archive of 11 12 theory composition job wiki
[[archive_of_11_12_theory_composition_job_wiki]] last edit on
Aug 11, 2011
12:29 AM
by Kenny O'Brien
Academic Careers
finding, applying, and interviewing for jobs in higher education======MUSIC THEORY/COMPOSITION JOBS 2011-12
Archive of 10-11 theory/comp job wiki
Archive of 09-10 theory/comp job wiki
Archive of 08-09 theory/comp job wiki
CMS Music Vacancy List
CHE Music Job List
Higher Ed Jobs
Music Theory Online job list
Current Musicology WIKI
Current Wiki Time: Thu May 17 07:44:11 CEST 2012
Last Page Update: 2011-08-11 00:29:56.0
Jobs that have been accepted
Agnes Scott College (12/13) - Jason Solomon (UGA [2007], Western Carolina)
Belmont University - Clare Sher Ling Eng (Yale [ABD], Macalester VAP)
Boston University - Jason Yust (U. Washington [2006], VAP at Alabama)
Bowling Green State University - Greg Decker (Florida State University [2011])
Carnegie Mellon University - John Ito (Columbia [2004], taught at Lawrence)
Dalhousie University (3/15) - one year; "Ability to teach a class on pre-1960 popular music may be considered an asset."
DePauw University- Brad Osborn (University of Washington, Ph.D. [2010]; VAP at Rhodes College)
Hobart and William Smith Colleges - Charity Lofthouse (CUNY Graduate Center [2011], VAP at Oberlin)
Illinois Wesleyan University - Joe Plazak (Ohio State University [2011])
Ithaca College - Bryn Hughes (Florida State University [ABD], The University of Western Ontario)
Indiana State University - Christine Boone (The University of Texas [2011])
Indiana University (post-doc) - Naomi Waltham-Smith
Indiana University - VAP (this position is in addition to the post-doc, but grew out of the same search)
Lawrence University (3/17) - Ian Bates (Yale University [2008], The University of Western Ontario)
Lebanon Valley College
Macalester College (12/11) - Victoria Malawey (Indiana University [2007], Kenyon College)
McMaster University - Matthew Woolhouse (Cambridge University [2007], Research Fellow at Wolfson College/Cambridge)
Oberlin College Conservatory - David Heetderks and Andrew Pau (CUNY Graduate Center [ABD])
Oklahoma Baptist University - Randolph Johnson (Ohio State University, 2010)
Oklahoma City University - Dave Easley (Florida State University [2011])
Peabody Conservatory - Joel Puckett (University of Michigan DMA)
Seton Hall University - Jack Stamps (University of Texas [DMA 2010])
Shenandoah Conservatory (2/28) - Mitch Ohriner (Indiana University [2011])
Skidmore College (3/11) - (rejection email sent 4/18)
University of Alabama (visiting position) - Christopher Segall (CUNY Graduate Center [ABD])
University of Mary Washington
University of Michigan (deadline 11/15) - Full or Associate Professor - Pat Hall (Yale; UCSB)
University of New Mexico - José-Luis Hurtado (Harvard University)
University of North Texas - Daniel Arthurs (Indiana University [2011])
University of Northern Colorado - Kyle Fyr (Indiana University)
University of Oxford, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Psychology of Music and Music Theory - Benedict Taylor (Cambridge)
University od Texas, Brownsville: Dr. Susan de Ghize
University of Toronto - Steven Vande Moortele (University of Leuven [2006]; University of Oklahoma)
West Liberty University (Who?)
Jobs that have made an offer
Columbia University: Assistant Professor
University of Iowa-Asst. Professor of Music Theory
University of Oklahoma (begin reviewing applications 4/14) - one year replacement
Utah State University (review begins 1/10)
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
Eastern Illinois University (scheduled for February/March)
University of Central Florida (interviews scheduled for March) - interviews are complete. has anyone heard anything?
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland - Postdoctoral Researcher in Performance Science
Full Sail University (12/15)
Metropolitan State College of Denver (scheduled for week of 2/21)
SUNY Potsdam (scheduled for week of 2/21)
LeMoyne-Owen College (Week of 8/8, via Skype)
Jobs that have requested additional materials (see below for specifics)
Jobs that have acknowledged applications (see below for specifics)
Otterbein University - one year, theory and aural skills (by email, 5/13)
Georgia State University - visiting lecturer
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
University of Stellenbosch (deadline 11/23) - Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Music Theory/Musicology
University of Notre Dam (deadline 11/1/2011) time for 11/12 page?
- Wonder if the search will hold water?!
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Western Carolina University, canceled, 2/10 due to funding
Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst - Lecturer (confirmed in email, 1/14)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Lee Weisert (Northwestern University)
Jobs that have made an offer
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
The Hartt School - University of Hartford (deadline 1/1) (acknowledged by email, 1/14)
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Augustana College - Jacob Bancks (University of Chicago ABD)
Bucknell University - Joseph Eidson (University of Kansas DMA [2010])
Charleston Southern University - Kris Shaffer (Yale University [2011])
DePaul University - integrated musicianship including comp. - Christopher Jones (Stanford DMA [2004]) and Seung-Ah Oh (Brandeis Ph.D.)
Duquesne University - 2 positions - Zvonimir Nagy (Northwestern DMA) & ??
Fordham University (deadline 3/10) - filled, letter didn't say who
Georgia Southern University (offer made and accepted during mid December 2010)
Harvard - Preceptor Rank (3/21) [filled by early April]
Illinois State University, non-tenure track
Trinity University, Texas - Brian Bondari (University of Kansas DMA [2009])
Union University - Daniel Musselman (University of Kansas DMA 2010, currently VAP at UU)
University of Mary Washington - Mark Snyder (University of Memphis DMA [2007], University of North Alabama)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Diego Vega (Cornell DMA [2005], Visiting Scholar at Stanford (CCRMA))
University of South Dakota - Nolan Stolz (The Hartt School DMA [2010], Visiting Lecturer at University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
University of Texas at Tyler - Kyle Gullings (The Catholic University of America [2011])
Washington State University - Scott Blasco (University of Missouri - Kansas City, ABD)
Wichita State University-Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn (University of Hartford Hartt School of Music DMA [2010], Washington State University)
Columbia University - Lecturer (deadline 5/15) - Peter Susser (Columbia DMA [1994], currently acting lecturer at Columbia)
Jobs that have made an offer
Jobs that have had or are having onsite interviews
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Georgia College & State Univ. - phone interviews scheduled for 1/24 & 1/25
Utah Valley University
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
Pasadena City College (deadline 4/18) [Rejection letters sent.]
Jobs that have been announced with no updates.
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Indiana Wesleyan University
University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Cambridge, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Popular Music and Culture - Monique Ingalls (UPenn 2008)
University of Cambridge, Temporary University Lectureship in Music - David Trippett (Harvard 2009, Christ's College Cambridge JRF)
Cardiff University - Keith Chapin (Stanford [2002])
Grove City College
Kenyon College - Ross Feller (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [1994], currently VAP at Kenyon (since 2009) )
Mars Hill College - Alan Theisen (Florida State [2010], Indiana University post-doc)
McGill University, Dean, Schulich School of Music - Sean Ferguson (McGill, 2000)
Roosevelt University - Assistant Professor of Core Music Studies - Teddy Niedermaier (Juilliard, Indiana University, VAP at Oberlin since 2009)
University of Texas, Arlington - 1-year VAP in String Bass/Music History. Teaching duties require ear-training.
Westminster College - (50% FTE) theory with music history, instrumental conducting, and/or interdisciplinary topics
Carroll University - theory/musicology
Jobs that have made an offer
Mott Community College (4/1)
Florida State College at Jacksonville-First Offer Declined
University of Dayton (deadline 12/01) - Assistant Professor of of Music Theory and Technology - theory, aural skills, tech
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
College of Wooster - VAP (non-renewable)
Columbia University: Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Music (2 positions); review begins 12/15/10
Stanford University (deadline 11/15) - Assistant Professor of Music Perception/Cognition - "The successful candidate will have accomplished doctoral-level work in an area related to music, be fluent in music (theory, performance, or composition) and be committed to interdisciplinary research"
University of Oxford - Lincoln College Lord Crewe JRF in Music (3/9)
University of Oxford - Worcester College JRF in Music (3/7)
Ursinus College - Theory/Technology and Strings
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Lewis and Clark - Piano and Theory
Central Connecticut State University (3/15) - one year "special appointment" in music technology and music theory
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Quinnipiac University (1/3) - Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor; Director of Music
University of Illinois at Chicago - (review begins 4/22) - Clinical Assistant Professor of Composition and Theory, with strong (desirable) backgrounds in Jazz and Electronic Music
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
University of Oxford: post-doctoral research assistant, 3-year term (rejection email sent 11/10)
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
City College of San Francisco (4/27) - harmony, musicianship, fundamentals, music appreciation, piano
Guildhall School of Music & Drama (deadline 9/13) - Research Assistant (should have background in psychology, education, or empirical musicology)
Keele University (deadline 10/14, starting ASAP on or after 10/18) - Part-Time Teaching Fellow in Music, 9-month contract
King's College London (deadline 11/18) - Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Music Computing and Psychology
Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Network (McMaster University, McGill University, and Université de Montréal, deadline 01/14) - Postdoctoral Fellowship
Midwestern State U, Texas (review begins 11/15) - Music Dept Chair and Assoc. or Full Prof. of Theory; reposted 3/22 with review to begin 5/2; basically the same description and same contact info; anyone know anything? Anyone hear anything from the earlier search?
Palomar College (1/7) - conduct one or more ensembles and teach classes in music theory and appreciation
University of California, Irvine - part time pool of lecturers in musicianship, music theory, music fundamentals, voice performance, and choral conducting.
University of Wisconsin Colleges Marshfield (12/31) - teach lower-division courses in music and conduct instrumental/choral ensembles
Washington University in St. Louis (review begins 9/30) - Full Professor of Music and Department Chair
Young Harris College - theory/woodwinds
Kansas State University - theory/woodwinds (review begins 5/30)
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
New Jersey City University (deadline 12/15) - Theory, Ear Training, Computer Music, and Applied Lessons/Composition
Adelphi University (email 5/13)
College of Mount Saint Vincent - Appreciation/History/Performance/Theory, develop music minor, assist theatre (email 5/20)
Ball State University - Amelia Kaplan (University of Chicago [1998])
Bowling Green State University - Christopher Dietz (University of Michigan [2007])
Cardiff University - Robert Fokkens (University of Southampton [2006])5
Colgate University - Zhou Tian (USC?)
Georgia State University - "Digital Music Technology" - Tae Hong Park (Ph.D. Princeton - Tulane)
Jerusalem Academy of Music - Digital Composition - Amnon Wolman
Montana State University - Composition/Technology - Jason Bolte (University of Missouri - Kansas City [2011])
McGill University - Composition - Philippe Leroux (1er prix, Conservatoire de Paris; teaching most recently at Université de Montréal)
University of California, Irvine - Composer-improviser (Nicole Mitchell, flutist)
University of North Texas - Christopher Moore (Stanford University [2008])
Vermont College of Fine Arts - Faculty Chair in Composition (part-time, mainly off-site) (Position filled
Wayne State University - Jonathan Anderson (University of North Texas, internal candidate)
Western Michigan University - Digital Composition - Christopher Biggs (University of Missouri - Kansas City [2010])
Wesleyan University - Paula Matthusen (New York University [2008], Florida International University)
Williams College - Jeffrey Roberts (Brandeis [2008], The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies)
Jobs that have made an offer
Mount Allison University (deadline 12/1) - specialization in Canadian music
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Jerusalem Academy of Music
University of Birmingham (2/10)- Composition Chair, Technology, Etc. (Rejection Notification)
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
McGill University (5/24) - Associate Professor of Composition
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
I am a theorist: 8
I am a composer/theorist:3
I am a theorist/composer/technologist:4
I am a composer/technologist: 3
I am a composer/not a technologist: 5
I am a theorist/technologist: 3
I am a musicologist with theory as a secondary area: 1
I am a performer who likes teaching theory: 1
CLASSIFICATION - everyone following this page
I am ABD (finishing this year) on the market: 7
I am a new PhD in my first year on the market: 6
I am searching from a current TT position: 4
I am searching from an adjunct position: 9
I am searching from a position of unemployment: 4
I am searching from a position of impending unemployment (VAP or adjunct position ending): 3
I have given up on the academic life and just want to see if my friends can get jobs: 5
I am returning to the job market after a [forced] hiatus from academia: 2
I'm a member of a search committee: 3
I'm only following this out of curiosity: 4
I'm looking to pick up a spousal hire for my partner: 1
I'm looking for that special someone: 1
I obsessively check this page and am sad when the only update is in this section: 3
ADDITIONAL INFO
Composers with PhD: 7
Composers with DMA: 11
I think that internal hemorrhaging is a small price to pay for the sublimity and erudition of Vogon poetry: 42
I have a doctorate, publications, and several years of teaching experience but still cannot make my way out of adjunct purgatory: 4
I'm planning on leaving academia if I don't get a job this year: 2
APPLICATIONS SENT
I have sent 0-2 applications this year: 3
I have sent 3-5 applications this year: 5
I have sent 6-8 applications this year: 3
I have sent 9-11 applications this year: 4
I have sent 12-14 applications this year: 1
I have sent 15+ applications this year: 14
Q: The "Deadline Calendar" from the musicology site is a good idea; perhaps this can be included here, but integrated into the main list?
- I sorted all the positions within their respective categories by deadline, and eliminated deadlines from the ones who have moved beyond "acknowledged" since that doesn't seem necessary. How's it look now?
A: Better, thanks!
- You're welcome. The only thing now is that you can't just look at the bottom of the lists to see if new jobs were added.
3/4: Getting demoralizing rejection letters? This will make you smile:
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/02/28/babys-laugh-makes-dealing-with-rejection-easier/
10/26: Agree! What are we, a bunch of musicologists? (kidding, of course...although their wiki tends to be a little more "edgy" than ours)
7/15: Yes, let's not delete existing comments because you share a different opinion.
9/28: I actually thought it was looking a little better than last year. Maybe you're a theorist only. I'm coming from the comp/theory angle, and as I look at the spreadsheet of jobs I applied to last year, there were none with Sept. or Oct. deadlines and only three with Nov. This compares with 7 this year that I have or plan to apply for, all with deadlines of Nov. or earlier.
9/30: This is by far the worst theory-only year there has been in some time. Hopefully it'll pick up...
9/30: In response to the comments about this being a rough year, I'd like to say that while I do need a job for 2011/12 (that's why I'm here!), and I understand the desire to commiserate, for me it's not helpful to bemoan the rough market. I have strengths and weaknesses in my applications, and I'm spending my available time on further strengthening my strengths and trying to minimize my weaknesses. That helps me keep a positive attitude as much as possible, which I think is better for my head, and probably will be better for my attitude when I go on interviews. You might want to try it. And yes, hopefully it'll pick up. Good luck!
10/18: In re 9/30(2) - Dude, sooner or later we will all get jobs, it is just a bad economy! Stick with it!
