The Ph.D. program in Creative Practice and Critical Inquiry (CPCI) was developed over the past decade in the Department of Music to integrate a wide range of current music-making practices with research and critical engagement in music studies and associated fields. Founded by Professor Vijay Iyer, the program is intended for creative music-makers with a research orientation and/or an interdisciplinary approach. It is not bound by genre, style, discipline, or aesthetic; the priority is to support outstanding artists as they create their own paths through the university. CPCI students pursue coursework in music-making and music studies and in other departments and disciplines as suits their needs and interests, always with substantial faculty advising.
The CPCI dissertation consists of a creative portfolio and a significant accompanying piece of writing. The balance between these two components, and their substance and methods, are determined and agreed upon by the student and their thesis committee, which typically includes faculty members from both within and outside of music.
Current and past CPCI faculty and affiliates:
Vijay Iyer
Franklin D. and Florence Rosenblatt Professor of the Arts, Professor of African and African American Studies
Current and past doctoral students:
Rajna Swaminathan (PhD 2021)
Ganavya Doraiswamy (PhD expected 2024)
Somi (Kabasoma Kakoma)