Honors Thesis in Music
An opportunity for expression and exploration
The honors thesis in music allows the student to explore their creative and academic interests at an advanced level. In addition to research-based theses, the Harvard Department of Music supports performance-based theses, compositions, recordings, and creative projects that motivate the student to expand their relationship with the arts. Students are encouraged to think imaginatively and work with administrators and advisors in developing their thesis concept.
Honors thesis projects follow a timeline that begins during the student’s junior year, culminating in their senior year with a final thesis project. Students wishing to pursue the honors thesis track should consider the information below carefully and understand their responsibility for meeting the deadlines described. Department of Music advisors and administrators will work closely with students in navigating these benchmarks and will provide regular updates on upcoming deadlines.
For students pursuing a Joint Concentration:
Joint concentrators must complete an honors thesis based on a topic that includes both concentrations. This option requires approval from both concentrations. Not all departments participate in joint concentrations. For more information, please refer to the Joint Concentration information with the Registrar’s Office.
Students pursuing a joint concentration must designate a Primary and Allied concentration at the time of declaration, and should follow the thesis timelines and procedures outlined by the Primary concentration.
Thesis Categories
The Department of Music supports various these types that allow students to showcase their artistic interests and talents. Students are encouraged to be creative and consider projects that either combine the definitions below or expand beyond them.
Any thesis that includes non-written, creative elements (including but not limited to performance, recording, composition, production, etc.) must complete the Thesis Pre-Screening process before submitting a Thesis Proposal. Please see pre-screening requirements for each thesis type below.
A research-based thesis that culminates in a written academic document.
- Pre-screening requirements: none.
- Final Requirements:
- Written research-based academic document.
A thesis based on original composed works, showcasing your compositional and creative voice. Compositions may take various forms from classical to contemporary, popular to electronic, and beyond. Students may consider writing for any instrumentation or voice, or for live or digital formats. Recordings may be included but are not required.
Pre-screening requirements:
- Students must pre-screen their thesis concept with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator prior to submission of their thesis proposal.
- Students must have completed a Harvard Department of Music composition course prior to thesis pre-screening. Courses with composition and/or improvisational elements may count.
- If Department of Music courses in composition have not been completed, students must schedule a meeting with composition faculty members to determine readiness to proceed with a composition-based thesis.
- Courses, seminars, or other composition experience completed outside of the Department of Music will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
- Students must submit composition samples for review by composition faculty as part of their pre-screening. Samples may be in written score form or via digital formats.
Final Requirements:
- Written summary of compositional concept, inspiration, or other conclusions.
- Portfolio of fully drafted scores and/or digital project.
A performance-based thesis designed to showcase the student’s instrumental or vocal talent. This thesis takes the form of a instrumental or vocal recital, requiring an advanced program of works that highlight the student’s skill and experience. This format assumes a traditional performance setting with small to medium production requirements. A final recording is required.
Pre-screening requirements:
- Students must pre-screen their thesis concept and anticipated program with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator prior to submission of their thesis proposal.
- Students must have established training in instrumental or vocal performance and currently be taking private instruction.
- Students must supply a letter of recommendation from their private instructor signifying the student’s readiness to perform their intended program.
Final Requirements:
- Written summary of program choices, relationship with instrument/voice and program of study, or other summary of experience.
- Formal performance of program in a professional performance setting, including secondary performers, collaborative artists, and/or ensembles.
- Full recording of performance.
A thesis that is guided by the student’s interests, experiences, and creativity. Students may define the nature and scope of their project and are invited to consider formats and deliverables beyond those described above. A thesis of this kind might include many, or even all the concepts listed above, and may culminate in a truly unique project.
Students who opt to pursue a creative thesis will need to work closely with their thesis advisor, the DUS, the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, and the Manager of Events to ensure that their project will be acceptable at the honors level, and be achievable within the thesis timeline, based on the resources available.
Pre-screening requirements:
- Students must pre-screen their thesis concept with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator prior to submission of their thesis proposal.
- Students must demonstrate significant experience with all creative elements proposed. This extends to composition, performance, instrumental or vocal training, engineering or recording experience, and all related technical skills.
- Based on creative elements, students will be expected to meet all pre-screening requirements necessary.
- Students must demonstrate an understanding of resource management, including a readiness to secure external services, venues, and support systems from independent providers.
The pre-screening process for Creative theses is likely to be more complicated than for other thesis types and may require multiple pre-screening meetings. Extra consideration will be given to the student’s past experiences, educational levels, course completion, technical aptitude, resource availability, and other relevant milestones. The Department of Music is committed to working with students to achieve their creative vision.
Final Requirements:
- Written summary of creative concept, including discussion of the creative elements included in the final product.
- A formal performance of works in a professional setting, including secondary performers, collaborative artists, and ensembles (if applicable.)
- A full recording of performance event and/or final product (if applicable.)
- Support materials in the form of audio/visual information, presentation slides, written materials, composition scores, digital formats, etc. (if applicable.)
- Other deliverables as defined by creative elements.
Thesis Pre-Screening
Thesis pre-screening is required for all students considering theses with performance, composition, recording, production, audio/visual, or any non-written, creative, or event-based elements. Students must schedule a pre-screening meeting with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator during the fall semester of their junior year, before submitting their Thesis Proposal, to discuss their creative concepts, project parameters, and artistic ideas.
Successful pre-screening will help students identify their thesis type, formulate the basics of their thesis proposal, and begin to define the scope and scale of their project within their abilities and available resources.
Pre-screening goals include:
- Assessing the student’s thesis concept and assisting with refining ideas prior to the thesis proposal.
- Gauging the student’s academic or creative experience and relevant levels of study.
- Gauging the student’s aptitude for event management, production, technical skills, engineering, performance readiness, etc.