10/20: I agree with 10/18! it will pick up soon!
10/25: There are always more people looking for jobs than actual jobs. Fact of our profession. I hope you have some tonal compositions handy when the time comes...
10/26: This year's market already feels much better than last year. Heck, look at the links on MTO. I can't remember the last time that I actually had to scroll down the page to see all the jobs listed there! (Granted, not all of them are relevant to all of us...but I'm sure they've all got some relevance to at least some job-seekers). Of course, we have no way of knowing if this will continue to improve, but let's hope!
10/28: In re 1/18 - actually, there are far more job seekers than jobs, and as cash-strapped schools eliminate tenure-track jobs for adjuncts, the ratio will skew even more. The reality is that not everyone is going to get a job. I'm all in favor of keeping a good attitude, but we shouldn't ignore the reality of the market.
10/30: 10/26 must be using a very small screen. I don't need to scroll to see them on my computer. In response to 10/28, you would think that with all of our communal brain power we would be able to change the market to fit the reality we desire. After all there is nothing absolute about how the market casts reality.
11/1: Let's face it folks, the market sucks. There are few jobs and certainly not enough for the several years backup of graduates. It's not going to get better, it's only going to get worse.
11/8: The job market definitely sucks. But there's an equally big issue at hand, too: in our efforts to have strong, effective graduate programs in music, we are simply graduating far too many people with doctorates in music for even a decent market to support. (I suspect it's even worse in the applied areas.) What's the solution to this? Fewer and more selective doctoral programs in music? Are our nation's schools doing anyone any favors by continuing to churn out degrees, without an acknowledgment that this degree might end up being merely a nice wall decoration? (other than bringing in a whole lotta tuition money)
11/18: Yeah, it sucks but it's better than last year at this time! I am at least 10 job apps ahead of where I was last year at this time.
12/15: Seems this is the year of the technologist in comp... I count one non-tech comp job. Or is it two?
12/17: Anyone else notice the gradual appearance of jobs that are listed as "Remote" or "Telecommute"?
12/23: This is my first year on the market. Is it normal for so many October and November deadlines to take this long without any development? I expect they have more than the usual number of candidates this year. Is this a factor?
12/24: I've had a bit of experience here. From my perspective there is no normal. As more and more recent grads hit the job market the market becomes flooded. This trend will only get worse unless folks pull out of academia en masse, or there is a sudden blossoming of new music schools. The latter scenario could in fact happen if we widen our scope to include online and commercial/business universities.
12/27: In response to 12/23: This is my first year on the market and I’m similarly befuddled. One possibility, though it seems remote, is that participation in this wiki is not as high as you might think and that some searches are going forward without the community’s knowledge. But I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t share information on this page (i.e., that you’ve been invited for an interview) that can only be of mutual benefit.
1/3: Regarding the comments above about the status of the market: IMO, this year initially appears to be on track to be better than the previous two. In '07-'08 there were about 150 jobs (not all TT), and this declined to about 75 or so in '08-'09 and again to about 45 last year. Concomitant with this decline was an apparent change in hiring dynamics that favored ABDs and recent doctorates — by a considerable margin — over candidates with several years' experience, on or off the tenure track. Even in the best of years, however, there are not enough jobs to accommodate all the graduating PhDs and DMAs hitting the market. (See, for instance http://www.economist.com/node/17723223 .) The picture is not and will likely never be rosy so, if you really want an academic job, prepare to steel yourself for the long haul that is the job search. For many, this picture involves years abiding in the soft underbelly of academia (i.e. adjunct and non-tenure-track labor), and for some this means never landing a TT job — or quitting the TT job market altogether after a number of years in favor of some other line of work. For a reality check, you could look at the University of Pennsylvania's departmental website, which lists PhDs and current employment (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/music/graduate/phds.html ); a considerable number are listed as "independent scholars/composers" many years after graduation. Whether this is by choice or due to the nature of the market is impossible to determine from this data, but it does provide a sobering, empirical snapshot of the job placement of graduates of one of the country's higher-ranking institutions.
1/12 These concerns are real, however, it is unfair to single out one program to attest to such changes without knowing more about the circumstances of the individuals in question. For example, a recent PhD could be conducting a regional job search for family reasons; the weak market makes it even more difficult for candidates in these circumstances, but that might not be a reflection of the program itself.
1/22: Seems like the jobs are drying up.
1/22(2): Out of 46 applications... 4 rejections, 16 Wiki says moved on... So 26 no-updates remain, carrying deadlines between 11/1 & 1/31. Should my lack of any positive replies be worrisome or expected this year as an ABD composer (May '11)? Getting nervous...
1/22(3): In my opinion it is to be expected, especially in a year with so many jobs emphasizing theory. There are way too many people who already have their degree in hand and the competition is fierce. While it is not impossible to land a job while ABD, you may be more likely to land a VAP / non-TT gig posted later in the spring.
1/23: I agree with 1/22(3). VAP/non-TT gigs will start posting soon and you're much more likely to land one of those.
1/23 (5): I disagree with 1/22(3). Just take a look at last year's stats and you'll see that 90% of the jobs went to ABD types, or others with very little experience in the professional academic world.
1/24 @1/22(2) I think it depends on your profile as composer at least as much as the state of your degree. Seems perfectly reasonable to expect a solid chance at a TT job if you have a couple of orchestral commissions, say, or a few pieces published, etc. before you have completed your degree. I think there are simply too many variables from one institution to another to make a clear-cut prediction.
1/25 @ 1/12: OP from 1/3 here. I didn't intend to single out any one department, apologies for any confusion. Public availability of such placement information is spotty, and Penn seems to do a good job of keeping tabs on their grads. I did note that these data do not tell us why certain individuals do not hold academic posts, so this should not be construed as a criticism of that department or its graduates, but rather as an "empirical snapshot."
1/25 (2): 1/23 (5) has it right. ABDs have had the upper hand on the market in these disciplines for the past 2 years. I might add the following: Since pay raises are usually tied to promotion/tenure, the only way most TT faculty can bargain for more money and/or better work conditions is by getting an offer elsewhere. At one department I worked at, nearly 50% of first-choice search finalists declined the offers they were made. In every case, these people already had TT or tenured jobs; they were being courted for the ostensible experience they would bring. Even though it became clear in hindsight that many of them were just on the market for a pay raise, the screening protocols had moved these people forward to interviews. Panic often set in at this point, since a failed search would give the department a black eye. The job would then be offered to the least offensive candidate who seemed most likely to accept. Fast forward to the current tight market where funding for faculty lines is both scarce and uncertain, and it becomes clearer why departments might be favoring ABDs: they cost less, and are less likely to decline a job offer. Perhaps this sounds cynical, but I'm at a loss to explain the marked turnaround the market has done in regards to ABDs.
1/25 (3): Good points, but what about ABDs versus completed doctorates who are not in current TT (or even full-time) jobs? I, too, am at a loss to explain why I, with a completed doctorate and ongoing part-time experience, am not receiving consideration for the jobs that end up going to ABDs. Surely they don't think I'm more likely to decline an offer than the ABD would be!
1/25 (4) to (3): Well, it used to be said that part-time was the kiss of death - a stigma was attached to you for being less than full, i.e. "there must be a problem here." I'm not sure if this is still the case but ABDs and just graduated folks don't have the appearance of damaged goods.
1/26: To the above person about not meaning to single out one department: Take a look at the previous year's stats and you will find that the jobs are NOT generally going to grads with degrees from U Penn, or many other decent state schools. The message is: Get a degree from Columbia, Yale, Princeton, et al or forget about it.
1/26 (2): Isn't U Penn in the Ivy league? Seems like doctoral candidates from UC Berkley and UC SD are doing all right. Not that it helps me, as I look at the total absence of jobs fielded from my institution...
You are right, off course, that Harvard, Princeton and Yale completely dominate the job market. There will, eventually, be a correction to DMA numbers: the numbers are now becoming sad enough to break through the delusional hopes of graduate school candidates. DMA's do not guarantee you a job teaching music in college any longer.
1/26 (3): Nor does a Ph.D., regardless of the prominence of the institution or whether it's a state school or Ivy. I know unemployed and underemployed people across the spectrum, including from the few schools that do seem to have high placements. Re: the part-time kiss of death, I try to delude myself with the notion that hiring departments recognize the state of the market, but my observations and experience tend to bring that flight of fancy back to reality. I have a Ph.D. from one of those top, elite universities, a number of years of part-time and full-time teaching post-degree, solid evaluations and references, and a modest but reasonably active cv yet I haven't had a nibble on a tt job in two years now (and only one interview three years ago), despite a much stronger cv and experience that has made me a demonstrably more effective educator. I expect that many of us here can describe similar circumstances. C'est la vie.
1/29: Still dry. Bone dry.
2/1: Yes, the new year brought little for us in terms of job possibilities. Besides the few part time gigs, I'm curious to hear what else are people doing for employment? And, have any of us just given up on getting the academic job?
2/12: I've been at this for about a decade now and have yet to find that T/T job. Ironically, this has allowed me the time and space to work as a composer, pursuing commissions, founding an ensemble while teaching part time and, more or less, building a career that I did not fully expect (but which I always really wanted). It hasn't been easy or always pretty, but it sure has been fulfilling. So take heart: life has a way of surprising us.
2/12 (2): I've also been on the job market for longer than I care to admit. I'm curious what 2/12 does about health insurance, and mortgage and/or car payments. Do you have a full-time working spouse? Do you have a family to support?
2/14: Tumbleweeds blow across our wiki site but little else.
2/18: I'm 2/12/(1). I won't say it hasn't been difficult. My spouse is just now fully employed so that the pressure is off, somewhat, but for the past two years we were essentially surviving on my adjunct salary as well as what commissions and royalties I was getting and whatever temp jobs she was able to find. We were extending our insurance from my last VAP gig, although we could have bought insurance from my employer, albeit at exhuberant prices. (BMI, ASCAP and the American Music Center also offer health insurance plans to members.) Like I said, it was not easy, but it was doable. I'm just trying to spread what cheer can be spread in this forum, given how tough our world can be.
2/18: 2/18(1), I'm so glad to hear that you and your wife have made it work somehow! Adding children to the mix can make what you describe impossible. Of course, we all got ourselves into this (and likewise parenthood, some of us) but even when taking responsibility for that, it's frankly quite disheartening to work for so long and with rather strong results only to be seemingly disbarred from employment of any kind, in any field. Thus far, I have found my sterling Ph.D. credentials to be no more than an unconcealable liability when applying for entry level positions outside the academy.
12/18(3)[12/12(1)]: Luck is a big part of it, yes. And there are times when I still feel like it's a horrible life I picked. It's not an easy life, by any stretch, and I've certainly developed a healthy skepticism about academia. But it is possible to do other things or piece together a life from various threads, even if it makes for something less than glamorous. But it is incredibly difficult and I, certainly, was lucky enough to have a strong, supportive partner along for the ride.
2/6 (2): I just took a look at both of these indices, and even as a nobody within our field, can think of almost two full handfuls of recent music theory dissertations that don't appear. As you point out, the data is self-selecting, but the margin for error is way too large for this to be a productive measure of job prospects.
2/6 (3): Thanks for the research, (1). It's useful as a ballpark figure, and certainly an improvement over the exaggerated and fatalistic claims that virtually no one will land a job. That said, even if your numbers are accurate, 50% permanent employment 1-5 years after terminal degree seems like a real cause for concern. Especially outside of arts and humanities, most would find those odds troublesome. A PhD is no guarantee for employment, but given a 50% success rate after 5 years, I can't help but wonder how many would've chosen other career paths.
2/6 (4) And for composers? I can only imagine the percentage of composers with doctorates placed in jobs is substantially lower.
2/6 (1 again): (2), certainly there are individuals missing from the indexes, and I wish those indexes were actively comprehensive (or that an organization like SMT publicly tracked job placements, though I can understand why they don't). (3), it is troublesome, especially since graduate rates in doctoral programs are not especially high to begin with. As for whether we would choose this path again, I'm still not sure this information predicts the job prospects of those entering masters programs now (who won't be on the market until 2017 or later), and I'm not sure if the 50% ballpark figure was much different when I entered school in 2004. My graduating institution, like most, claimed very good job placements and they still do.
2/6: I agree: this is a numbers games. I do, however, believe that most people have no idea how to apply for jobs - can't write an effective letter of application; unorganized CV; etc.
2/7 (1): Except the numbers are based upon (filtered via) deeply held beliefs that dull the universal edge of mathematics. These numbers are weighted in oddly human, all too human ways.
2/7 (2): Re: 2/6 (3). I would have (and I'm on the lucky side 2005–2010 class with a tenure-track position!). Perhaps we need to do a better job at making sure potential doctoral students know the positives and negatives.
2/7 (3): I was also "one of the lucky ones," and agree completely with 2/7 (2). When interviewing potential theory majors, I often think of presenting them with numbers like these, but for obvious reasons would never do so. Of course, these statistics would also have to be compared to those from other fields to really have any force, especially in this economy.
2/7 (2) again: I wouldn't give numbers either, (3), unless they become codified and reliable, but I am seriously rethinking how I'll have this conversation the next time it becomes necessary.
2/7 (4): I am so glad that my advisers and professors didn't pull any punches when they informed me about the dismal state of the job market. I was able to adequately equip myself with the tools and attitude required to be successful. It saddens me that some (e.g. 2/7 (3)) intentionally handicap their students by not giving them reality checks, ostensibly because they are afraid of losing students, or worse. As with many unintended consequences this pedagogically bankrupt approach contributes to what it seeks to hide. Imagine if she/he used the same approach for grading.
2/7 (5): Wow. (4), not all were lucky enough to have superior faculty who did this, even those from top-flight programs. (Besides, five years ago, the job market looked very different.) That (2) finds it inappropriate to cite as-yet unreliable numbers does not make her/him wrong. Yes, people will do this to avoid losing students, and yes, it's problematic when it happens. Yet, that doesn't mean (2) is doing so for this reason, or that we should automatically jump to that conclusion...
2/8 (1): Here is what (3) actually said (5): "When interviewing potential theory majors, I often think of presenting them with numbers like these, but for obvious reasons would never do so." This is not relativism, this is clear (albeit deceptive) talk. The results of such talk speak for themselves.
2/8 (2): 2/7 (3) again. Wow, I guess the phrase "for obvious reasons" was a really poor choice of words. (4), this has nothing to do with losing students and everything to do with losing my job. Whether I like it or not, the purpose of interviewing potential majors is recruitment, and to engage in activities that would deliberately undermine that goal is tantamount to deliberately teaching a class terribly because I didn't like the subject matter. Besides, students who are at the application stage have already decided to be theory majors, and I'd think that the time to have this conversation would be before that decision had been made (I'm curious what (2) thinks about that). 2/8 (1), how is this deceptive? None of us ever leads students to believe that their chances of getting a job are especially good.
