A music dissertation is an original, in-depth study on a selected musical topic that can take several months to complete. It must present original research and ideas, and can be written in a variety of formats. It’s important to consult with a guide or dissertation consultant, and to regularly check in with a PhD advisor for tips.
If you are pursuing a doctoral program in music, you will be required to write a dissertation as part of your degree requirement. A musical dissertation is an original, in-depth, analytical or theoretical study on a selected musical topic. A dissertation can be the length of a book and can take several months to complete.
To begin with, you will need to select an appropriate topic for your dissertation. The topic will depend on the specific field of music you study, and you may need to consult your guide or dissertation consultant about the types of dissertations you can undertake. Dissertation topics may cover aspects of music theory and composition, music history, music teaching, music education, music therapy, ethnomusicology, and so on.
It is important to remember that a music dissertation must present original research and ideas. You may, of course, need to refer to work already done in that particular field, but your own work should present new concepts or points of view. For this, you will need to conduct a great deal of in-depth research on your topic.
The dissertation can be written in a variety of formats. Depending on what fits your subject, you can write in standard, educational, or scientific format. It is necessary to be consistent in how you organize your dissertation structure.
You will need to write the dissertation title and your dissertation proposal at the beginning of your music dissertation. In the proposal, you will indicate your dissertation plan and what direction you intend to take your dissertation research. You can also mention the research questions you intend to pursue.
Next comes the approach section, in which you should list your sources, the study materials you reviewed in the course of your research, and compile a bibliography. You can include a brief summary of how you conducted your research and list a chapter summary of musical essays. Dividing the work into chapters will make it more manageable and more readable.
You should try to ensure that your writing is clear and that all points are explained satisfactorily. It’s a good idea to include sound files, sheet music excerpts, and technical diagrams to illustrate and explain your text. You should indicate why you used certain scores and how they serve to illuminate your topic.
It will help to check in regularly with your PhD advisor for dissertation tips and to verify that your work meets the criteria of the music department. After writing the dissertation, it is a good idea to edit the dissertation to double-check facts, logical progression, and language. Your complete musical dissertation should be organized and well presented. You will be required to defend the concepts contained in the university dissertation committee before receiving your doctorate.
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