Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Advanced Certificate of Fine Arts

Applicants to the Music MFA program will be required to have attained a BM, BFA, BA or equivalent in music before admittance, or to have a Bachelor's degree in an alternate subject along with skills and knowledge that are appropriate to enter a Master's degree program in a music-related field.

Students must attend and have both mid-residence and graduation reviews officially documented. During these reviews, the student's course history is examined, progress is assessed, problems are discussed and changes to the curriculum are considered. Mentors and deans must officially approve any changes to the student's curriculum requirements.

The Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree and Advanced Certificate of Fine Arts programs require a minimum of 4.0 semesters of enrollment. MFA degree and Advanced Certificate programs require at least 2.0 semesters of full-time residence at CalArts. For all programs, the final 1.0 semester of course enrollment before graduation must be in residence at CalArts, although this requirement may be satisfied by completing consecutive semesters of part-time enrollment at CalArts that total 1.0 semester of residence and culminate in graduation.

All MFA degree candidates must complete a minimum of 60 units.

Also see CalArts’ Institute Degree and Certificate Requirements.

Learning Goals

By the time they graduate, students will have had opportunity to:

• develop a forward-looking approach to music-making that embraces openness, experimentation, and critical engagement while recognizing precedent and tradition.

• realize and document distinctive musical projects reflecting their own artistic interests.

• offer and receive constructive critique regarding their musical work and thinking from both senior practitioners and peers.

• perform within ensemble contexts and gain experience with the particular demands and rewards of performing with other musicians.

• discover collaborative possibilities through engagement with other artistic métiers.

• produce and present professional-quality documentation of their artistic work in appropriate media.

MFA Placement Examinations

All entering MFA and Advanced Certificate of Fine Arts students in Music are required to take CalArts’ Music Theory and Musicianship Skills Placement Exams.

For MFA and Advanced Certificate students, placement exam results may indicate either that a student's prior training and current skill levels are already appropriate for graduate study or that supplemental courses will be required in addition to the normal graduate curriculum.

Master of Fine Arts (MFA) and Advanced Certificate of Fine Arts Specialization Requirements

World Music Performance - African Music and Dance (MFA)

Two years of intensive study in the field of emphasis are required. A final recital or series of performances is required. Mentors may require a written thesis.

• MLSN601 Hour Lesson as assigned (4 classes)

• MLSN501 Half-Hour Lesson (2 classes, as approved by Mentor)

• MHST512 Ethnology of African Music

• MHST500–509 Music Cultures

• MTHY508 Transcription Skills (or other transcription class as approved by mentor)

• TWO classes chosen from:

  • MPRF620 Tabla Accompaniment

  • MTHY520/ MTHY522 Beginning/Advanced Svar Graam (Vocal)

  • MTHY521/ MTHY523 Beginning/Advanced Svar Graam (Instrumental)

  • MTHY622 North Indian Theory

  • MTHY624 Java/Bali: Music-Dance-Theory

  • MTHY626 Ghanaian Rhythm Theory

  • MTHY628 Journey to the Persian Music

• MTHY625 Tala Systems

• MBLE502 Advanced African Ensemble (4 classes)

• MBLE World Music Ensembles, outside of African specialization (4 classes) (see list under BFA Shared Curriculum)

• MBLE550 African Dance (at least 1 class)

• MPRF621 African Song (at least 1 class)

• MPCD699 Graduate Independent Project: Pedagogy (2 classes)

• FOUR units of coursework in Art, Dance, Film/Video, Theater, Creative Writing, or Digital Arts (IDAR)

• MFOR600 Artists-in-Residence Week (2 classes)

• Winter Session (2 units of coursework taken in January)

• MPRF690 Graduation Recital

• Electives (to fulfill 60-unit degree requirement)