2/8 (3): Two things: I think the issues run deeper than a simple "disclaimer" at the onset of graduate theory studies. The directional shift in the concerns of music theory in the 70's is simply not sustainable in the current job market. The careers of Alan Forte, David Lewin, etc. (though this is probably the only point of comparison between the two) was (and I would argue, should have been) a rare thing, a situation for a highly specialized academic environment. The training and interest needed from music theorists is primarily pedagogical: ear training, solfege, counterpoint, analysis, etc., for the training of musicians. The internal pressure described by 2/8 (2) to recruit theorists is based in a naval gazing attitude which is only possible when market conditions allow for big sized departments teaching meta - musical specialists. I am not here to argue for or against the validity of an academic career spanning papers on "Pitch Array theories" and suchlike, but simply that those interests are ancillary to the actual job. Besides, the real grumbling should come from composers, who traditionally were the ones teaching theory at colleges, and were supplanted in the 1970's by this new breed of academic theorists.
Secondly, in my experience attending theory seminars and reading the (admittedly occasional) paper, music theory is currently employing methods and vocabulary that is not accessible to the rest of the musical -academic community. I think those theorists who will work hardest to bridge those gaps between musicians, musicologists and theorists will not only stand to benifit the field the most, but would gain the most in terms of employability.
2/4 (4): This may not be forum for this discussion, but 2/8(3) has called the question. Theorizing is not navel gazing, or at least it doesn’t have to be. Benjamin Zander has argued that you don’t want to increase the importance of classical music from a 7 to an 9 out 10 for 5% of the population, you want to raise it from a 1 to a 3 for 95% of the population. Imagine the improved job prospects if theory was presented to higher education not as specialized training for musicians but as an essential component of a program aiming to develop critical thinking. This goal (as opposed to, say, stylistic composition) requires sustained theorizing of the Lewin/Forte variety and trained music theorists are simply better prepared to address this need than composers.
2/8 (3b) I actually agree for the most part. I would argue, however, that you would want to enact a merger of disciplines with musicology, so that your "music appreciation" courses will benefit from some discussion of the actual music. Notice that the you seem to bolster my point of the need for a more generalized language, one that approaches music theory from a normative - based vocabulary. You could probably give musicologists a good run for their money and take some of their market share. (They do seem to have about 2 to 3 times the amount of openings.)
2/8 (5) [2/7 (5)]: Yes, that much is clear. (4) seemed to take it well out of its original context, and there are many ways to interpret it. Why do we assume the worst?
2/8 (6), (originally, 2/7 (2)): Couldn't agree more, 2/8 (2). I tend to see these students when they are still "potential" doctoral applicants and not dead-set on becoming a theorist. (There is no grad program here, and most students who have expressed interest don't actually know what theory research is. They seem to think that, because my classes are "fun"—allegedly, at least—that's all there is to it.) I've dissuaded some, while others are sure this is what they want. Then, we encourage them to do a Master's before trying a Ph.D.
2/8 (7): To the person that deleted my comments and questions that should have appeared as 2/8 (3): Put them back. Thanks.
2/9 (1): I am curious why 2/8 (2) believes that she/he will lose his/her job and potential students by being forthright and honest. Has his/her boss issued a gag order? Or is she/he unwittingly exercising self-censorship? Does 2/8 (2) really believe that the primary goal of recruitment is to fill seats?
2/9 (2) (formerly 2/8(2) and 2/7(3)): 2/9(1), we've managed to get through this without sarcasm and hyperbole so far, and it would be nice to continue doing so. As far as losing potential students, the undercurrent of this entire thread is that if potential theory majors were given accurate information about the job placement rate, some of them would choose other fields. That's certainly the implication of 2/6(3)'s last statement, which got the ball rolling. Assuming that to be true, it seems obvious that an admissions committee would look unfavorably on a faculty member who was knowingly and actively discouraging potential students from entering the program. Furthermore: I haven't been at this long, but I've interviewed my fair share of potential majors, and not a single one has ever asked about the job market. Why is it the interviewer's responsibility to do the type of legwork that the interviewee should be doing? As 2/8(6) said, this conversation needs to be happening at the stage when they're still *potential* grad students; it's not my place to have them come all the way to campus and then tell them "oh and by the way, you have very little chance of getting a job in this field." How would I even know that? And how would I know their chances are any better in any other field? And isn't it presumptuous to assume that they would even care? (Maybe the student is independently wealthy, or, heaven forbid, looks at grad school as an opportunity for education, rather than as a job-placement factory.) Finally: the interview process is already designed to weed out those people that *we* think would not succeed in the field, it's up to the candidate to decide what he/she thinks about his/her chances for success. So sadly, yes, the primary goal of recruitment - in this economy, anyway - is to fill seats. I enjoy my job, I'm lucky to have it, and I'd like to keep it; so when I interview applicants, my job is to do what's in the best interest of the school. It's the candidate's job to do what's in his/her own best interest. Can I get a witness?
2/9 (3): I'm new to the discussion, but happy to be your witness 2/9 (2) and that may be the best defense of this issue I've read in a long time.
2/9 (4): Just to add to this, I include this description of the responsibilities from the Bowling Green State University job, just as an example: "Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate theory and aural skills and graduate?level theory courses; recruiting and mentoring graduate students; and contributing to the artistic and intellectual environment of the college and the university."
2/9 (5): I'm not new to this, praise be, and find 2/9 (2)'s stance (as someone previously pointed out) to be all about navel gazing and not about helping students or his/her department. In fact, as someone else pointed out above it will indeed have exactly the opposite effect. Many of my students have asked me about the job market and like 2/7 (4) I have tried to give them a realistic picture, along with some optimism. At my institution we track the success 'rates' of our graduates, which adds to the realism of the picture.
2/10 (1): With regard to what 2/9 (2) says about it not being the place of a graduate school faculty member to tell students about the state of the job market, what about how the majority of schools don't have theorists teaching theory, but a studio faculty who teaches theory on the side? (That is not to suggest such professors fail to understand it, but there are very real differences between their job markets/career options and ours.) I think it's very much our job—when the students ask questions about it, at least. I certainly wouldn't walk into a room of grad students and say, "half of you won't get tenure-track jobs," but with universities cutting tenure-track lines to save on the expense, as a field, we're producing far too many Ph.D.s for the market.
2/28: Isn't it possible to disagree without being disagreeable while at the same time not resorting to name-calling? For far too long out field has been awash in passive acceptance and healthy skepticism of agents outside the domain. In order to take such claims seriously we must first understand the motivations of all those involved, which requires not only perception but also inspection. This should not be a value judgement.
3/2: 2/28, I think I can speak for many of us when I say: huh? (x4)
3/3: Careful, 3/2! Sounds like a value judgement! BAM!
3/3: I'm actually quite happy to read our profession is "awash" in anything, since obviously it's not "awash" with job offerings while at the same time its enjoying a healthy skepticism in terms of status, money and, let's face it, an excess of relevance. Preach on, 3/2! I'll be your choir! A BIRD IS A WORD!
3/4: Hey, 3/3 (2) are you a composer? If not, you should be! Nice work.
Is it kosher to contact the info person with questions about the state of the search? Would you apply "blind"?
1/3: No harm in contacting them first. It certainly could keep you from wasting time and money.
8/23: Have (unofficial) copies in your dossier or send just unofficial copied directly. It does not matter. Once you are hired, the school then would need offal transcripts for their files.
8/24: To add to the above comments, in my department we won't even look at an application without transcripts to confirm degrees etc, and unofficial are
fine unless you get the job, in which case we need official ones. Since an application is considered
incomplete without them (at my school and many others), it's better to send them than not to send them.
11/8: Well...if it says they want you to send official transcripts, then they probably want you to send official transcripts. It's a hassle, but as applicants, we're not really in a position to decide which aspects of the application requirements are reasonable/unreasonable. I wouldn't have trouble imagining a committee ignoring the CV/cover letter of an applicant who didn't follow the directions in the job announcement.
11/17: Arrange to get one copy for yourself and then simply scan it; if a school ever really needs official copies after that (to secure the hire), you'll be in a position to be happy to pay for another one.
11/18: Just make sure that your scan is low resolution because many online job sites hold to the 2 megabyte per document limit.
1/3: I personally find this to be a wasteful practice. Employers really only need your official transcript if you've been hired. I have inquired in the past when searches have asked for official transcripts, and have been told on several occasions that unofficial ones were acceptable at the search stage, so it's worth raising the question. The only concern that I can imagine, beyond the purely bureaucratic, is the remote likelihood that unofficial transcripts could be falsified. But, bearing in mind the fact that the hiree would eventually have to supply an official transcript, I cannot imagine why anyone would be foolish enough to doctor an unofficial one.
8/25: Word of mouth, sorry! I'll be sure to post any other jobs I hear about, though.
8/25: From the AMS website, jobs are posted here http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ and http://www.vacancies.ac.uk/
3/28: Has anyone else noticed a profound difference in the way UK and US searches are run? I was recently rejected for the Worcester College junior position. The total time of the search, from the time the application was due until the final interviews, is approximately 6 weeks, and this was publicized up front. Immediately upon receiving my application, the Dean of the College sent a letter (form, but signed in ink) assuring me that everything was in order, that they would be having a meeting to form a shortlist in a week or two, and that she would write to all candidates forthwith. True to form, I received another letter in the mail less than two weeks later (also signed in ink), thanking me for my application and telling me I didn't make the cut. I have never, ever been treated with such respect by an American institution, even when I was a finalist or won the job. Can there a good excuse for the behavior of American universities? I can't be the only one who finds it slightly inconvenient to be searching for work outside the academy while also running an academic job search ("I'm sorry, sir. I'd really like to accept your generous offer of an exciting career at Burger Barn...but I applied for this other job five months ago, and I might hear from them in another two, and so could you wait a little for a response? Thanks.")?
4/7: From what I know of UK searches, the 6-week process seems pretty typical. There is no tenure system in the UK, and as a likely result the whole hiring process moves faster: people are hired based on the merits of their CV and professional output, and there seems to be little if any hand-wringing about how the candidates will pan out long term (i.e. as a colleague, prospects for tenure, etc.). Two-day campus visits are not the norm; to the contrary, most interviews I've heard of lasted about an hour or two, many times without any teaching demonstration whatsoever, and I believe also without any visits to deans or other administrators. It's also not unusual for all candidates to be interviewed on the same day, and sometimes to be held in the same waiting room pending their interview. As for the acknowledgement/rejection letters, I don't know if this is typical, although my experience is similar to that described here. I would just hope that US universities could be a bit more conscientious with their communications to candidates.
1/9: Unless there is a specific reason to do so (i.e., if you have an offer in hand and need to make a decision), it's frowned upon. Do others feel differently about this?
1/9: I would agree that it's probably not a good idea. Best to just be patient.
2/2(2): Each case/situation is different. Just make sure you ask for what you're worth. Others in similar situations will appreciate the results of your effort. I wonder what percentage of people reading this page will in fact receive offers. I don't imagine that the word 'many' applies.
2/2(3): This topic is covered pretty well elsewhere. Chronicle article 2007 Chronicle article 2002 Generic EHow article 2010 Happy reading!
3/4: Rejection email from James Baker received yesterday, stating that only 11(!) proposals were accepted. This seems like a very small number for a 2-day conference (I've been on the program committee for a different regional conference that accepted three times that number of proposals). Maybe several of these are panels?
3/19: I have a question about MTMW. They've just made the conference program available through their newsletter. I submitted a proposal-which obviously didn't make it-but never heard anything. Did others get rejections from them? Or did they only send out acceptances? Should I inquire as to whether my proposal was received?
A1: Last year's acceptances and rejections were sent around the third week of April, but that was later than in previous years. I think it's more usually been in late March or early April.
4/13: SMT Acceptances are starting to come out...
4/13: I've received mine today, but last year I didn't receive an acceptance for more than a week after the first ones went out.
4/14: More acceptances came out today.
4/14: Does anybody know what's taking so long? I have a friend who got an acceptance yesterday and another who got one today. I also know somebody on the committee, and he/she tells me that final decisions were made nearly three weeks ago. I'm still waiting to hear...
3/11: It's definitely an interesting thing. If I don't get a job this year, maybe I'll start working on a paper about it - team up with a sociologist for something nice and interdisciplinary. :-) All kidding aside, what kind of "interesting" reactions do you get from outsiders? Most of the people I talk to say, "wow, that's cool. I wish there was something similar for my field," and then lose interest. I'm also curious about the impression WITHIN our field - do many of us REALLY believe that everything on this page is 100% current/accurate? I sure don't. And at this point, as things start to look less and less hopeful for next year, it's a source of hope for me to think that maybe there's SOMETHING else out there if I find the right place to look. Can we view this wiki as much more than the electronic grapevine?
4/18 (1): I'm a musicologist, so sorry to barge in, but at one interview one of the professors started asking me random music history questions that were way off of the beaten track (like re-taking quals or something - "who was Satie" kind of stuff). I was kind of insulted, like "I can't believe you have the nerve" or whatever, but I can see it from their point of view too. For the ear training (I teach a lot of theory), it's probably the same thinking. In any case, you'll get it when you show up to class someday and students are sitting at the piano to ambush you with the old "what's THIS chord progression" (pressure of course, but fortunately I've always gotten them right on one or two listenings).
4/18 (2): The irony is that some people who are really good at demonstrating their ear-training skills have absolutely no ability to teach it. I've taught students who significantly improved their ear-training skills in my course, after having been discouraged in previous courses where they were just given dictations, which did not lead to improvement. It seems to me that giving a TT candidate an ear-training exam displays a rather simplistic idea of what teaching ET is about. Good ET skills are not like good karma, laughter, or a contagious disease: students can't acquire it just being in a room with someone who has it.
4/18 (3): While I think it is a bit of an odd thing to ask in an interview, it does seem relevant to find out if the person you are hiring to teach theory/ET cannot hear a door slam. Perhaps this is an anomaly, but maybe it will be part of a growing trend in the interview process. Best of luck to you during your test!
4/18 (1): I agree with both responses here. Strategy and actually teaching ET is paramount, while having perfect pitch could mean you can't teach it at all but can take any dictation. Unfortunately, while the best teachers of ET are those that struggle with it the most, you're stuck doing the test for this interview, since trying to not do it (and instead talking about actual teaching) will make you look like you can't do it! Catch 22 for sure.
4/18 (2) Not that it really matters for this discussion, but I don't agree that the best teachers of ET are those that struggle with it the most. Being able to explain and teach what you are able to do does not at all indicate that it's a struggle.
4/18 (3): I'm sorry but that is ridiculous and if I were you I would remove myself from the pool (of course I am in a TT position so I can say that). If they have vetted you and chosen you as a finalist then you must clearly have demonstrated the set of skills needed for the job. If they are concerned about your ability to teach an aural skills course they should make you teach an aural skills class.
4/18 (4): I think it's a legitimate request. If one teaches a set of skills, one should be able to clearly show they have attained mastery of said skills. Teaching strategies can only take you so far, and analysis of music as evidenced by scholarly writing only answers a [smallish] fraction of the job requirements.
