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Three Steps to Apply

Doctor of Musical Arts Degree

Use this Check-list to keep track of all the required items. Starting with "Step 1," click on each item (or scroll down) for details. Please consider printing this page—so you can keep track of your progress.

Step 1 – These are the items that we need to receive in order for your application to be complete

Step 2 – Upload selected materials to DecisionDesk

Step 3 – What happens next?

 Step 1 - These are the items that we need to receive in order for your application to be complete


Complete and Submit Online Application by December 1, 2012

This application works with Internet Explorer (version 8 or below) or Firefox. Firefox can be downloaded for free at: http://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/.

Once started, the application must be completed and submitted. It cannot be saved. Please allow 20 minutes for this process. It will probably take less time if you do a little preparation before starting. Please have the following information at your side:

  • US Social Security Number (If US citizen)
  • If you wish to state a teacher preference you can name two choices. Biographies are listed alphabetically here. A general discussion of how we match teachers and students is here: http://www.peabody.jhu.edu/3948 Note: You can change your teacher choice as the year progresses. You must notify us in writing or by email at: admissions@peabody.jhu.edu.
  • You will need the CEEB Code for all colleges you have attended. Go to the College Board web site: http://sat.collegeboard.org/register/sat-code-search. Use the drop-down (where it says "Countries") to search by "Colleges & Scholarships". If your school is not listed, you may leave this item blank.
  • List of Audition Pieces. Include composer and title. Refer to your major's specific page under Area of Study for more information.
  • You will be asked if you want to apply for Graduate Assistantships and, if so, which ones. For information on graduate assistantships please go here.
  • Once you click submit, you will be taken to a page that gives you the option to print your application ("print") or continue to our website ("next"). You also will receive an email confirming that we have received your application.
  • Please submit your payment as soon as possible. Your application will not be considered until the application fee is processed. You will know your fee has been processed when you receive an email containing your ISIS ID. This is the ID you will use in Step 2 (DecisionDesk).
     

***Click this link to start your application.***

Download and Submit the Credit Card Payment Form

Download the form here. Please provide the information for a valid credit card to pay the $115 application fee. We do not accept personal checks. Your application will not be considered until the application fee is processed, so please submit this form immediately after completing the Online Application. You may mail it to us, email it to us at admissions@peabody.jhu.edu, or fax it to us at 410-234-0161. You will know that your payment has been processed when you receive an email containing your ISIS ID.


College Transcripts

Send College transcripts after your fall term grades are posted (we would like to receive them by February 1st). International applicants are required to submit all transcripts in English.


TOEFL

International students: If English is not the native language in your country you must take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). You will find further discussion of Peabody’s policy on English Language requirements on the FAQ page. If we do not have an official TOEFL score for you by February 1st, your application will be considered “incomplete” and we will be unable to make an admission decision. Our TOEFL code number is 5532.


Recommendation Letters

Submit email addresses for three people who know your musical ability to DecisionDesk. These people will automatically be contacted via email with instructions on how to electronically submit their recommendation. Please be sure you have submitted their email addresses in time for them to meet these deadlines. You will enter these during Step 2 of the instructions.

There are two deadlines for receipt of the submitted recommendations:


December 5, 2012: For all Orchestral and Wind Conducting applicants.
February 1, 2013: For all applicants except Conducting.


Repertoire List

Upload a “representative list” of the repertoire you have studied in your major instrument or area to DecisionDesk. If your major is composition, list your own works and their instrumentation. Please star (*) repertoire performed in public. Piano or Voice applicants – upload a “complete” repertoire list. You will upload this during Step 2 of the instructions.

Essays

Mail in four copies of an essay 1,500 or more words on a musical subject of your choice. The paper should be written within the last two years and must be typed and supported by citations and references. The four copies must be received by December 1st so members of the graduate committee will have time to review them before your interview. This paper will serve as the basis for your DMA interview and should adequately reflect your academic capability. Of particular interest to the DMA interviewing committee is written and verbal evidence of a capacity for independent thinking, initiative, and ability to present, develop, and support a thesis or point of view.

The DMA application process is complex. Your application and writing sample will be assigned to a committee for review several weeks before your interview. Thus, your application cannot be processed until we have your writing sample in hand. This will become important if we run out of interview times. Be reminded that DMA auditions only take place in February, so we have no "fall back" position if the interview or audition times fill up.

Pre-Screening

PRE-SCREENING VIDEO RECORDINGS are required in the majors listed below. All auditions for the DMA must be in person at Peabody: Those auditioning during the USA Schools of Music Tour in Asia are NOT required to submit a pre-screening video recording.

Selections must be performed without editing. The faculty will make its decisions in December or in early January. We should have results to you roughly one month before Audition Week.

Pre-screening video recordings must be uploaded to DecisionDesk (Step 2) no later than December 1st for February Auditions.