- Anticipating the resources needed, including both department resources and resources sourced independently by the student.
- Helping the student identify an appropriate faculty advisor and/or encourage them to pursue an advising relationship.
- Ensuring the student’s readiness to begin a thesis project based on their interests, experience, and creative concepts.
If pre-screening is not completed, students will not be permitted to submit a thesis proposal that includes performance, composition, recording, or creative elements. In this case, students should review the requirements for a written, research-based thesis.
Thesis Proposal
Due in April of the student’s junior year, the honors thesis requires the student to submit a detailed proposal describing their project concept for department approval. This proposal must include the thesis title, type of thesis, and a detailed description. Proposal descriptions should be approximately one page in length, and should establish the rationale for research, define proof-of-concept for creative events, and begin to identify basic support needs or production requirements where appropriate. The student must also finalize their faculty thesis advisor at this time, and both the advisor and the DUS are required to sign off on this proposal to approve the student’s thesis plans.
Students proposing non-written theses must have completed the pre-screening process in advance, and their proposal should consider the feedback and advice received. Students proposing a composition thesis are required to include composition samples for consideration. If Thesis Pre-Screening was not completed, students will be permitted to submit a written research-based thesis only.
If the student is pursuing a joint thesis, then a signature from the advisor in both departments is required, and the topic of the thesis must be inclusive of both concentrations. Joint concentrators should follow the proposal procedure outlined by their primary concentration.
Thesis Prospectus
Due in September of the student’s senior year, the thesis prospectus should be a significant expansion of the initial proposal and should include a detailed summary of what you hope to accomplish through further research or project building. It should describe your methodology and critical approach and should establish your basic project framework and timeline. Where applicable it should include a bibliography, cited references, or examples. For theses with creative elements, it should include updates on creative details, performance preparation, composition progress, production or engineering plans, or other event-based items. Students should work closely with their thesis advisor to define prospectus definitions that align with their specific thesis type.
25-26 Thesis Timeline
Students pursuing an honors thesis in Music are responsible for following the timeline, deadlines, and guidelines listed below as they navigate their thesis project. It is important to maintain close contact with thesis advisors, the Director of Undergraduate Studies, the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, and the Manager of Events throughout this process.
NOTE TO OFF-CYCLE STUDENTS
Please contact the Undergraduate Program Coordinator to receive off-cycle thesis timeline and deadline dates. Not all thesis types will be available to off-cycle students, due to adjusted timeframes for project pre-screening and delivery.
NOTE FOR JOINT CONCENTRATORS
Students pursing a joint concentration will establish a Primary concentration and an Allied concentration. The Allied concentration will typically defer to the Primary concentration for all thesis process, policy, deadlines, requirements, and formats (these may vary between departments.) Students should schedule advising appointments with both departments before proceeding.
IMPORTANT: students pursuing joint concentrations must establish thesis advisors in both departments, regardless of which concentration is the Primary or Allied. Speak to department administrators for more information.
Thesis Production Acknowledgement
The Department of Music is committed to supporting theses that require department resources in the areas of venue access, equipment use, staffing services, recording services, and audio/visual engineering. Thesis support must be carefully coordinated with Department of Music administration for approval, based on available resources. Students interested in pursuing performance or creative theses of any kind commit to working closely with Department of Music administration to ensure that any department resources needed are reasonable, clearly articulated, and approved by the department in advance.
All theses requiring Department of Music production support or resources as defined above and based on thesis type must provide the following information and/or adhere to the guidelines set below. All production needs must be communicated to the department first during the student’s pre-screening, and then subsequently through careful coordination with the Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Thesis Advisor, and Manager of Events.
Thesis support and services are offered at the discretion of the Department of Music. It is the student’s responsibility to articulate their needs to the best of their ability through coordination with the Manager of Events, the Thesis Advisor, and the Undergraduate Program Coordinator. Department support should not be assumed. Students may opt to supplement department resources with external services or funding. External services and funding are the responsibility of the student.
- Thesis performances of any kind are limited to 90 minutes total, including intermission.
- Performances, recordings, or any theses requiring Department of Music venues, services, and staffing must take place during the dates and times offered by the Department of Music.
- Event dates must be confirmed in advance and approved by thesis advisors and DUS before scheduling to ensure that advisors and advising committee are available to review the final thesis presentation.
Any thesis projects requiring Department of Music venues, equipment, services, or staffing require the student to communicate all necessary information with Department of Music administration in advance. Initial information should be shared during the Pre-Screening process, and subsequent information should be shared during event scheduling. Pertinent information should include as much detail as possible, including:
- Venue preferences.
- Ensemble instrumentation.
- Stage diagram, including both performers and equipment.
- Piano requirements.
- NOTE: Extended techniques, prepared piano, atypical tunings, and other modifications (including removal of lid) are offered only at the discretion of Music Department staff. These atypical needs should not be assumed. Please visit Piano Technical Services for more information.
- Audio/visual recording needs.
- Audio amplification needs.
- Visual projection needs.
- Other details as required.
Support services* are available in the areas below at the discretion of the Department of Music, based on resource availability, and based on the guidelines provided above. Requests for the services below should not be assumed.
Available department resources include:
- Audio/visual recording services or staffing.
- Recording editing or engineering.
- Audio amplification.
- Video projection.
- Front of house and/or stage crew for public performances.
- Use of piano.
Loeb Music Library Research Support
Librarians with the Loeb Music Library are available to provide research assistance for student thesis projects. During a one-on-one research consultation, librarians can assist with defining topics, developing search strategies, identifying and locating new sources, organizing research, working with unique materials, and obtaining items external to Harvard.
Students are encouraged to sign up for a one-on-one research consultation here. For further questions, please contact Kerry Masteller.