4/19 (1): I think it's a legitimate request too, if a sad reflection on our field. It's become clear to me that one can get all the way from undergrad to PhD/DMA without ever getting proper ear training, so they're probably trying to vet for that. Having said that, I agree with 4/18 (3)'s last sentence: it would have made more sense just to have you teach a class. Good luck and congrats on the interview.
4/19 (2): Why not give a part-writing, analysis, and sight-singing exam, too? Do we really think qualified candidates are not getting proper training?
4/19 (3): While this is a pretty serious situation, there is a pretty funny article about this exact thing happening in the 18th century (where Telemann grills some poor organist applicant): "Naive Questions and Laughable Answers" by Steven Zohn, p. 62-92 of "Coll' astuzia, col giudizio, Essays in Honor of Neal Zaslaw." I thought it was very funny, and with the present situation it shows that not too much has changed over the past 300 years of job interviews.
4/19 (4) Once in an interview while I was discussing one of my interdisciplinary subspecialties I was asked to name an article or two that exemplifies what I was talking about. So I named a couple authors and their article titles. But then I was quizzed on what journal and volume they were from, as if I was taking a comprehensive exam all over again. (They were book chapters and I didn't remember the titles of the books.) The grilling seemed pretty silly considering that you can put any author + "title" into Google and immediately get the citation (at least close enough to track it down). The situation seemed confused: It's hard to have the kind of collegial discussion that is appropriate for judging whether you want to hire someone as your colleague if you are simultaneously examining him or her like a student; what kind of role is the candidate meant to take on? The experience did, however, give me a decent idea of the kind of trivialities those interviewers prided themselves on.
4/19 (5): @ 4/19 (2): Frankly, yes, we really do think that. Someone can get an undergrad degree in performance and barely pass their ear training/sight singing classes. If that same person does really well in undergrad theory, especially elective research-based classes, and writes well, he/she can get into a grad program, then graduate with the same Ph.D. everyone else has. I've seen it happen. Someone from our program got him/herself into an Ivy-league graduate theory program despite not being able to find the tonic with a map. I still think that the better scenario for this OP would be to teach a class, not pass an ear-training exam, but I can understand the motivations behind such an exam.
4/19 (6): To my mind, a hugely important element of skills instruction is to present an example of accomplishment, a standard for the students to model and attempt to surpass. In the case of ear training, I truly feel a competent teacher should be able to transcribe a choral with ease before they are qualified to teach dictation, just to give an example. @4/19 (4): The ability to write is amply evident in the materials sent prior to interview. The level of competency in applied music skills cannot be demonstrated in this way. The "grilling" you received during your interview was thus unnecessary, while a diagnostic test we are discussing truly could be vital if the job is based in ear training and oral skills. Lastly, every skill based profession has some standard of proof required by prospective candidates, and many theory gigs are just that - teaching practical skills in music cognition.
4/22: I couldn't disagree with 4/19 (6) more. Ear training is a skill that is acquired based on years of steady practice and facility is often a result of being present in the environment without breaks. Pedagogy is a different story. Without a well thought-out pedagogy for aural skills, neither perfect pitch nor spectacular ear will enable your students to learn anything. What I find more troublesome, however, is the attitude that potential new hires may not be qualified to teach based on how they answer some questions. Perhaps if committees would focus more on quality and depth in applicants rather than fashion this wouldn't be a problem.
Format: [degree type; degree year]; (sub)discipline; publications/recordings; placement history post-degree; response to applications
A1: [PhD, 2006]; composition; 1 peer-reviewed publication, 1 recording, numerous conference and festival presentations; 4 years of work history in VAP and adjunct gigs post-degree; 1 bite (post-doc) while ABD, 1 interview first year after degree, 1 bite second year after degree, no bites in the past two years.
A2: [Ph.D. 2005]; composition/theory; 2 peer-reviewed publications, 5 recordings, many conference and festival presentations; 5 years of work history in both VAP and TT gigs post-degree; 2 bites while ABD (1 led to a VAP), none the next year, 1 bite/interview/offer/TT gig year after that. Last year (1st time on market as TT) I got one bite/interview; this year four bites, two interviews, response pending
A3: [PhD, 2005]; composition; no publications or recordings, numerous conference presentations/performances (2-3 per year) and several officer positions held in professional organizations; VAP 2005-06, in a TT position since then, teaching 5-5 most years, making it very hard to be productive in scholarship and composition; sent out about 40 applications in last five years, three bites, one interview last year that led to an offer I declined ($ was WAY too low and position was eventually filled by an ABD). Update 5/2: now tenured. But I'll keep on looking all the same.
A4: [DMA, 2010]; composition/music technology and EAM composition; 1 peer-reviewed publication, 3 critical reviews, 1 peer-reviewed academic presentation, 2 recordings, 3-4 conference/festival performances per year, 20-25 performances per year, several dippy prizes; 3 years adjuncting ('06-'09); three bites during ABD (one on-campus interview); post-doc, 1 on-campus interview and 2 phone interviews. End result: not a blasted thing. Maybe my cover letter just sucks. Back-up plan: community college in the fall for sustainable technologies development.
A5: [PhD, expected 2011]; theory (performance/cognition); 1 book review, 3 SMT presentations, one year of part-time adjunct work while ABD, ~40 applications, 5 bites, 1 offer.
A6: [DMA, 2009]; composition (minor in theory); 1 recording, not very many performances, no prizes (dippy or otherwise); continuing tiny (about 20 hrs/yr) high-school theory gig; while ABD: one campus interview for an adjunct position and 2 phone interviews; since degree: 1 or 2 "bites" and one campus interview; no offers
A7: [PhD, 2006]; theory; 1 paper accepted for publication while ABD; extensive teaching experience while in grad school; 15+ apps sent out 1st year ABD with one phone interview; 15+ more sent out 2nd year ABD with 2 bites, one of which led to current T-T position.
A8: [PhD, expected 2011]; composition (minor in music history); 1 small recording, many commissions, several prizes (three major), no scholarly publications, little substantive teaching experience, tons of performing/conducting experience; 20+ apps sent out this year (first year on market); 2 campus interview invitations for TT positions (theory/comp), no other bites, one offer.
A9: [DMA 2001 (!!!)]; composition; 2 small recordings (forthcoming); avg. 3-5 commissions per year; a few prizes (one major); no scholarly publications; several journalistic publications (online but for major sites in the field); 3 years total VAP experience (at two institutions); 1 year high school A/P teaching experience; 4 years adjunct (near full time load) teaching experience (3 at a major conservatory teaching undergraduates AND graduate students); 8 years conducting experience; entrepeneurial experience founding and running performance series/ensembles; 25-30 performances this year (average anywhere from a minimum of 3-4 to a max of 30); two interviews last year, one this year; no offers since 2006 (but stopped looking after spouse found a good gig this December).
A10 [Ph.D., 2005]; theory; 1 large article in print; 2 in press; lots of teaching experience while in M.M. and Ph.D. programs, plenty since; very active professionally. 2 years of VAP experience, 2+ years in TT (looking to leave current position). 8 interviews in 2006–2007, two offers [not one, sorry], no interviews since 2007; asked for more materials twice in 2008–2011; two phone interviews in 2008–2011. Not sure where things are going off the rails...
A11 [DMA, 2009]; comp; no recordings, not enough performances; 1 peer-reviewed article in print; 1 forthcoming; lots of teaching experience - theory, history, you name it, first as grad student, later VAP and now adjunct; countless years of performance experience. About 10 applications per year since 2007, this year 1 additional material, previously no interest whatsoever except in 2007 when asked for more material from a top-tier school.
A12 [DMA, 2011]; comp; no recordings, a few juried performances; no articles; 2 years TA, 3 years instructor (theory/ET); some conducting, no performance experience. First year applying, 61 apps, no interest shown. Sobering. Any advice, what's the biggest hole in that portfolio?
A13: [PhD, 2011]; theory (MM in performance); no publications; 3 regional presentations; 1 SMT & 1 international invite for next year (didn't make it onto the CV until the last few apps); 2yr TA at conservatory; 2yr TA/instructor as theory grad student; some orchestral performance experience; 3yr church music experience; a few tech-related publications (mostly online); 60+ applications; 5 bites (3 as finalist, 2 semifinalist); 2 offers (1 VAP, 1 TT).
A14: [DA, 2007] theory/comp emphasizing pedagogy and tech; no publications, small composition portfolio, attractive ed. tech portfolio; 1 year TA, 11 years instructor (while puttering away at my doctorate), last 2 years as adjunct; started sending out apps for 08/09 school year; 80+ apps with 10 bites (8 as finalist, 2 semifinalist) over last four years; 1 TT offer this year. Finally!
1/27 (2) Yes, How absurd it is!! This is really illegal...
1/27 (3) Is it actually illegal? Does anybody know?
1/27 (4) Does the person who moved the search know this as a fact? As far as I can tell David Davies is the only composition faculty and he is an assistant professor who has been there since 2007. It seems like an inside candidate is unlikely. Does anyone know David well enough to find out the situation? I know he is pretty active in SCI.
1/27 (5) I remember being confused about this one, because the CMS Vacancy List said it was "open until filled", but the HR site said 2/1 for a deadline.
1/27 (6) It might be irregular or perhaps unethical, but it isn't illegal - they're a private college and can hire as they please. Plus, the "open until filled" was posted; the 2/1 was probably just a typo by HR.
1/29: Yeah...probably just a typo, just like the one that said "position available."
1/29 (2): They were considering applications on a rolling basis. The form letter they sent out on receipt of applications stated "we will begin...review in the coming weeks".
1/30: Rolling or no rolling it would appear a bit deceptive since the cap for rolling stoppage was either not indicated, or indicated incorrectly.
2/4: Received my form letter today, dated 2/1, stating "we will begin...review in the coming weeks". Yet it was *accepted* days ago. Very frustrated with their HR, but congrats to the successful candidate.
2/4 - I do not think there is any significance... Probably HR posting it late on the Higheredjobs site.
3/3: This job has been reposted again to HigherEdJobs. It says in the "type" that it's a Part Time/Adjunct position, however, the posting says TT. Mistake by HR? Unintentional repost?
3/4: Campus interviews are being scheduled for late March and early-mid April.
4/5: posted on Higheredjobs again(!) dated 3/30. Oh, HR, HR! how many yanks of the chain will finally leave you sated?
http://www.bu.edu/ntt/task-force-report/6-ntt-faculty-roles-and-titles/6-1-standard-professorial-titles/
(see paragraph 4 in section (i)).
11/30: The posting made to SMT-announce describes it as a full-time tenure-track junior position.
1/6: EOE survey sent via email.
2/16: Has anyone heard anything about interviews?
2/21: Received a phone call on 2/17 to schedule an on-campus interview for next month.
4/5: I assume they've offered by now, but I never heard a thing after the phone interview.
6/2: Generic rejection email today stating an offer has been accepted, but did not name names.
"Colgate" is the Spanish word for 'go hang yourself,' so I guess it figures!
4/6: "Announced with no updates" yesterday, "Accepted job" today. Way to rock the updates on this one...
2/8(2): According to the Musicology wiki they're having interviews, but I don't want to move it based just on that.
2/18: Onsite talks have been happening.
5/25: Anyone hear who got these?
1/27 (2) Another absurdity! There are must be an inside candidate. You will hear " the person has been chosen tomorrow, i bet!
1/27 (3) At any rate, I bet you a hundred bucks to a penny the eventual candidate will be a Chicagoan.
1/27 (4) I don't think they are conducting onsite interviews. I know someone who has had there references contacted today and has not had additional materials or a phone interview requested.
1/29: Oh, I wouldn't assume that DePaul has a Chicago hiring bias. The last guy who landed a gig there was not from Chicago, nor was the other finalist who didn't get the gig. They do seem to have a bias against hiring part-timers though, and have plenty of local, Chicagoans on staff who will never receive an offer to move up to full-time status. Some very talented teachers and composers.
2/1-A: What kind of perverse industry is it in which working part-time to gain experience and stay current disqualifies one from obtaining full-time work? (This is not specific to DePaul.)
2/1-B: (reply to 2/1-A) To add to your question, what else are we supposed to be doing while we await our full time jobs? Work at Starbucks? I'm hoping that universities who at one time looked down upon part timers realize that there is nothing else for us to be doing, that we enjoy academic teaching and that we will seek it out as a means of making a living whether that means part or full time. What is the percentage of people looking versus those that have been placed in the last few years? I can't imagine it's very high.
3/21: At least you could get health insurance working at Starbucks...
3/27: The person who got hired is currently based in San Francisco so there was definitely no Chicago hiring bias. And as 1/29 pointed out correctly, the person who has held this job until now is also not from Chicago.
2/4: Nothing. I never even got confirmation about my materials (contrary to the note in the job about such in the job section).
2/4: I did not receive confirmation either. Perhaps applications received closer to the deadline were not acknowledged?
2/4: Did you apply online? I applied using the email address they provided, and got an automated response "thanking me for the interest." Maybe that's what the "acknowledgement of materials" means?
2/6: I believe there is an internal candidate.
2/6(b): What, for both jobs?
2/7: In regard to the phone interview update above, does anyone have info (when candidates were contacted, etc.)?
2/7: Contacted 2/7, phone interviews scheduled for 2/9-2/11.
4/5 (1): Any update?
4/5 (2): Haven't heard anything. At least I'm not the only one.
4/7: Any more speculation on the inside candidate issue?
4/8: Not sure who got an offer, but it wasn't me.
4/15: Anyone hear names?
4/15: Posting of candidate names isn't appropriate prior to acceptance of an offer.
5/4: Surely this process has concluded by now. Any updates?
6/27: Anyone get a rejection letter and/or know who accepted the second position?
2/15: I noticed this was moved to on-site interviews in February/March. How were candidates informed? When were they informed?
5/3: Heard their first choice candidate said no.
1/8: I haven't heard anything and figured they had moved on however I have gotten a few hits on my website from Milledgeville, GA. It could just be a coincidence though.
1/11: Maybe it was the ghost of Flannery O'Connor. She haunts that place.
10/8: I received an email today saying I had made it through to the next round but they had not picked semifinalists yet. Curious if anyone received a similar email?
10/9: Here's a quote from the rejection e-mail: "The search committee identified semi-finalists with strengths in areas that best match our needs at Georgia Southern University. As a consequence, many candidates were eliminated." Sounds like their definition of semifinalist was ambiguous.
10/11: I received the same email as 10/8b. Sounds like we're somewhere between the applicant pool and the semi-final round (a demi-semi-finalist?)
10/20: Originally told I might be a semi-finalist (what a thing to aspire to!), now told sorry I am indeed not.
4/22: Nope!
1/20: One of my references was contacted today, though I was never invited for a phone interview
1/26: Invited, by phone, for a phone interview to happen next week
7/8: No mistake, but maybe double-dipping. I received an e-mail asking for materials (a four-semester musicianship curriculum), as well as scheduling a phone interview for early next week.
7/8: Strange, I didn't get the phone interview scheduling question, just the four-semester curriculum.
7/9: A word of caution: not a professional work environment, especially for a music theorist. The current chair is a game player and has a bias against music theorists. She's a "composer."
