Admissions: Percussion (DMA)

Admission to the Doctor of Musical Arts is based on artistry and scholarship. At the University of Florida DMA graduate students pursue an interdisciplinary cognate, outside of music, as part of the music doctoral degree.

Current students have selected cognate studies in education, higher education administration, entrepreneurship, arts & medicine, event management, etc. Please prepare your statement of purpose to include your interest in a cognate, which may come from a number of the offered Graduate Certificate programs, or courses around a topic of interest at UF, even if not officially offered as part of a certificate program.

Placement in the program is determined through a holistic admission process that includes submissions directly to the School of Music, as well as completion of the University of Florida Graduate Admission application, and a required interview.

Both applications are due by December 1. Applicants will be notified of results in December, and those with positive results are invited to audition and interview for final deliberation.

*If you are selected for an audition and interview, faculty will contact you directly to arrange. Weekend auditions will take place on campus January 31 – February 1, and Sunday, February 22, 2026; other weekdays may be arranged.

Current UF Graduate Student Applying to Continue in DMA

• Current UF graduate students will need to complete all parts of the UF Graduate Application.
• NOTE: we have access to UF transcripts, so you do not need to request this or your previous institution’s transcripts.

STEP 1: Review Audition Requirements

• Keyboard percussion – two contrasting works (or one substantial work with contrasting sections/movements) for marimba or vibraphone demonstrating musical and technical abilities.
• Timpani/snare/multiple percussion – one or two works demonstrating technical and musical abilities.
• Orchestral excerpts or solo works/etudes are acceptable.Drumset (optional) – etudes or style demonstration. This can be solo or with a combo.
• World music (optional) – solo or ensemble performance (if featured prominently as soloist on a recording) on steel drum or hand drums.
• Recordings of live performances (senior or graduate recitals) are also acceptable, as are combinations of live and recorded materials for audition.

You do not have to perform in all areas, so please demonstrate your strengths. However, well-rounded performers are preferred.

As the DMA includes an interdisciplinary cognate, students may choose to demonstrate proficiency or interest in one of these areas (world music, entrepreneurship, etc.) through their audition or a submitted portfolio. Contact Dr. Broadway (kbroadway@arts.ufl.edu) for more information.

STEP 2: Apply to the School of Music

DEADLINE FOR SCHOOL OF MUSIC APPLICATION:

December 1, 2025

• Upload links (YouTube/Vimeo/SoundCloud) of your unedited, pre-recorded, high quality audition video or videos. Please note separate tracks should be separate links. Videos should not be enhanced or spliced in any way.
• Statement of Purpose about your interest in this unique DMA curriculum, specifically your professional aspirations in assimilating your principal music discipline with the required non-music cognate.
• Résumé/CV
• Repertoire list of works studied.
• A music research paper demonstrating advanced analytic, scholarly, and writing abilities.
• A personal website if you have created one.

Upload to Music DMA SlideRoom site

There is a $10 submission fee that you pay online after you set up and review your portfolio. 

Please see SlideRoom for additional instruction for submitting work. You will be unable to update your file once you submit so please make sure to have all your materials uploaded before you do so. For technical assistance, contact support@slideroom.com

Invitations to on-campus auditions will be extended in early January, after a successful prescreening (in-person auditions will take place January 31 – February 1, and Sunday, February 22, 2026, only for those invited).

STEP 3: Apply to the University of Florida

DEADLINE FOR GENERAL UF APPLICATION:

December 1, 2025

Because recommenders need time to upload their letters to the University of Florida application system, you may create your account early and save it before making a final submission. This way you may enter faculty email addresses and request letters earlier than the deadline to ensure timely responses. You will be able to check the status to see that this was received after you submit.

* International Applicants please see UF Admissions Information for International Students and review information provided in the International Applicants tab above.

• Letters of recommendation – THREE (3) required letters of recommendation from faculty or professionals who can speak to your ability to be successful in this graduate program. (Although character references are sometimes included, it is most helpful to have 2-3 of the letters written by former professors or individuals qualified to speak about your academic potential.)
• Statement of Purpose about your interest in this unique DMA curriculum, specifically your professional aspirations in assimilating your principle music discipline with the required non-music cognate.
• Unofficial transcripts – for the purpose of initial review upload unofficial, scanned copies of bachelor’s and master’s transcripts (not screenshots of grades); official transcripts are required separately for applicants who receive an offer of admissions.
• Resume or curriculum vitae – Pursuant to Florida Statute, your application requires inclusion of all post-high school education and employment, as well as information about ongoing international affiliations and research funding. Please ensure this information is included on your curriculum vitae (CV) or resume.
• GPA – enter your earned grades as they appear on your transcript for the bachelor’s degree: all grades from your upper-division courses (junior/senior years); read the directions carefully to complete this section. Though you are applying with a master’s degree, this section is for the 3.0 minimum bachelor’s GPA requirement. (A successful master’s degree may mitigate a below 3.0 GPA from the undergrad degree.) Must be completed by all applicants.