  • Cello – Go here for pre-screening and audition repertoire. Current Peabody students are exempt from pre-screening.
  • Composition - Go here for pre-screening portfolio discussion.

Pre-screening is based on your portfolio, so upload your portfolio to DecisionDesk by the December 1 deadline. Current Peabody students are exempt from pre-screening.

  • Conducting - Go here for pre-screening and audition repertoire. Submit a video recording to DecisionDesk (Step 2) no later than December 1, 2012.
  • Flute – (February Auditions Only) Go here for pre-screening and audition repertoire. The flute faculty strongly urges using an accompanist for the video recording, but it is not technically required. Be advised that occasionally the flute faculty will initiate additional contact with an applicant before making an acceptance decision from a video recording. Pre-screening is not required for those auditioning at a regional location or by video recording.
  • Percussion – Go here for pre-screening repertoire. Current Peabody students are exempt from pre-screening.
  • Piano – Go here for pre-screening and audition repertoire. Selections on the video recording do not have to be the same ones you will perform for your audition. Piano majors passing the recorded pre-screening must audition in person at Peabody. Please note that we tend to run short of on-campus audition slots. If we have too many applicants after the pre-screening is complete we will schedule auditions in the order the applications were received, so it pays to get your application to us as early as possible. Current Peabody students are exempt from pre-screening.
  • Voice – Go here for pre-screening and audition repertoire. Current Peabody students are exempt from pre-screening.
  • Wind Conducting – Go here for complete pre-screening information.


Permanent Resident/Alien Resident Visa for International Students

Upload a copy of your Permanent Resident/Alien Resident Visa to DecisionDesk. You will upload this during Step 2 of the instructions.

Resume

Upload a copy of your Resume to DecisionDesk. You will upload this during Step 2 of the instructions.


Step 2 – Upload selected materials to Decision Desk


Go to http://www.decisiondesk.com/clients/peabody/apply/welcome/ to establish your account at DecisionDesk. Be sure to enter your ISIS ID where requested. A reminder: You should have received an ISIS ID in the confirmation email you received when you completed the Online Application. You must have the ISIS ID in order to use DecisionDesk.

DecisionDesk requires all material to be uploaded in one session.  You cannot re-open your account once you have clicked submit. 

Applicants are required to upload the following material:

  • Resume
  • Names and email addresses for your Recommenders.
  • Video Pre-screening recordings (if required). These must be in place no later than December 1st
  • Repertoire List
  • Permanent Resident/Alien Resident Visa for International Students
DescisionDesk accepts uploads in the following formats:
Audio - mp3, m4a, aiff, wma, wav, aac
Video - mpeg, mpg, mp4, ogg, mov, avi, wmv, m4v, vob
Document - PDF strongly preferred. Also accepted: txt, rtf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, sib, mus, ppt, pptx
Image - jpeg, png, gif, jpg



Step 3 – What happens next?



Once your application is complete, it is time to prepare for your audition. The following items will help you understand what to expect from us.


Financial Aid Application (deadline is March 1, 2013)

Please go to here for information.

Auditions/Interviews

About a month before your audition, you will receive an invitation from us stating the day and time of your performance (20 minutes in length). Check the Peabody website for a complete description of audition requirements. Plan on spending two days in Baltimore. This will allow time for required activities, including a 90-minute theory exam, the 30-minute ear training placement exam, and the 90-minute DMA history exam. In some cases the placement test results come into play as part of the acceptance/rejection process. Your interview with the Graduate Committee will be held at that time, and if you have applied for graduate assistantships, those interviews will be arranged.

PIANO ONLY: Your audition schedule will include a mandatory advising session, most likely on the day of your audition. You will be advised on the next steps in the process based on preliminary audition results. Continuing with the DMA placement exams and interview will be an option for some. Alternative programs may be suggested for others. Official decisions will be made after considering all results. You will receive notification by email on or near April 1.

  • Accompanists are provided for voice auditions held at Peabody. Accompanists are not required for other majors, but you may bring one if you wish.
  • All DMA applicants must audition in Baltimore.
  • On the day of your audition, plan to arrive early and check in at the reception area. A warm-up room will be made available approximately 30 minutes before your audition time. If you change your audition repertoire, make 10 copies of the new list of titles to bring with you to your audition.


When will you learn the results?

Information from your audition, along with the rest of your credentials, will be reviewed by the Admissions Committee. On April 1, we will send you an email containing audition results and access to other information related to your application. Should your folder be incomplete, the decision will be delayed until we have the missing information (e.g. missing transcripts.)


NOTE: Documents and recordings submitted cannot be returned.
Please make copies of all documents for your records.


Mailing address:

Peabody Conservatory Admissions
1 East Mount Vernon Place
Baltimore, MD 21202

 

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