7/14: Elaborate, please, 7/9, and give a few examples.
7/20: All cautions and elaborations aside, has anyone heard back from the phone interviews?
7/21: No, but they contacted one reference the same day (9 days ago)
3/14: Search cancelled due to lack of funding. They intend to try again next year... (I contacted HR to check status.)
3/20: to the 3/14 poster - were you able to tell how far they got in the search? Did you have a phone interview? (I'm the 1/19 poster, wondering if I should apply next year...)
3/21: @3/20 - No, I hadn't heard anything since I submitted my application (and additional questions). I applied the day before they took the posting down, and when I didn't get the email you reported, I started to wonder if my app had gotten lost in the shuffle. Based on my experience following the job market for several years, I've decided not to draw any negative conclusions about my candidacy from a failed search. I'll improve my application materials and submit again next year - if they conduct another search.
2/24: Yes; phone interviews 2/25 and 2/26
3/10: Any news? Phone interviews were two weeks ago.
3/22: Received an email this evening asking to schedule an on-campus interview.
1/31: Followup email (1/27) from the department's admin assistant asking for help tracking down a recommendation letter (which I did). Not exactly "news," but hey.
1.31 b: Good for you - I can't imagine they would have bothered to chase your letter if they weren't interested. Looks like a nice gig, at any rate.
1/31 (3): Or, they're being thorough and taking every candidate seriously. Three letters of reference were asked for up front. Many schools would simply can candidates with incomplete applications. 1/31 a should consider him or herself lucky.
1/31 (b2)@3: Do you mind? I'm trying to imbue every little bit of information with significance (not to mention crucial indication as to my and everyone else's future.) You're harshing my buzz. :]
1/31 (4): I just got an email requesting a phone interview.
2/10: Extra materials requested by email.
2/10 b: Can you divulge which materials were asked for?
2/11: Syllabi and work samples.
3/16: Has anyone heard anything?
3/20: Wow, Lawrence. Rejection letters that use not just Comic Sans but also Papyrus? Makes me glad I won't be working there. =)
3/21: 3/20: Which font and paper combination would you prefer for your rejection letters? Super serif Gothic on steel?
3/21: You mean Papyrus font, right 3/20? I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who hates mixing fonts in the same document (and especially those two "little kid fonts." That's a hallmark of a letter that should have a lot of exclamation points. Does it? You know, things like "Thank you for applying for our position! Although you were not selected, we are very excited about the qualifications of the successful candidate! The decisions was very difficult! There were so many qualified applicants!"
3/22: Someone better tell Ian Bates not to accept his position unless his offer had Times Roman 12 pt. type. Or, maybe his eyes saw... dare I say it... more than one font!
3/23: For your reading pleasure: bancomicsans.com;
The Global Curse of Comic Sans
5/5: FWIW, don't judge a book by its cover...or an institution by the font of its rejection letter. I interviewed at the Lawrence Conservatory in the recent past and was completely impressed by the institution. Although I was not offered the position, I cannot say enough good things about the faculty, the sense of community, and the professionalism of my campus visit. Have we really been reduced to such sour grapes that we snipe about the font of our rejection letter?
5/9: Is that a rhetorical question?
5/15: I'll echo the 5/5 poster's comment above: I interviewed at Lawrence a few years back and found them to be very thorough, respectful, and completely professional. I was also highly impressed by both the quality of the faculty and the student body, as well as the extent to which the faculty invested itself in student learning and development. The faculty line I'd applied for got canceled in favor of post-doc positions that were initiated after the faculty search had commenced, but nevertheless I still hold these individuals and their institution in high regard.
11/14: There were phone interviews.
12/14: My rejection states: "Your file and letters of recommendation were placed in a group that was given an especially thorough discussion. Although you were considered a strong candidate, the position was ultimately filled by another applicant." Is this B.S. e.g. Did everyone else get this rejection?
12/14: R1: Yes. Amazing that both our dossiers received "thorough discussion." Who was hired? There was a potential inside candidate.
12/14: I also received the same email this morning. Maybe we made the very initial cut of apps, or they were just being nice to the candidates?
12/14: Yes, I got an email with the exact same wording. Maybe we're all the same HIGH quality of candidate? *blush*
12/14: Not the inside candidate. The one currently on campus that is.
1/10: Still no reveal?
1/31: Perhaps the winner's name will wind up on WikiLeaks. Shocked this hasn't come out yet...
2/1: This whole process definitely does feel like playing the lottery, winners and losers, spend a lot of money, only a tiny, select few will win.
2/1: The 'winner' of this position has been known since the end of November, but for some reason Macalester has not as of yet sent out their official notification. Oversight or just plain rude?
2/1: It often takes forever, so this is nothing new.
2/1 (4): Just a guess but they are probably waiting for official word to come back from their Board of Regents approving the hire.
2/1 (5): Why does this matter? I've applied to a couple hundred jobs in the last 5 years, and probably found out the name of the hired candidate via mail from the school in fewer than 20% of the cases. Unless Macalester has not even notified its semifinalists that the search was completed, I don't think they're doing anything rude.
2/2: It doesn't matter, since they have clearly notified people that the search is complete. I *was* a semi-finalist and got the same rejection as everyone else.
3/21: I don't think they're obligated to tell the world who they've hired. The only reason that it could matter is if the new hire is leaving a position elsewhere, and then another job would open up. And there are certainly any number of reasons why the new hire might ask for discretion.
3/7: Also, received one the other day stating that they went with a candidate who "more nearly" matched something. Nice, huh?
5/25: I found it through the School of Music: http://www.mcgill.ca/music/faculty/academic-positions-available
11/23: Yes, this will definitely be a tenure-track position, and the official posting should be announced very soon.
11/29: The search is now "official," and details are available at http://www.mcmaster.ca/vpacademic/MusicTheoryandCognition.html. A core requirement of the job will be teaching either freshman or sophomore theory. Beyond that, the teaching requirements will be tailored to fit the background and interests of the successful candidate.
1/30: They are interested exclusively in music cognition people who can also teach theory. You will not likely get an interview if you do not fit this profile.
5/26: The position has now been filled.
1/12 to 1/12: In an email (you didn't get it?) on 1/11. Anyone else?
1/12b: No, I didn't actually apply yet due to the 2/1 deadline.
1/12c: I called the department and was told that the search was NOT cancelled. This job should go back to the "No updates" category.
1/12a again: Say what?!! And I quote: "The department and the search committee for the position of Music Tenure Track Faculty at Metropolitan State College of Denver has made the decision to close this search because departmental, school, or college needs or priorities have changed." I will certainly be calling them tomorrow to verify.
1/12d: Yes, you should do so. I spoke to the SC chair on the phone about this. He's the one who told me it's not cancelled. He said he'd like to see the email, so maybe you should forward it to him.
1/13: I just spoke with MSCD. Apparently a computer glitch (you gotta love this) sent messages out to all us folks who had applied previously that the search had been cancelled...
1/13: I applied, but didn't get the e-mail. I just logged on to double-check my e-mail address on the application, fearing a typo, but all was well. Sounds like a selective glitch.
1/13: Yes, as I said above the message was sent to those of us who had applied in 2009 when the search was indeed cancelled.
1/13: I don't think the first 1/13 comment was clear in that it was to applicants from a previous year.
1/13: Since it seems apparent that the e-mail was indeed a glitch, I've moved this to institution-specific discussions
4/3: Any word since the very brief phone interviews back in Feb.?
3/10: Has anyone heard anything about this position? We're going on three months without a sound.
5/2: Has this job been cancelled? Deadline was 12/15.
6/5: Received a letter yesterday saying that "for administrative reasons, the current search has been terminated."
2/21: To my knowledge the job was never listed on this wiki site. I received an acknowledgement of my application, but haven't heard anything since. I suspect there was an inside candidate, but I'm not really sure. Anyone else?
2/21 (2): Uh oh, not Oberlin again (see discussion from last year). Was this job for composition or theory?
3/8: It was a theory job.
3/9: Marginally less dysfunction than the composition department.
2/9: On-campus interview requested by phone yesterday (2/8/11)
1/13: Contacted the first week of January, interview the same week.
3/2: I've heard that they only hire their own grads; the department sure seems full of them. True, or just coincidence?
3/3: @3/2, that's easily fact-checked. Go to their department website. They list 8 people as "Music Theory Faculty." Of the 8, 4 have no Peabody degree, 3 have doctorates from Peabody (and one of those has a second doctorate) and 1 has a master's from Peabody.
4/2: Did this position go to Joel Puckett (already on the faculty) or is this a hire of another body?
5/7: This position went to Joel Puckett, who was not tenure track before.
3/17: When were candidates contacted about phone interviews? When were they scheduled for?
2/28: Offer accepted.
4/18: did this search get canceled?
4/27: Offer accepted
yes, they are already conducting on-site interviews now.
2/8: I had a phone interview with them one of the previous years they had this opening, and never heard from them again until a rejection letter a month or two later. Of course, things might be different if there's a different search chair, etc. They may be going with the inside candidate.
Offer made early Feb.
2/25: That happened fast (saw this update a couple weeks ago I think). Given the specific job description, was the opening for an inside candidate?
Seems they were looking for both a composer and improviser.
4/7 Based on what?
4/8 Well, for starters it was in the job description. (x2)
4/11 But was it an inside candidate?
4/11 This has been updated several times recently with information occasionally removed. It seems that someone doesn't want us to know about a possible inside candidacy *grin*.
4/14 UCI invited finalists for on campus interviews. If you would even bother to look at the faculty bios in the music department at UCI - you will quickly realize that none of the other professors outside of the core composition faculty match the job description. Also - do not delete other people's comments.
4/14 Agree with above about deleting comments. Regardless of whether the candidate was internal or not, it doesn't help to do delete things.
4/14 Don't know the details about this search, but internal candidates are not uncommon. Just look at some of the offers made so far this year. I see no reason to doubt that the offer went to an internal candidate.
4/14 Whenever these gripes about internal candidates come up (regardless of the UCI situation), it's worth remembering that it's not like an "internal" candidate was born on the campus and often got that status through an earlier competitive process.
4/15 So was an offer made in February or are candidates being interviewed now? (given the January application deadline, if an offer was made in February that does suggest an expedited search process)
4/16 Finalists are indeed being interviewed right now. (I suspect that some person will delete this comment, as s/he has done several times already, to erroneously show that the offer was made in February.)
4/16 To the above poster, and simply put: why do you care? Why is it in your personal interest to keep insisting that the search is currently under way?
4/17 Ouch! Strong words but interesting point. Maybe a cover-up?
4/17 I can speak to this: I was a member of an SC a couple years ago, and for some reason someone kept posting erroneous info about the status of our search. My guess is that 4/16 (1) is probably on the UCI committee and is just getting irritated at the posting of misinformation and the deleting of the truth. It's probably not a cover-up (which would be silly given that the result of this search will end up being public) as much as a simple desire for correct information.
4/18: Could there be confusion about which position is being discussed? Do I remember correctly that Irvine had posted an adjunct opening as well as the TT Composer/Improviser position?
4/18 (2): seems pretty simple: wait a month or two... if it's John Crooks we'll know it was an inside hire. I don't know why it would matter much as he seems immanently qualified, btw.
4/25: Offer accepted.
what is the matter?
2/28: It was moved to "onsite interviews." Did they skip the phone interview stage?
3/3: Phone interviews were in December. Campus interviews have been taking place recently.
4/12: any updates? Has UH hired someone?
4/29: Received a letter in the mail today the search had been cancelled
Also, any idea which materials are needed in addition to cover letter and c.v.? the website does not indicate this.
3/11 Clinical Ranks are not tenure track. They are typically a full time non-tenure track assistant professor position where your load is 100% teaching.
01/07: Yes, I got this email today as well.
2/28: Just curious if anyone's heard anything. Additional materials were requested almost 2 months ago now.
3/2: Received emailed request yesterday for a phone interview to take place next week.
12/7: I did a 10-minute interview at SMT, but have heard nothing since. I believe this will be the last open SMT interview I choose to do!
12/7: Why?
12/9: I also did a SMT interview and haven't heard anything. I felt like I had a good experience and I'm curious why the other poster isn't going to do another open interview.
12/10: I am the other poster. I really didn't intend to stir up a big controversy about SMT interviews. I just feel like I'm not able to make a great impression in 10 minutes
and, in all cases, felt like I *hurt* my cause by doing so. And, this isn't coming from someone who is an introvert in general; rather I'm quite charming if given even an hour!
12/10: I'm butting in here, but I totally feel the same way about the 10 minutes, I always walk out feeling like I'd have been better off not doing it at all.
12/12: That's interesting. I'm the opposite I feel like I do much better in person then I look on paper. I did an interview at SMT with them and felt really good about it. Of course I haven't heard anything from them so maybe I didn't do as well as I thought.
12/12: I helped conduct the SMT interviews. I can't comment on the status of the search, but I can say (at least from my perspective) that no one hurt their candidacy through our speed-date interviews. Honestly, I think it's difficult to do much damage in ten minutes or less when we're seeing a number of candidates. But it IS possible to distinguish yourself in positive ways that we will remember.
1/3: Has anyone heard anything about this search moving forward, either first or second hand? I know they started reviewing apps in Nov. so I'm wondering if I should give up all hope on this one as well.
1/24: So no news?
3/16: Did they make an offer? They disappeared from the wiki.
3/17: Changed the status a few days ago to reflect that an offer was made and accepted, but it was quickly changed back....
1/27 Offer accepted; position closed
1/6: Has anyone who had a phone interview heard anything?
1/7: I have not heard anything since my phone interview several weeks ago.
1/14: Onsite interviews have been scheduled for later this month and into next month.
2/7 (1): This job has been reposted on HigherEdJobs. It doesn't look to be an HR error, since there's a clear statement saying "Job originally posted on 7/30/10" or something like that. Any idea?
2/7 (2): I know that they are in the middle of on-site interviews, with at least one candidate yet to complete his/her interview. It would seem odd for them to repost the job description at this stage in the process, if it is not some kind of error.
2/16: With University-wide budget cuts announced yesterday, I wonder if they will cancel the search...
2/17: Possible bankruptcy/exigency (firing tenured faculty and eliminating entire departments). $2.3 million cut, College of Fine Arts alone. http://www.lvrj.com/news/unlv-faculty-warned-university-system-may-be-forced-to-declare-bankruptcy-116279269.html
2/17: Holy Toledo I'm sure glad I applied TWICE for this position.
3/16: With the big budget cut does anyone know if this search was cancelled?
3/17: I had an on-site interview over a month and a half ago and have not heard from them since. That could mean anything, though I would actually be a little surprised if the search wasn't canceled. It's better for me to think that way, at least. Who knows.
3/25 Music Dept. will be spared from cuts. Offer made and accepted.
2/6: I'm wondering the same questions. It seems like this comes up every year. Any information or speculation here?
2/25 Any news?
10/26: I made a new category for them. Does this look any better? Is it too spaced out now?
