from Dartmouth MFA in Sonic Practice is a three-year, fully funded graduate program for composers, artists and scientists who work extensively with sound. The program brings together a close-knit community of makers and thinkers concerned with the deep-rooted and social power of sound: its ability to move bodies, shape cultures and expand perception. Through one-on-one conversations with faculty, seminars, group critiques, and interdisciplinary classes, students advance critical and technical skills to strengthen their creative practices and deepen their intersectional understanding of the aesthetics and politics of sounding and listening.
The MFA in Sonic Practice is best suited for artists with a strong track record of independent creative work who believe they would benefit from three years of focused mentorship, critical engagement, and community support. We strive to embrace a wide range of aesthetic approaches and sonic throughlines, and envision this program as a home for students with hybrid practices that challenge conventional disciplinary boundaries and academic norms. Our curriculum is flexibly designed to support each student’s individualized research goals and best suits students who thrive in a motivated context with a high degree of academic independence.
All MFA students receive full tuition waivers, health insurance, a living allowance ($47,000 in 2024-2025), and a relocation bonus. Facilities include The warehouse, a brand new spatial sound lab with 24 channels; The Bregman Electronic Studio, with an 8-channel system and a range of vintage analog synthesizers; and Sudikoff, a dynamic makerspace completely filled with sensors and soldering irons; as well as individual work spaces in the cohort clubhouse in Hallgarten.
Join our Virtual Open House for potential applicants on Thursday, December 5 from 12:00 PM to 1:30 PM (ET), to meet faculty, staff and current students and learn more about the program and application process.
For more information, visit music.dartmouth.edu/graduate.
