About This Degree
Conduct cutting-edge research in music and music composition, develop and complete a dissertation, and present a final recital of your compositions. Working closely with our faculty of internationally recognized composers, you will create a highly personalized program of study tailored to your specific interests and goals.
- Official title
- PhD in Music Performance and Composition: Composers
Fall Start
Application deadline
- December 1
PhD Students in Composition and Performance will personalize their course of study around individual research interests, taking courses that support their areas of specialization. They will be able to
- Perform artistic research by developing quantitative and qualitative research methods appropriate to their field of inquiry.
- Engage in a variety of collaborative environments with artists and professionals in related fields
- Broaden their perspectives and relate their own music-making activities to diverse cultural contexts and intellectual traditions
- Develop foundational knowledge in disciplines applicable to yet outside their field of specialization, including psychology, performance studies, historical musicology, ethnomusicology, media, arts education and technology, and the social sciences.
- Communicate the results of their original research orally and in writing, in conference presentations and academic publications.
You'll be actively involved in the scheduling and performance of your own works, in concerts and readings by NYU performance groups in residence, school performing ensembles, as well as chamber groups specially hired for specific composition concerts. You will have countless opportunities to collaborate with performers, dancers, actors, and multimedia applications. Within our department, there are very active collaborations with the Music Technology, Jazz Studies, and Instrumental and Vocal Performance programs. In addition, we collaborate often with musicians and other artists in New York City.
Through our department's weekly Composers Forum, you'll have the opportunity to meet and work with world-renowned composers and performers and attend highlights in the New York City new music concert season.
Funding for Full-Time PhD Students
NYU Steinhardt offers a competitive funding package for PhD students who study full time. Learn more about our funding opportunities.
Collaborations and Networking
Our students work with filmmakers in a variety of different contexts forging many successful and long-lasting relationships.
Recording and Performance
Students participate in recording sessions that serve as our laboratory for current scoring practices.
Master Classes
Our Friday@1 series presents conversations with some of the most renowned composers, songwriters, publishers, and industry executives in New York City and beyond.
Music and the Moving Image Conference
The annual Music and the Moving Image Conference invites abstracts for paper presentations (20-min. limit) that explore the relationship between the vast universe of moving images (film, television, streaming media, video games, and advertisements) and that of music and sound.
Questions
For more information, please contact mpap-doctoral-studies@nyu.edu
* You must have a master's degree in order to be considered for admission to this program.
Take the Next Step
Advance your personal and professional journey – apply to join our community of students.