10/27: I like the "Mainly Aural Skills" category. I vote we keep it.
11/8: Also, like!
2/3: What is going on with this search? Inquiring minds would like to know...
2/4: Looks like it's at the on-campus interview stage.
02/21: On campus interview scheduled early March
4/5: Nor is it posted on the school of music's site. Any idea?
4/5: Message was sent on SMT-announce. Application deadline is April 14. Send cover letter, CV, and three letters of recommendation to Sarah Reichardt, Chair, Music Theory Search Committee, University of Oklahoma School of Music, 500 West Boyd, Room 138, Norman, OK 73019.
4/27: Anyone contacted about additional materials?
4/29: Video of teaching requested from semifinalists last week.
6/28: I got a phone call
7/14: Has anyone heard back from last week's phone interviews?
12/8 I got a request to upload an audio file about November 18 or so. Was that a standard request, or does that count for something?
12/8: The position is replacing Alvin Lucier, who is retiring. But they seem to be looking for a junior faculty member to replace him, not a "name" composer. Every applicant received the request for a recording, a 15-minute mp3 containing excerpts.
12/14: I didn't get a request to upload mp3s. I guess it means you got to the next level!
12/15: So... we have a definite "yes" vote for significance of mp3 upload, and a definite "no". Any tie breakers?
12/15: For the person who wrote in 12/14, you should definitely contact them. The mp3 upload was meant to be part of your initial application... I got a perfunctory email from an administrative assistant with the URL for upload. It was only 2 days after the deadline and I am quite sure they had not been through all the applications yet! They must have gotten a ton. I think it's possible that they'll hire a name composer... you don't need a PhD or even an MFA to apply.
12/15: I'm the first 12/8 comment. Sadly, your take sounds mighty convincing... I am overdoing the lurking on this page, me thinks.
1/3: Phone interviews.
4/2: I also interviewed back in February and have heard nothing.
3/30 I got an email on Thursday (the 24th) requesting some clarification about when I would defend. I was told they would be deliberating the following day, but haven't heard anything since.
4/4 Received an email today notifying me I was a semi-finalist and requested a Skype interview for Thursday.
4/26 Has anyone done an interview yet?
3/5: One limb knoweth not what the others are doing...or when. Maybe, as someone intimated above, some schools might want to check out this wiki site to keep tabs on their own departments!
3/6: The affirmative action forms are generally sent out by the college/university's HR departments and have nothing to do with the hiring/selection process. It's not that they're not communicating with one another, it's that the college/university is the unit interested in the statistics from the AA forms. Since those have nothing to do with the hiring process, it doesn't matter when they get sent out.
3/7: Um, (3/6) if they have nothing to do with the hiring process then why do some schools actually have hiring goals directly calling for increases in faculty minority, etc. presence? I don't think the HR department is merely collecting statistics with no practical purpose. Are they allowed to directly insert themselves into the hiring process? Probably not. But, let's not assume that there aren't all sorts of indirect ways in which the AA forms (or the kinds of information they collect) do in fact have something to do with the hiring process. I have taught for several colleges that, when making a new hire, looked around at the mostly male departments and said "we've got to hire a woman next" or "we really should hire a woman next."
3/7(2): Um, Google will typically get a committee all the superficial demographic information it needs without bothering the HR department. 3/6 is correct that HR collects the data for statistical reports, not for influencing the hiring process.
3/7(3): I'm the poster from 3/6, responding to 3/7 (1) ... committees may have hiring goals, but the HR department and the affirmative action cards are really completely separate from that. Most of the diversity language in a job announcement is boilerplate HR stuff that universities are required to put in any and all job announcements. Committees may look around and say, "Gee, we need to hire a woman," but the HR department is not going to insert themselves into a search. I've been on searches where there is a member of the search committee who is designated as the AA 'representative' - that is, they will point out that there are only X women on the long list or that person Y is a member of a minority group that is under-represented - but even they have no power to require the committee to change anything on the list; they just document the reasons why those candidates weren't selected in case there's any questions further down the road. (Then again, I've also been on committees where we shortlisted three women for a job, and the AA person wondered if it would look unusual that we had done so, given the normal distribution of the field and the ratio of male to female applicants!) Honestly - the HR AA forms have absolutely nothing to do with the committee's hiring process.
3/8: HR usually has nothing to do with either the hiring process or the search committee's timeframe, but they should consider that the response rate from a pool of hopeful applicants will be much greater than that from a pool of disgruntled rejectees.
Archive of 10-11 theory/comp job wiki
Archive of 09-10 theory/comp job wiki
Archive of 08-09 theory/comp job wiki
CMS Music Vacancy List
CHE Music Job List
Higher Ed Jobs
Music Theory Online job list
Current Musicology WIKI
Current Wiki Time: Thu May 17 07:44:11 CEST 2012
Last Page Update: 2011-08-11 00:29:56.0
THE JOBS
Theory Only
Schools that mailed official letter of hireJobs that have been accepted
Agnes Scott College (12/13) - Jason Solomon (UGA [2007], Western Carolina)
Belmont University - Clare Sher Ling Eng (Yale [ABD], Macalester VAP)
Boston University - Jason Yust (U. Washington [2006], VAP at Alabama)
Bowling Green State University - Greg Decker (Florida State University [2011])
Carnegie Mellon University - John Ito (Columbia [2004], taught at Lawrence)
Dalhousie University (3/15) - one year; "Ability to teach a class on pre-1960 popular music may be considered an asset."
DePauw University- Brad Osborn (University of Washington, Ph.D. [2010]; VAP at Rhodes College)
Hobart and William Smith Colleges - Charity Lofthouse (CUNY Graduate Center [2011], VAP at Oberlin)
Illinois Wesleyan University - Joe Plazak (Ohio State University [2011])
Ithaca College - Bryn Hughes (Florida State University [ABD], The University of Western Ontario)
Indiana State University - Christine Boone (The University of Texas [2011])
Indiana University (post-doc) - Naomi Waltham-Smith
Indiana University - VAP (this position is in addition to the post-doc, but grew out of the same search)
Lawrence University (3/17) - Ian Bates (Yale University [2008], The University of Western Ontario)
Lebanon Valley College
Macalester College (12/11) - Victoria Malawey (Indiana University [2007], Kenyon College)
McMaster University - Matthew Woolhouse (Cambridge University [2007], Research Fellow at Wolfson College/Cambridge)
Oberlin College Conservatory - David Heetderks and Andrew Pau (CUNY Graduate Center [ABD])
Oklahoma Baptist University - Randolph Johnson (Ohio State University, 2010)
Oklahoma City University - Dave Easley (Florida State University [2011])
Peabody Conservatory - Joel Puckett (University of Michigan DMA)
Seton Hall University - Jack Stamps (University of Texas [DMA 2010])
Shenandoah Conservatory (2/28) - Mitch Ohriner (Indiana University [2011])
Skidmore College (3/11) - (rejection email sent 4/18)
University of Alabama (visiting position) - Christopher Segall (CUNY Graduate Center [ABD])
University of Mary Washington
University of Michigan (deadline 11/15) - Full or Associate Professor - Pat Hall (Yale; UCSB)
University of New Mexico - José-Luis Hurtado (Harvard University)
University of North Texas - Daniel Arthurs (Indiana University [2011])
University of Northern Colorado - Kyle Fyr (Indiana University)
University of Oxford, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in the Psychology of Music and Music Theory - Benedict Taylor (Cambridge)
University od Texas, Brownsville: Dr. Susan de Ghize
University of Toronto - Steven Vande Moortele (University of Leuven [2006]; University of Oklahoma)
West Liberty University (Who?)
Jobs that have made an offer
Columbia University: Assistant Professor
University of Iowa-Asst. Professor of Music Theory
University of Oklahoma (begin reviewing applications 4/14) - one year replacement
Utah State University (review begins 1/10)
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
Eastern Illinois University (scheduled for February/March)
University of Central Florida (interviews scheduled for March) - interviews are complete. has anyone heard anything?
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana, Lugano, Switzerland - Postdoctoral Researcher in Performance Science
Full Sail University (12/15)
Metropolitan State College of Denver (scheduled for week of 2/21)
SUNY Potsdam (scheduled for week of 2/21)
LeMoyne-Owen College (Week of 8/8, via Skype)
Jobs that have requested additional materials (see below for specifics)
Jobs that have acknowledged applications (see below for specifics)
Otterbein University - one year, theory and aural skills (by email, 5/13)
Georgia State University - visiting lecturer
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
University of Stellenbosch (deadline 11/23) - Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer/Lecturer in Music Theory/Musicology
University of Notre Dam (deadline 11/1/2011) time for 11/12 page?
- Wonder if the search will hold water?!
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Western Carolina University, canceled, 2/10 due to funding
Mainly Aural Skills
Jobs that have been acceptedUniv. of Massachusetts, Amherst - Lecturer (confirmed in email, 1/14)
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Lee Weisert (Northwestern University)
Jobs that have made an offer
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
The Hartt School - University of Hartford (deadline 1/1) (acknowledged by email, 1/14)
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Theory/Composition
Jobs that have been acceptedAugustana College - Jacob Bancks (University of Chicago ABD)
Bucknell University - Joseph Eidson (University of Kansas DMA [2010])
Charleston Southern University - Kris Shaffer (Yale University [2011])
DePaul University - integrated musicianship including comp. - Christopher Jones (Stanford DMA [2004]) and Seung-Ah Oh (Brandeis Ph.D.)
Duquesne University - 2 positions - Zvonimir Nagy (Northwestern DMA) & ??
Fordham University (deadline 3/10) - filled, letter didn't say who
Georgia Southern University (offer made and accepted during mid December 2010)
Harvard - Preceptor Rank (3/21) [filled by early April]
Illinois State University, non-tenure track
Trinity University, Texas - Brian Bondari (University of Kansas DMA [2009])
Union University - Daniel Musselman (University of Kansas DMA 2010, currently VAP at UU)
University of Mary Washington - Mark Snyder (University of Memphis DMA [2007], University of North Alabama)
University of Nevada, Las Vegas - Diego Vega (Cornell DMA [2005], Visiting Scholar at Stanford (CCRMA))
University of South Dakota - Nolan Stolz (The Hartt School DMA [2010], Visiting Lecturer at University of Nevada, Las Vegas)
University of Texas at Tyler - Kyle Gullings (The Catholic University of America [2011])
Washington State University - Scott Blasco (University of Missouri - Kansas City, ABD)
Wichita State University-Aleksander Sternfeld-Dunn (University of Hartford Hartt School of Music DMA [2010], Washington State University)
Columbia University - Lecturer (deadline 5/15) - Peter Susser (Columbia DMA [1994], currently acting lecturer at Columbia)
Jobs that have made an offer
Jobs that have had or are having onsite interviews
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Georgia College & State Univ. - phone interviews scheduled for 1/24 & 1/25
Utah Valley University
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
Pasadena City College (deadline 4/18) [Rejection letters sent.]
Jobs that have been announced with no updates.
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Indiana Wesleyan University
University of Hawaii at Manoa
Theory/Etc . . .
Jobs that have been acceptedUniversity of Cambridge, Mellon Postdoctoral Fellowship in Popular Music and Culture - Monique Ingalls (UPenn 2008)
University of Cambridge, Temporary University Lectureship in Music - David Trippett (Harvard 2009, Christ's College Cambridge JRF)
Cardiff University - Keith Chapin (Stanford [2002])
Grove City College
Kenyon College - Ross Feller (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign [1994], currently VAP at Kenyon (since 2009) )
Mars Hill College - Alan Theisen (Florida State [2010], Indiana University post-doc)
McGill University, Dean, Schulich School of Music - Sean Ferguson (McGill, 2000)
Roosevelt University - Assistant Professor of Core Music Studies - Teddy Niedermaier (Juilliard, Indiana University, VAP at Oberlin since 2009)
University of Texas, Arlington - 1-year VAP in String Bass/Music History. Teaching duties require ear-training.
Westminster College - (50% FTE) theory with music history, instrumental conducting, and/or interdisciplinary topics
Carroll University - theory/musicology
Jobs that have made an offer
Mott Community College (4/1)
Florida State College at Jacksonville-First Offer Declined
University of Dayton (deadline 12/01) - Assistant Professor of of Music Theory and Technology - theory, aural skills, tech
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
College of Wooster - VAP (non-renewable)
Columbia University: Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Music (2 positions); review begins 12/15/10
Stanford University (deadline 11/15) - Assistant Professor of Music Perception/Cognition - "The successful candidate will have accomplished doctoral-level work in an area related to music, be fluent in music (theory, performance, or composition) and be committed to interdisciplinary research"
University of Oxford - Lincoln College Lord Crewe JRF in Music (3/9)
University of Oxford - Worcester College JRF in Music (3/7)
Ursinus College - Theory/Technology and Strings
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Lewis and Clark - Piano and Theory
Central Connecticut State University (3/15) - one year "special appointment" in music technology and music theory
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Quinnipiac University (1/3) - Advanced Assistant or Associate Professor; Director of Music
University of Illinois at Chicago - (review begins 4/22) - Clinical Assistant Professor of Composition and Theory, with strong (desirable) backgrounds in Jazz and Electronic Music
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
University of Oxford: post-doctoral research assistant, 3-year term (rejection email sent 11/10)
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
City College of San Francisco (4/27) - harmony, musicianship, fundamentals, music appreciation, piano
Guildhall School of Music & Drama (deadline 9/13) - Research Assistant (should have background in psychology, education, or empirical musicology)
Keele University (deadline 10/14, starting ASAP on or after 10/18) - Part-Time Teaching Fellow in Music, 9-month contract
King's College London (deadline 11/18) - Post-Doctoral Research Associate in Music Computing and Psychology
Auditory Cognitive Neuroscience Network (McMaster University, McGill University, and Université de Montréal, deadline 01/14) - Postdoctoral Fellowship
Midwestern State U, Texas (review begins 11/15) - Music Dept Chair and Assoc. or Full Prof. of Theory; reposted 3/22 with review to begin 5/2; basically the same description and same contact info; anyone know anything? Anyone hear anything from the earlier search?
Palomar College (1/7) - conduct one or more ensembles and teach classes in music theory and appreciation
University of California, Irvine - part time pool of lecturers in musicianship, music theory, music fundamentals, voice performance, and choral conducting.
University of Wisconsin Colleges Marshfield (12/31) - teach lower-division courses in music and conduct instrumental/choral ensembles
Washington University in St. Louis (review begins 9/30) - Full Professor of Music and Department Chair
Young Harris College - theory/woodwinds
Kansas State University - theory/woodwinds (review begins 5/30)
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
New Jersey City University (deadline 12/15) - Theory, Ear Training, Computer Music, and Applied Lessons/Composition
Adelphi University (email 5/13)
College of Mount Saint Vincent - Appreciation/History/Performance/Theory, develop music minor, assist theatre (email 5/20)
Composition
Jobs that have been acceptedBall State University - Amelia Kaplan (University of Chicago [1998])
Bowling Green State University - Christopher Dietz (University of Michigan [2007])
Cardiff University - Robert Fokkens (University of Southampton [2006])5
Colgate University - Zhou Tian (USC?)
