Thinking Through Graduate School in Music

Think like a business person if you're heading off to graduate school in music.
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[ubiestinsula]

Best advice I ever got: “Music makes a better mistress than a wife.” I did the piano masters then jumped right into graduate school at NYU to become a psychoanalyst. The piano has never left my life. In NYC I studied with exceptional concert artists who complained to me of their lonely life on the road, the awful pianos they often had to perform on, the stress of constant performance and their inability to nail a university position. Once a pianist snags a good faculty position, they NEVER leave. There are hardly any openings anywhere. Keep the piano in your life as the greatest hobby you, or anyone, could ever have. It’s a great comfort in your lonely hours and just getting near mastery with some great pieces is an extraordinary achievement.

[annaatthepiano]

Lol, Thank you professor for mentioning me! I have to correct you though. I clock out at 5.30 not at 5pm. Yes, I rush home and the first thing I want to do is get to the piano! Sometimes even the coat on. I don't want to waste my time with taking it off. But how did you know? Are you watching me? Greetings from an adult beginner.

[janhogan]

Thank goodness there are people out there like you who give sound advice to their students, this situation is occuring, not only in music, but in a varity of professional pathways offered by the universities to prospective students, whom, upon completion of degree, find out the employment market is saturated in the field they wish to find a position in! A sad situation, but one they need to be aware of so they can plan in a constructive way their working life. Soooo important!

[rebeccawilkinson]

I love that you were getting the word out 6 years ago. Even my friends who got the college gigs often have less than desirable positions with icky politics (not to mention floor-waxing). There were a couple reasons I didn’t pursue a grad degree but the cost was always there at the top. Not being in debt (and having other employable skills) leaves me free to teach privately and advance my skills other ways.

I have two questions:

1. Is there anything you would tweak or add to this advice now?
2. How can the undergrad degree (and even pre-collegiate studies) be improved to better prepare students who do not go on to grad school? My degree was full of useful things but, looking back, it feels more like prep work for the next level than thorough training in my craft. I’m not opposed to the liberal arts degree. It suits my personality. But maybe there is room in the world for a type of music trade school. Or something . . .

[joestephens]

Wonderful advice. I'll note that when I got a Masters in 1978 (piano performance), I decided in the space of 1 day to go to MBA school and dump my plans for a DMA. I was happy with this and always maintained my piano as an amateur and volunteer (in church).

My contemporaries from school have all done very well in private piano in teeming Houston, Tx, but I just didn't see myself as a private teacher, particularly of children.

I found business (accounting) interesting and challenging, and have never been unemployed. But, I knew I made the right decision when I returned to my University about 20 years later and THE SAME NAMES WERE ON THE DOORS along the faculty hallway, except one who had died. There was zero turnover.

[djpanrasdaversiteoldschool]

Wow! You covered all bases in my YEARS of decision making. I stumbled across your video, trying to find thew answer to how I can get myself out of poverty. I fell in debt in 2015 when I started my master's degree. I wasn't able to finish my degree since I wasn't able to pay for living costs, so here I am now watching your video and making a decision whether to return or not to finish my masters. I think this video finally did this for me! I've always loved digital art and I believe I may go back to school for graphic design or multimedia production in the fall instead of finishing my music education degree. Thanks again for the encouragement

[superpunk]

Your last section on growth areas in music was absolutely brilliant. Honest assessment, using an analytical frame of mind, of music as an economic sector. Truly great food for thought. Thank you.

[dibaldgyfm]

I often think like you say about "what is needed?" But you must add, that if people have the drive and the love for music and can play, improvise, and teach (feeling their way into people's minds) and are willing to also take some common school jobs (which differ radically from town to town) and private teaching (which is difficult if you want to make money from it) - radio programmes, writing art columns in local websites? - working with musical instruments and take the accounting when needed - then their love for music will give them some good moments throughout life, and the more they get into real knowledge the more joy they will have.

I recommend your perspectives very much! Even our orchestras are fighting for their lives and livelihoods.

One thing more. I have noticed a vast difference (as you mention in another video) between people who improvise, write, experiment, arrange for groups - and people who really "love Chopin and want to play his most beautiful compositions". They are indeed beautiful, but music is live communication. Being able to find the right moment to play the right piece for, say, elderly people, who recognize it is great, but the ability to find new music and present it so people get interested is the highest level of musical entrepreneurship.

Oh you just said all that! :) You know so much about music and environment.

[tomjones]

I think there are thousands of graduates that now wish they'd heard this advice many years ago.

