The Doctor of Musical Arts degree at Yale is a distinctive program comprised of a two-year residency on campus followed by a three-year period during which the musician's professional career is launched. The degree provides intensive training in the student's major field-performance, conducting, or composition-augmented by studies in theoretical and historical subjects.The School expects that all candidates will possess both great depth and breadth within the field of music. Innovative and creative contributions to the profession will be considered particularly significant. Exceptional competence as a performer, conductor, or composer.Intellectual curiosity about music and an ability to discuss in-depth its history, theory, styles, sources, and relationship to the other arts and to society.Extensive knowledge about many aspects of music-making and real experience in these closely allied fields. For example, an instrumentalist should be familiar with the elements of compositional techniques. By the same token, every composer should display considerable skill as a performer.The winds and brass programs at the Yale School of Music offer broad training in solo and ensemble playing as well as teaching and other opportunities outside the concert hall.In private lessons and weekly studio seminars, students are encouraged to explore as broad a repertoire as possible, spanning music from the Baroque to the present day.Chamber music is an integral part of the Yale experience, and students also play in various ensembles and configurations in the New Music New Haven series.The Yale Philharmonia offers important orchestral experience, with a wide variety of repertoire and frequent opportunities to work with guest conductors.