Georgia State University - "Digital Music Technology" - Tae Hong Park (Ph.D. Princeton - Tulane)
Jerusalem Academy of Music - Digital Composition - Amnon Wolman
Montana State University - Composition/Technology - Jason Bolte (University of Missouri - Kansas City [2011])
McGill University - Composition - Philippe Leroux (1er prix, Conservatoire de Paris; teaching most recently at Université de Montréal)
University of California, Irvine - Composer-improviser (Nicole Mitchell, flutist)
University of North Texas - Christopher Moore (Stanford University [2008])
Vermont College of Fine Arts - Faculty Chair in Composition (part-time, mainly off-site) (Position filled
Wayne State University - Jonathan Anderson (University of North Texas, internal candidate)
Western Michigan University - Digital Composition - Christopher Biggs (University of Missouri - Kansas City [2010])
Wesleyan University - Paula Matthusen (New York University [2008], Florida International University)
Williams College - Jeffrey Roberts (Brandeis [2008], The Beijing Center for Chinese Studies)
Jobs that have made an offer
Mount Allison University (deadline 12/1) - specialization in Canadian music
Jobs that have had or are having on-site interviews
Jobs that are conducting phone interviews
Jobs that have requested additional materials
Jerusalem Academy of Music
University of Birmingham (2/10)- Composition Chair, Technology, Etc. (Rejection Notification)
Jobs that have acknowledged applications
McGill University (5/24) - Associate Professor of Composition
Jobs that have been announced with no updates
Jobs that have been canceled/suspended
Who's on the Market . . .
DEMOGRAPHICS - only job seekers pleaseI am a theorist: 8
I am a composer/theorist:3
I am a theorist/composer/technologist:4
I am a composer/technologist: 3
I am a composer/not a technologist: 5
I am a theorist/technologist: 3
I am a musicologist with theory as a secondary area: 1
I am a performer who likes teaching theory: 1
CLASSIFICATION - everyone following this page
I am ABD (finishing this year) on the market: 7
I am a new PhD in my first year on the market: 6
I am searching from a current TT position: 4
I am searching from an adjunct position: 9
I am searching from a position of unemployment: 4
I am searching from a position of impending unemployment (VAP or adjunct position ending): 3
I have given up on the academic life and just want to see if my friends can get jobs: 5
I am returning to the job market after a [forced] hiatus from academia: 2
I'm a member of a search committee: 3
I'm only following this out of curiosity: 4
I'm looking to pick up a spousal hire for my partner: 1
I'm looking for that special someone: 1
I obsessively check this page and am sad when the only update is in this section: 3
ADDITIONAL INFO
Composers with PhD: 7
Composers with DMA: 11
I think that internal hemorrhaging is a small price to pay for the sublimity and erudition of Vogon poetry: 42
I have a doctorate, publications, and several years of teaching experience but still cannot make my way out of adjunct purgatory: 4
I'm planning on leaving academia if I don't get a job this year: 2
APPLICATIONS SENT
I have sent 0-2 applications this year: 3
I have sent 3-5 applications this year: 5
I have sent 6-8 applications this year: 3
I have sent 9-11 applications this year: 4
I have sent 12-14 applications this year: 1
I have sent 15+ applications this year: 14
Q: The "Deadline Calendar" from the musicology site is a good idea; perhaps this can be included here, but integrated into the main list?
- I sorted all the positions within their respective categories by deadline, and eliminated deadlines from the ones who have moved beyond "acknowledged" since that doesn't seem necessary. How's it look now?
A: Better, thanks!
- You're welcome. The only thing now is that you can't just look at the bottom of the lists to see if new jobs were added.
DISCUSSION
We can all relate: Enjoy and Laugh
10/27: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obTNwPJvOI83/4: Getting demoralizing rejection letters? This will make you smile:
http://www.neatorama.com/2011/02/28/babys-laugh-makes-dealing-with-rejection-easier/
Site etiquette
10/20: I have noticed some back and forth in the "State of the Job Market" section below with a comment to the wiki being removed multiple times. In the past, we have been a successful self-policing community only removing comments that were beyond the pale of reasonable social discourse (e.g., waging a personal attack against someone, racially-charged statements, etc.). To whomever is editing contributions to this page, please exercise the same restraint shown during prior years: if you do not agree with a pessimistic statement, please choose to respond to it rather than removing it. Courtesy here, people, please.10/26: Agree! What are we, a bunch of musicologists? (kidding, of course...although their wiki tends to be a little more "edgy" than ours)
7/15: Yes, let's not delete existing comments because you share a different opinion.
An applied music job Wiki?
Does anyone know if a job wiki for applied music exists?State of the Job Market
9/28: Well, it's almost October and the pickins are still rather slim. This is way worse than last year, which was already a pretty bad year.9/28: I actually thought it was looking a little better than last year. Maybe you're a theorist only. I'm coming from the comp/theory angle, and as I look at the spreadsheet of jobs I applied to last year, there were none with Sept. or Oct. deadlines and only three with Nov. This compares with 7 this year that I have or plan to apply for, all with deadlines of Nov. or earlier.
9/30: This is by far the worst theory-only year there has been in some time. Hopefully it'll pick up...
9/30: In response to the comments about this being a rough year, I'd like to say that while I do need a job for 2011/12 (that's why I'm here!), and I understand the desire to commiserate, for me it's not helpful to bemoan the rough market. I have strengths and weaknesses in my applications, and I'm spending my available time on further strengthening my strengths and trying to minimize my weaknesses. That helps me keep a positive attitude as much as possible, which I think is better for my head, and probably will be better for my attitude when I go on interviews. You might want to try it. And yes, hopefully it'll pick up. Good luck!
10/18: In re 9/30(2) - Dude, sooner or later we will all get jobs, it is just a bad economy! Stick with it!
10/20: I agree with 10/18! it will pick up soon!
10/25: There are always more people looking for jobs than actual jobs. Fact of our profession. I hope you have some tonal compositions handy when the time comes...
10/26: This year's market already feels much better than last year. Heck, look at the links on MTO. I can't remember the last time that I actually had to scroll down the page to see all the jobs listed there! (Granted, not all of them are relevant to all of us...but I'm sure they've all got some relevance to at least some job-seekers). Of course, we have no way of knowing if this will continue to improve, but let's hope!
10/28: In re 1/18 - actually, there are far more job seekers than jobs, and as cash-strapped schools eliminate tenure-track jobs for adjuncts, the ratio will skew even more. The reality is that not everyone is going to get a job. I'm all in favor of keeping a good attitude, but we shouldn't ignore the reality of the market.
10/30: 10/26 must be using a very small screen. I don't need to scroll to see them on my computer. In response to 10/28, you would think that with all of our communal brain power we would be able to change the market to fit the reality we desire. After all there is nothing absolute about how the market casts reality.
11/1: Let's face it folks, the market sucks. There are few jobs and certainly not enough for the several years backup of graduates. It's not going to get better, it's only going to get worse.
11/8: The job market definitely sucks. But there's an equally big issue at hand, too: in our efforts to have strong, effective graduate programs in music, we are simply graduating far too many people with doctorates in music for even a decent market to support. (I suspect it's even worse in the applied areas.) What's the solution to this? Fewer and more selective doctoral programs in music? Are our nation's schools doing anyone any favors by continuing to churn out degrees, without an acknowledgment that this degree might end up being merely a nice wall decoration? (other than bringing in a whole lotta tuition money)
11/18: Yeah, it sucks but it's better than last year at this time! I am at least 10 job apps ahead of where I was last year at this time.
12/15: Seems this is the year of the technologist in comp... I count one non-tech comp job. Or is it two?
12/17: Anyone else notice the gradual appearance of jobs that are listed as "Remote" or "Telecommute"?
12/23: This is my first year on the market. Is it normal for so many October and November deadlines to take this long without any development? I expect they have more than the usual number of candidates this year. Is this a factor?
12/24: I've had a bit of experience here. From my perspective there is no normal. As more and more recent grads hit the job market the market becomes flooded. This trend will only get worse unless folks pull out of academia en masse, or there is a sudden blossoming of new music schools. The latter scenario could in fact happen if we widen our scope to include online and commercial/business universities.
12/27: In response to 12/23: This is my first year on the market and I’m similarly befuddled. One possibility, though it seems remote, is that participation in this wiki is not as high as you might think and that some searches are going forward without the community’s knowledge. But I can’t understand why anyone wouldn’t share information on this page (i.e., that you’ve been invited for an interview) that can only be of mutual benefit.
1/3: Regarding the comments above about the status of the market: IMO, this year initially appears to be on track to be better than the previous two. In '07-'08 there were about 150 jobs (not all TT), and this declined to about 75 or so in '08-'09 and again to about 45 last year. Concomitant with this decline was an apparent change in hiring dynamics that favored ABDs and recent doctorates — by a considerable margin — over candidates with several years' experience, on or off the tenure track. Even in the best of years, however, there are not enough jobs to accommodate all the graduating PhDs and DMAs hitting the market. (See, for instance http://www.economist.com/node/17723223 .) The picture is not and will likely never be rosy so, if you really want an academic job, prepare to steel yourself for the long haul that is the job search. For many, this picture involves years abiding in the soft underbelly of academia (i.e. adjunct and non-tenure-track labor), and for some this means never landing a TT job — or quitting the TT job market altogether after a number of years in favor of some other line of work. For a reality check, you could look at the University of Pennsylvania's departmental website, which lists PhDs and current employment (http://www.sas.upenn.edu/music/graduate/phds.html ); a considerable number are listed as "independent scholars/composers" many years after graduation. Whether this is by choice or due to the nature of the market is impossible to determine from this data, but it does provide a sobering, empirical snapshot of the job placement of graduates of one of the country's higher-ranking institutions.
1/12 These concerns are real, however, it is unfair to single out one program to attest to such changes without knowing more about the circumstances of the individuals in question. For example, a recent PhD could be conducting a regional job search for family reasons; the weak market makes it even more difficult for candidates in these circumstances, but that might not be a reflection of the program itself.
1/22: Seems like the jobs are drying up.
1/22(2): Out of 46 applications... 4 rejections, 16 Wiki says moved on... So 26 no-updates remain, carrying deadlines between 11/1 & 1/31. Should my lack of any positive replies be worrisome or expected this year as an ABD composer (May '11)? Getting nervous...
1/22(3): In my opinion it is to be expected, especially in a year with so many jobs emphasizing theory. There are way too many people who already have their degree in hand and the competition is fierce. While it is not impossible to land a job while ABD, you may be more likely to land a VAP / non-TT gig posted later in the spring.
1/23: I agree with 1/22(3). VAP/non-TT gigs will start posting soon and you're much more likely to land one of those.
1/23 (5): I disagree with 1/22(3). Just take a look at last year's stats and you'll see that 90% of the jobs went to ABD types, or others with very little experience in the professional academic world.
1/24 @1/22(2) I think it depends on your profile as composer at least as much as the state of your degree. Seems perfectly reasonable to expect a solid chance at a TT job if you have a couple of orchestral commissions, say, or a few pieces published, etc. before you have completed your degree. I think there are simply too many variables from one institution to another to make a clear-cut prediction.
1/25 @ 1/12: OP from 1/3 here. I didn't intend to single out any one department, apologies for any confusion. Public availability of such placement information is spotty, and Penn seems to do a good job of keeping tabs on their grads. I did note that these data do not tell us why certain individuals do not hold academic posts, so this should not be construed as a criticism of that department or its graduates, but rather as an "empirical snapshot."
1/25 (2): 1/23 (5) has it right. ABDs have had the upper hand on the market in these disciplines for the past 2 years. I might add the following: Since pay raises are usually tied to promotion/tenure, the only way most TT faculty can bargain for more money and/or better work conditions is by getting an offer elsewhere. At one department I worked at, nearly 50% of first-choice search finalists declined the offers they were made. In every case, these people already had TT or tenured jobs; they were being courted for the ostensible experience they would bring. Even though it became clear in hindsight that many of them were just on the market for a pay raise, the screening protocols had moved these people forward to interviews. Panic often set in at this point, since a failed search would give the department a black eye. The job would then be offered to the least offensive candidate who seemed most likely to accept. Fast forward to the current tight market where funding for faculty lines is both scarce and uncertain, and it becomes clearer why departments might be favoring ABDs: they cost less, and are less likely to decline a job offer. Perhaps this sounds cynical, but I'm at a loss to explain the marked turnaround the market has done in regards to ABDs.
1/25 (3): Good points, but what about ABDs versus completed doctorates who are not in current TT (or even full-time) jobs? I, too, am at a loss to explain why I, with a completed doctorate and ongoing part-time experience, am not receiving consideration for the jobs that end up going to ABDs. Surely they don't think I'm more likely to decline an offer than the ABD would be!
1/25 (4) to (3): Well, it used to be said that part-time was the kiss of death - a stigma was attached to you for being less than full, i.e. "there must be a problem here." I'm not sure if this is still the case but ABDs and just graduated folks don't have the appearance of damaged goods.
1/26: To the above person about not meaning to single out one department: Take a look at the previous year's stats and you will find that the jobs are NOT generally going to grads with degrees from U Penn, or many other decent state schools. The message is: Get a degree from Columbia, Yale, Princeton, et al or forget about it.
1/26 (2): Isn't U Penn in the Ivy league? Seems like doctoral candidates from UC Berkley and UC SD are doing all right. Not that it helps me, as I look at the total absence of jobs fielded from my institution...
You are right, off course, that Harvard, Princeton and Yale completely dominate the job market. There will, eventually, be a correction to DMA numbers: the numbers are now becoming sad enough to break through the delusional hopes of graduate school candidates. DMA's do not guarantee you a job teaching music in college any longer.
1/26 (3): Nor does a Ph.D., regardless of the prominence of the institution or whether it's a state school or Ivy. I know unemployed and underemployed people across the spectrum, including from the few schools that do seem to have high placements. Re: the part-time kiss of death, I try to delude myself with the notion that hiring departments recognize the state of the market, but my observations and experience tend to bring that flight of fancy back to reality. I have a Ph.D. from one of those top, elite universities, a number of years of part-time and full-time teaching post-degree, solid evaluations and references, and a modest but reasonably active cv yet I haven't had a nibble on a tt job in two years now (and only one interview three years ago), despite a much stronger cv and experience that has made me a demonstrably more effective educator. I expect that many of us here can describe similar circumstances. C'est la vie.
1/29: Still dry. Bone dry.
2/1: Yes, the new year brought little for us in terms of job possibilities. Besides the few part time gigs, I'm curious to hear what else are people doing for employment? And, have any of us just given up on getting the academic job?
2/12: I've been at this for about a decade now and have yet to find that T/T job. Ironically, this has allowed me the time and space to work as a composer, pursuing commissions, founding an ensemble while teaching part time and, more or less, building a career that I did not fully expect (but which I always really wanted). It hasn't been easy or always pretty, but it sure has been fulfilling. So take heart: life has a way of surprising us.
