Is a DMA worth it?

[jam8086]

Besides the slight chance that you land a high paying job with a big college or conservatory, are the years of work and paying for education worth it to get a DMA?  I can see it being worth it if afterwards you get a position as a professor paying around $100,000 per year, but otherwise, it seems like you could get by easily with a masters by teaching out of your home or in some school (not a college), playing at a church, accompanying, and doing some performances every once in a while, while saving the 6+ years and about $200,000+ you would have spent on the DMA (I'm thinking of Peabody here...I know it's expensive, but as long as you're going for your DMA, I think it should be at a prestigious conservatory).

[arensky]

You have the right instincts, but no piano professor starts at $100,000 a year. Very few if any make that much ever. But if you think you want to teach at a University, go for it. The way things are right now you need a DMA to get any worthwhile academic music job with tenure.

And it will always look very nice on the wall, professorship or not! 

[lagin]

How exactly do the "levels" work?  Bmus is 4 years, and what about Masters and Doctorate?

[jam8086]

You have the right instincts, but no piano professor starts at $100,000 a year. Very few if any make that much ever.

Thats exactly my point.  In terms of money, it doesn't seem worth it to get a DMA because of the high cost and low chance of landing a high paying job.

[quantum]

Well actually I'd lilke a DMA because my walls need some decoration.   

A nice job at university or conservatory is a plus. 

[arensky]

Thats exactly my point.  In terms of money, it doesn't seem worth it to get a DMA because of the high cost and low chance of landing a high paying job.

I have a MM, I teach privately, perform a bit (classical and jazz) teach part time at the Community College (could turn into something bigger, we'll see) and play in a nice restaurant about 11 nights a month and am pretty content with my lot. I don't like academic politics so I don't feel a need for a doctorate. Musical academia is in a state of transformation and change right now, as is the whole world and society. Today's degree might not be useful in 10 or 20 years, who knows what the need for classical piano teachers will be then? It isn't that high right now, that's for sure. But if your time spent in a DMA program is productive and you're learning and studying with a good techer, then it's worth it.

Of course you could do these things on your own, more cheaply and with a lot less hassle and annoyance than if you were in an academic program. Depends on what you want to do.

Do you want to be head of the piano department? If you do, get that piece of paper, the quicker the better, because you're not the only one.

[lagin]

Right, but seriously, who wants to tell me how long each degree takes like I asked above?

[mike_lang]

How exactly do the "levels" work?  Bmus is 4 years, and what about Masters and Doctorate?

It really depends on where you go.  Masters is generally a two year program.  Doctorate, one the other hand can be anywhere from three (SUNY Stonybrook) to five or six (Indiana  University).  It all depends on how thorough the degree program is at a given school.

Best,
ML

[thracozaag]

 Is a DMA worth it?
So far...in less than a thousand words.....no.

koji

[pianistimo]

when your career is fully in bloom (which i think it is already) -earned money will only be half the reward.  the other will be women willing their estates to you.  i wouldn't doubt carl has three already.

[quantum]

Is a DMA worth it?
So far...in less than a thousand words.....no.

koji

It's a great topic for a dissertation isn't it? 

[ptmidwest]

Arensky is right;  music (et al.) academia in U.S. has been changing since the 70's and it's a different world here now.

It used to be that those who should go for their doctorate in music were only those people who can't not do it.


That may still be true for those who can afford it.

[cygnusdei]

I'm not familiar with music careers etc. but I thought most DMA programs come with full scholarship (with teaching duties, of course) ?

[mike_lang]

I'm not familiar with music careers etc. but I thought most DMA programs come with full scholarship (with teaching duties, of course) ?

I've heard that, but Indiana's, for example, takes about five years to complete and assistantships only last three.

[Bob]

Financially, no.  All the work and effort won't be rewarded with money.

But the skill level, information you learn, and the "status" of the position you can get aren't attainable without one.  (Reasonably attainable.  There are always exceptions.) By "status," I mean teaching at a university, being a professor, teaching students who are at a high level of playing.  You wouldn't have to teach beginners just because you need the income (you teach college level students just because you need the income ).

I got that from a professor when I asked a similar question.

From what I've seen for assistantship, it just depends on what's available and what you can do for the school -- How can you "show off" for the school and make them look good?  What can you do for them?  Because if they like you, if you have unique skills/knowledge, they will find or create more financial assistance for you (with the expectation that you are their hired flashy icon to attract students to their program.)  But there are flukes -- If they don't have anyone else to give an assistantship to -- You could get more than you thought.  Supply and demand.  The universities I've seen have all been unique, but they all did have their own tradition set for how they hand out scholarship stuff -- the grad asst's get an assistantship and have to teach certain classes, for example.