music offers two types of master's degrees; the master's of arts is a degree involving research whereas the master's of music focuses on performing, teaching or composing. Two types of doctoral degrees are offered as well: a doctor of philosophy (or Ph.D.) degree is awarded for musical scholarship, and a D.M.A. is awarded for musical performance.
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Juilliard
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The Juilliard School has a variety of musical options for the graduate student. Since Juilliard is a conservatory, meaning a performance-based school, the graduate degrees include a master's of arts and a doctorate of musical arts. Graduate performance degrees are offered in many musical instruments, including keyboard, brass, woodwinds and voice. Juilliard also has some unique graduate degree options, such as its Historical Performance program, established in 2009. Students at Juilliard collaborate closely with faculty members, and many performance opportunities are available for students throughout New York City.
UCLA
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The UCLA Herb Albert School of Music offers a master's of music and a doctor of musical arts in both conducting and performance. A master's of musical arts and a Ph.D. are offered only in composition. Students pursuing a composition Ph.D. may also specialize in ethnomusicology. The ethnomusicology department at UCLA is the only one in the U.S. The UCLA department of music includes 20 ensembles that regularly perform on and off campus.
Harvard
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The Harvard Department of Music offers Ph.D. degrees in musicology, ethnomusicology, composition and music theory. In addition, the Harvard Department of Music awards a two-year master's of arts degree in performance practice. Many Harvard graduates go on to teaching positions, and teaching is an important part of the music graduate program. Virtually every graduate student receives a fellowship from the department.
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