[KeepingOnTheWatch]

As an adult learner I know I'll never become a concert performer or a professor. Primarily, I'm learning piano because I LOVE it! Also, I want to find new ways to memorize, develop my aural skills, lay down and structure new neural pathways in my brain, increase cognitive and finger speed and develop confidence in making mistakes when playing before a group of people. I love exploring new towns or even new hiking trails, even though I won't get paid for doing this. Music, for me, is a whole new world waiting to be explored and to get absorbed in - I have no need to get paid for it.

[anne-mariecampbell]

I really appreciate the time and energy you gave to creating this video to share your insight. I am considering going back for a masters of music in Vocal Performance but have many conflicting thoughts given the lack of employment afterwards. Thank you for your kind honesty!

[octaviomaciasmelendez]

Thank you for the video. THIS is exactly what musicians need to hear. Cheers!

[Yeargdribble]

I'm glad to hear that schools are taking a look at their theory cirricula. It's so frustrating that so many programs still teach theory as if the last 100 years didn't happen. There's so much focus on minutiae of period theory that really could be presented either as a footnoot in a history class or be studied in a period specific graduate level theory class... but it's taught in the compulsory undergraduate classes. Meanwhile, tons of practical theory is not. I work with so musicians who don't have a formal background in theory, but have a vastly superior functional knowledge of it compared to many of my teaching colleagues who have graduate degrees. It's a sad state of affairs and I hope it gets rectified in the future.

Having talked to some theory professors, it sounds like a huge part of the problem is that it's such a top down design. It's all designed for post-grad theory. Your undergrad theory is made to be a pre-req for what they expect for grad theory, which is pre-req for post-grad work. But none of that matters if you want to just get your undergrad and go work. It's especially a disservice to performers, but teachers too need to under functional contemporary theory. Even if you're just a choir/band/orchestra director you'll likely play things that incorporate larger chord than you were taught and many concepts that are basic to working musicians, but elusive to the formally trained (like tritone substitution). These things can actually matter when balancing the sound of your ensemble or knowing what parts to bring or what can be safely omitted without losing the quality of the harmony.

[KathyakaNina]

Thanks for being honest by this. I'm a first-generation College Graduate and it is hard to get a job in the market in general and in music if it is not self-employed when as you mentioned faculty positions are there for a LONG time. I am applying for Grad school to get my Masters Degree in Music Education & now seeing the difficulty in the market I don't see myself as of now getting a Doctorates anytime in the future. I am going keep a realistic mind though out. I am glad that my mother understands the difficulty of job finding in the market for my older brother and I but my father doesn't see it unfortunately and thinks it is easy like it was at his time. You are very right with 1st generation college students because my brother and I are one of them and both of our parents didn't passed high school level and don't face the challenge it is. I really hoped College faculties let students know about the job market & how hard it has gotten over the years. I'm doing 2 jobs substitute teaching & teaching privately at a music store and it took me 4 years after graduation to teach piano and being given the opportunity in a music store/studio. I applied to many and even had an interview in a music studio but wasn't given a position just only as a substitute fill-in when I was need. I had a colleague from college reach out to me on the opportunity of the music store where I am currently teaching and took it. I am teaching a few adult students in the music store & I know it is hard regarding their schedule but I know many that are on the older side really want this opportunity to learn. I give the opportunity and never want to turn down anyone wanting to learn music. I remember my 5th Grade teacher was still teaching when I was in middle school and I'm sure by now she has been retired for a while. My University's Music Department has unfortunately shrink a lot since I graduated in 2017. My piano teacher that received her Doctorate's in Piano performance from USC has had it rough finding a position. I notice she is no longer teaching at my College Alma Mater and I hope she is doing well and finding ways to still do what she loves. I'm glad my Alma Mater offered a Music & Business class and the professor was very honest and let us know the various ways about the job marketing if some of us do gigs, want to teach at a Schoo or University. Thank you for your honesty in this topic.

[josephschepis]

My piano instructor has developed relationships with elementary and middle schools. She may have several students whom she teaches and prepares for competitions and judging competitions. She thinks like a business person and is a highly skilled pianist. Joe.

[benhavey]

This is incredible, I love this video! It's 100% on the nose and I'm subscribing right now.

[julienpainot]

Thanks for the advice. I can confirm, that pianist good at theory have an advantage for faculty positions. That's my case and I got a job partly because of it, I was told.

[bassbonen]

This video is incredible. Thank you for your honesty and wisdom.

[marathonrunner]

This was an interesting video. Thanks for the info. I'd like to add to your list of music-related jobs where there are way more openings than there are applicants. Those jobs are: violist, harpist, organist. Musicians with advanced skills in those three instruments will have people falling at their feet to offer them positions.

[bassistovgilberto]

I believe u hve spoken to me coz am playing to go for masters degree studies in music but am glad I hve heard this from you before I get into the realmove