Apply online ($30 non-refundable application fee)   *The office of admissions is unable to provide an application fee waiver.

Kindly email graduate@arts.ufl.edu to let us know you completed the application. And to ask any questions about the application process!

STEP 4: Request Official Transcripts

While not required for the initial admissions review, official transcripts are required for applicants who receive an offer of admissions from each postsecondary institution attended.

If you attended UF as your postsecondary institution, you do not have to order a transcript from the Office of the University Registrar.

Transcripts should be sent directly from your previous institution to the University of Florida Office of Admissions:

Office of Admissions
S201 Criser Hall
P.O. Box 114000
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000

UF also accepts electronic transcripts through FASTER, Parchment, National Student Clearing House, ScribbleSoft, e-Scrip Safe, Credential Solutions, SCOIR or Transcripts Plus. The email address for electronic transcripts is te@admissions.ufl.edu.

All academic credentials become property of the university. They will not be returned to you or forwarded to a third party. For diplomas and academic credentials that are only issued once, please send an attested or certified copy of the original.

Additional Admissions Information: International Students

• Provide unofficial transcripts and degree certificate/diplomas from every institution listed in the educational history provided on your application.  
• These documents may be unofficial and uploaded in the application or via your Check Status page. 
• Transcripts and degree certificate/diplomas should be scanned copies of the official paper versions issued to you by your previous or current institution. 
• Screen shots of your grades are not accepted. 
• Transcripts and degree certificates/diplomas not issued in English must be accompanied by a certified, literal, line-for-line English translation of the original document. Acceptable certified translations are issued by your institution or a professional translating service.  
• Submitting a credential evaluation for college coursework outside of the U.S. is optional. 

The University of Florida requires proficiency in spoken and written English. This helps ensure that students who speak English as a second language are able to participate fully in university life, both in and out of class. Students from non-English speaking nations, who have not recently studied at least one year at a U.S. college or university, are required to submit satisfactory scores on one of the following assessment exams:

• IELTS Academic (International English Language Testing System): 6.0
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – Paper-Based): 550
• TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language – Internet-Based): 80
  Successful Teaching Assistants must demonstrate proficiency in English speaking. A 28 or higher score on the Speaking section demonstrates this level. Applicants with Speaking scores between 23-27, though adequate for admission, may be required to complete an extra course before receiving a teaching assignment. The minimum Writing score for a successful graduate student experience is 24.
• UF’s TOEFL school code is 5812.

If you have completed one academic year of college course work at a university or college in a country where English is the official language, excluding intensive English language programs, within the year before you begin studies at UF, you could be exempt from this requirement. We will evaluate the transcript to advise you.

English Assistance
UF international graduate students may be required to take courses if the UF Graduate School or the department you are majoring in does not feel your skills are strong enough for competitive performance in the classroom or research arena. Academic Writing and International Teaching Assistant Support (SPEAK & EAP 5836) courses are offered through the English Language Institute (ELI). Please consult their website for more information.

The UF English Language Institute (ELI) also offers non-degree-credit intensive programs for non-US students and professionals who want to improve their ability to speak, read and write English and become more familiar with American life and culture, so they can become more comfortable and successful in real-life settings in education and business. It provides housing assistance, academic advisement and other services.

Additional Links:

UF Admissions Information for International Students

UF International Student Services

Overview of the I-20 process

Graduate Assistantships are salaried positions that require a time commitment averaging 10/13/20 hours per week performing duties related to teaching, or technical/studio/lab assistance. Assistantships constitute the majority of the school’s financial aid funds and are awarded during admission review.

Graduate Assistantship amounts for MM and DMA appointments are:
– most common award $10,300 for .25FTE (10 hours per week) $528.21 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
– $13,596 for .33FTE (13 hours per week) $697.23 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May
– typically only Band GA assignments are $20,600 for .50FTE (20 hours per week) $1,056.41 bi-weekly from mid-August to mid-May

Graduate assistants are evaluated each year and re-appointment is based on the faculty evaluation of performance and the student’s satisfactory progress in the degree program. Most assistantships are extended for the standard duration of the student’s program, as offered in the admission award. In addition to receiving a stipend, students holding at least quarter-time graduate assistantship (10 hours weekly) are eligible for the tuition waiver and health insurance.

• Tuition waivers cover the minimum credits required for full-time enrollment and constitute a significant value within the assistantship package.
  The value of the tuition waiver for a non-Florida resident is ~$11,000 per semester.
  It is ~$4,000 per semester for Florida residents.
• 9 credits is full-time in the fall and spring semesters
• GatorGradCare student health insurance is another important benefit of the assistantship package. Students enroll annually and pay a $18 monthly co-pay. Covered students may also enroll a spouse and/or children.

Tuition waivers do not cover university fees associated with registration (approximately $850-950 per semester).
Waivers do not cover course fees, which may range from $45-$75 per graduate course.

All University fees and course fees are deferred until mid-semester, which allows graduate assistants time to budget for the expense. All fees must be paid by the fee payment deferment deadline to avoid a $100 late fee payment charge and cancellation of registration.