2/12 (2): I've also been on the job market for longer than I care to admit. I'm curious what 2/12 does about health insurance, and mortgage and/or car payments. Do you have a full-time working spouse? Do you have a family to support?
2/14: Tumbleweeds blow across our wiki site but little else.
2/18: I'm 2/12/(1). I won't say it hasn't been difficult. My spouse is just now fully employed so that the pressure is off, somewhat, but for the past two years we were essentially surviving on my adjunct salary as well as what commissions and royalties I was getting and whatever temp jobs she was able to find. We were extending our insurance from my last VAP gig, although we could have bought insurance from my employer, albeit at exhuberant prices. (BMI, ASCAP and the American Music Center also offer health insurance plans to members.) Like I said, it was not easy, but it was doable. I'm just trying to spread what cheer can be spread in this forum, given how tough our world can be.
2/18: 2/18(1), I'm so glad to hear that you and your wife have made it work somehow! Adding children to the mix can make what you describe impossible. Of course, we all got ourselves into this (and likewise parenthood, some of us) but even when taking responsibility for that, it's frankly quite disheartening to work for so long and with rather strong results only to be seemingly disbarred from employment of any kind, in any field. Thus far, I have found my sterling Ph.D. credentials to be no more than an unconcealable liability when applying for entry level positions outside the academy.
12/18(3)[12/12(1)]: Luck is a big part of it, yes. And there are times when I still feel like it's a horrible life I picked. It's not an easy life, by any stretch, and I've certainly developed a healthy skepticism about academia. But it is possible to do other things or piece together a life from various threads, even if it makes for something less than glamorous. But it is incredibly difficult and I, certainly, was lucky enough to have a strong, supportive partner along for the ride.
Job Placement Stats & Recruitment for THEORY JOBS/THEORISTS
2/6: The employment prospects of PhD music theorists deserves more attention. Personally, I think there's a collective tendency to understate prospects. I recently compiled a list of 87 music theory dissertation titles from 2005-2010 (from MTO announcements and Doctoral Dissertations in Musicology) and tried to identify where those authors were employed from Google searches. I’m confident 43 are in tenure-track positions. Another 18 seem to be in non-permanent positions. Some are clearly not in the field and some I wasn’t able to locate (perhaps women changed names or employers have little internet visibility). Also, the sources used to compile the initial list are all self-reporting, so perhaps some recent graduates who have secured a permanent position are not identified in my search. With all those caveats: in the last five years, finishing a PhD in music theory gave you a pretty even chance of finding permanent employment.2/6 (2): I just took a look at both of these indices, and even as a nobody within our field, can think of almost two full handfuls of recent music theory dissertations that don't appear. As you point out, the data is self-selecting, but the margin for error is way too large for this to be a productive measure of job prospects.
2/6 (3): Thanks for the research, (1). It's useful as a ballpark figure, and certainly an improvement over the exaggerated and fatalistic claims that virtually no one will land a job. That said, even if your numbers are accurate, 50% permanent employment 1-5 years after terminal degree seems like a real cause for concern. Especially outside of arts and humanities, most would find those odds troublesome. A PhD is no guarantee for employment, but given a 50% success rate after 5 years, I can't help but wonder how many would've chosen other career paths.
2/6 (4) And for composers? I can only imagine the percentage of composers with doctorates placed in jobs is substantially lower.
2/6 (1 again): (2), certainly there are individuals missing from the indexes, and I wish those indexes were actively comprehensive (or that an organization like SMT publicly tracked job placements, though I can understand why they don't). (3), it is troublesome, especially since graduate rates in doctoral programs are not especially high to begin with. As for whether we would choose this path again, I'm still not sure this information predicts the job prospects of those entering masters programs now (who won't be on the market until 2017 or later), and I'm not sure if the 50% ballpark figure was much different when I entered school in 2004. My graduating institution, like most, claimed very good job placements and they still do.
2/6: I agree: this is a numbers games. I do, however, believe that most people have no idea how to apply for jobs - can't write an effective letter of application; unorganized CV; etc.
2/7 (1): Except the numbers are based upon (filtered via) deeply held beliefs that dull the universal edge of mathematics. These numbers are weighted in oddly human, all too human ways.
2/7 (2): Re: 2/6 (3). I would have (and I'm on the lucky side 2005–2010 class with a tenure-track position!). Perhaps we need to do a better job at making sure potential doctoral students know the positives and negatives.
2/7 (3): I was also "one of the lucky ones," and agree completely with 2/7 (2). When interviewing potential theory majors, I often think of presenting them with numbers like these, but for obvious reasons would never do so. Of course, these statistics would also have to be compared to those from other fields to really have any force, especially in this economy.
2/7 (2) again: I wouldn't give numbers either, (3), unless they become codified and reliable, but I am seriously rethinking how I'll have this conversation the next time it becomes necessary.
2/7 (4): I am so glad that my advisers and professors didn't pull any punches when they informed me about the dismal state of the job market. I was able to adequately equip myself with the tools and attitude required to be successful. It saddens me that some (e.g. 2/7 (3)) intentionally handicap their students by not giving them reality checks, ostensibly because they are afraid of losing students, or worse. As with many unintended consequences this pedagogically bankrupt approach contributes to what it seeks to hide. Imagine if she/he used the same approach for grading.
2/7 (5): Wow. (4), not all were lucky enough to have superior faculty who did this, even those from top-flight programs. (Besides, five years ago, the job market looked very different.) That (2) finds it inappropriate to cite as-yet unreliable numbers does not make her/him wrong. Yes, people will do this to avoid losing students, and yes, it's problematic when it happens. Yet, that doesn't mean (2) is doing so for this reason, or that we should automatically jump to that conclusion...
2/8 (1): Here is what (3) actually said (5): "When interviewing potential theory majors, I often think of presenting them with numbers like these, but for obvious reasons would never do so." This is not relativism, this is clear (albeit deceptive) talk. The results of such talk speak for themselves.
2/8 (2): 2/7 (3) again. Wow, I guess the phrase "for obvious reasons" was a really poor choice of words. (4), this has nothing to do with losing students and everything to do with losing my job. Whether I like it or not, the purpose of interviewing potential majors is recruitment, and to engage in activities that would deliberately undermine that goal is tantamount to deliberately teaching a class terribly because I didn't like the subject matter. Besides, students who are at the application stage have already decided to be theory majors, and I'd think that the time to have this conversation would be before that decision had been made (I'm curious what (2) thinks about that). 2/8 (1), how is this deceptive? None of us ever leads students to believe that their chances of getting a job are especially good.
2/8 (3): Two things: I think the issues run deeper than a simple "disclaimer" at the onset of graduate theory studies. The directional shift in the concerns of music theory in the 70's is simply not sustainable in the current job market. The careers of Alan Forte, David Lewin, etc. (though this is probably the only point of comparison between the two) was (and I would argue, should have been) a rare thing, a situation for a highly specialized academic environment. The training and interest needed from music theorists is primarily pedagogical: ear training, solfege, counterpoint, analysis, etc., for the training of musicians. The internal pressure described by 2/8 (2) to recruit theorists is based in a naval gazing attitude which is only possible when market conditions allow for big sized departments teaching meta - musical specialists. I am not here to argue for or against the validity of an academic career spanning papers on "Pitch Array theories" and suchlike, but simply that those interests are ancillary to the actual job. Besides, the real grumbling should come from composers, who traditionally were the ones teaching theory at colleges, and were supplanted in the 1970's by this new breed of academic theorists.
Secondly, in my experience attending theory seminars and reading the (admittedly occasional) paper, music theory is currently employing methods and vocabulary that is not accessible to the rest of the musical -academic community. I think those theorists who will work hardest to bridge those gaps between musicians, musicologists and theorists will not only stand to benifit the field the most, but would gain the most in terms of employability.
2/4 (4): This may not be forum for this discussion, but 2/8(3) has called the question. Theorizing is not navel gazing, or at least it doesn’t have to be. Benjamin Zander has argued that you don’t want to increase the importance of classical music from a 7 to an 9 out 10 for 5% of the population, you want to raise it from a 1 to a 3 for 95% of the population. Imagine the improved job prospects if theory was presented to higher education not as specialized training for musicians but as an essential component of a program aiming to develop critical thinking. This goal (as opposed to, say, stylistic composition) requires sustained theorizing of the Lewin/Forte variety and trained music theorists are simply better prepared to address this need than composers.
2/8 (3b) I actually agree for the most part. I would argue, however, that you would want to enact a merger of disciplines with musicology, so that your "music appreciation" courses will benefit from some discussion of the actual music. Notice that the you seem to bolster my point of the need for a more generalized language, one that approaches music theory from a normative - based vocabulary. You could probably give musicologists a good run for their money and take some of their market share. (They do seem to have about 2 to 3 times the amount of openings.)
2/8 (5) [2/7 (5)]: Yes, that much is clear. (4) seemed to take it well out of its original context, and there are many ways to interpret it. Why do we assume the worst?
2/8 (6), (originally, 2/7 (2)): Couldn't agree more, 2/8 (2). I tend to see these students when they are still "potential" doctoral applicants and not dead-set on becoming a theorist. (There is no grad program here, and most students who have expressed interest don't actually know what theory research is. They seem to think that, because my classes are "fun"—allegedly, at least—that's all there is to it.) I've dissuaded some, while others are sure this is what they want. Then, we encourage them to do a Master's before trying a Ph.D.
2/8 (7): To the person that deleted my comments and questions that should have appeared as 2/8 (3): Put them back. Thanks.
2/9 (1): I am curious why 2/8 (2) believes that she/he will lose his/her job and potential students by being forthright and honest. Has his/her boss issued a gag order? Or is she/he unwittingly exercising self-censorship? Does 2/8 (2) really believe that the primary goal of recruitment is to fill seats?
2/9 (2) (formerly 2/8(2) and 2/7(3)): 2/9(1), we've managed to get through this without sarcasm and hyperbole so far, and it would be nice to continue doing so. As far as losing potential students, the undercurrent of this entire thread is that if potential theory majors were given accurate information about the job placement rate, some of them would choose other fields. That's certainly the implication of 2/6(3)'s last statement, which got the ball rolling. Assuming that to be true, it seems obvious that an admissions committee would look unfavorably on a faculty member who was knowingly and actively discouraging potential students from entering the program. Furthermore: I haven't been at this long, but I've interviewed my fair share of potential majors, and not a single one has ever asked about the job market. Why is it the interviewer's responsibility to do the type of legwork that the interviewee should be doing? As 2/8(6) said, this conversation needs to be happening at the stage when they're still *potential* grad students; it's not my place to have them come all the way to campus and then tell them "oh and by the way, you have very little chance of getting a job in this field." How would I even know that? And how would I know their chances are any better in any other field? And isn't it presumptuous to assume that they would even care? (Maybe the student is independently wealthy, or, heaven forbid, looks at grad school as an opportunity for education, rather than as a job-placement factory.) Finally: the interview process is already designed to weed out those people that *we* think would not succeed in the field, it's up to the candidate to decide what he/she thinks about his/her chances for success. So sadly, yes, the primary goal of recruitment - in this economy, anyway - is to fill seats. I enjoy my job, I'm lucky to have it, and I'd like to keep it; so when I interview applicants, my job is to do what's in the best interest of the school. It's the candidate's job to do what's in his/her own best interest. Can I get a witness?
2/9 (3): I'm new to the discussion, but happy to be your witness 2/9 (2) and that may be the best defense of this issue I've read in a long time.
2/9 (4): Just to add to this, I include this description of the responsibilities from the Bowling Green State University job, just as an example: "Responsibilities include teaching undergraduate theory and aural skills and graduate?level theory courses; recruiting and mentoring graduate students; and contributing to the artistic and intellectual environment of the college and the university."
2/9 (5): I'm not new to this, praise be, and find 2/9 (2)'s stance (as someone previously pointed out) to be all about navel gazing and not about helping students or his/her department. In fact, as someone else pointed out above it will indeed have exactly the opposite effect. Many of my students have asked me about the job market and like 2/7 (4) I have tried to give them a realistic picture, along with some optimism. At my institution we track the success 'rates' of our graduates, which adds to the realism of the picture.
2/10 (1): With regard to what 2/9 (2) says about it not being the place of a graduate school faculty member to tell students about the state of the job market, what about how the majority of schools don't have theorists teaching theory, but a studio faculty who teaches theory on the side? (That is not to suggest such professors fail to understand it, but there are very real differences between their job markets/career options and ours.) I think it's very much our job—when the students ask questions about it, at least. I certainly wouldn't walk into a room of grad students and say, "half of you won't get tenure-track jobs," but with universities cutting tenure-track lines to save on the expense, as a field, we're producing far too many Ph.D.s for the market.
2/28: Isn't it possible to disagree without being disagreeable while at the same time not resorting to name-calling? For far too long out field has been awash in passive acceptance and healthy skepticism of agents outside the domain. In order to take such claims seriously we must first understand the motivations of all those involved, which requires not only perception but also inspection. This should not be a value judgement.
3/2: 2/28, I think I can speak for many of us when I say: huh? (x4)
3/3: Careful, 3/2! Sounds like a value judgement! BAM!
3/3: I'm actually quite happy to read our profession is "awash" in anything, since obviously it's not "awash" with job offerings while at the same time its enjoying a healthy skepticism in terms of status, money and, let's face it, an excess of relevance. Preach on, 3/2! I'll be your choir! A BIRD IS A WORD!
3/4: Hey, 3/3 (2) are you a composer? If not, you should be! Nice work.
"open until filled"
12/15: What do you do with jobs bearing a rolling deadline, which you discovered a month or two past their initial opening date?Is it kosher to contact the info person with questions about the state of the search? Would you apply "blind"?
1/3: No harm in contacting them first. It certainly could keep you from wasting time and money.
Official Transcripts
8/23: Does anyone have any advice on disregarding the request for official transcripts? One of my transcripts costs money to have sent (I'm sure there are others who have to pay for 2 or 3), and I was really ticked when one of last year's jobs was canceled after requiring them. After that, I think I sent copies at least once when officials were requested, but I'm hesitant to keep that up. Does it hurt my chances? Agnes Scott is asking for them...8/23: Have (unofficial) copies in your dossier or send just unofficial copied directly. It does not matter. Once you are hired, the school then would need offal transcripts for their files.
8/24: To add to the above comments, in my department we won't even look at an application without transcripts to confirm degrees etc, and unofficial are
fine unless you get the job, in which case we need official ones. Since an application is considered
incomplete without them (at my school and many others), it's better to send them than not to send them.
11/8: Well...if it says they want you to send official transcripts, then they probably want you to send official transcripts. It's a hassle, but as applicants, we're not really in a position to decide which aspects of the application requirements are reasonable/unreasonable. I wouldn't have trouble imagining a committee ignoring the CV/cover letter of an applicant who didn't follow the directions in the job announcement.
11/17: Arrange to get one copy for yourself and then simply scan it; if a school ever really needs official copies after that (to secure the hire), you'll be in a position to be happy to pay for another one.
11/18: Just make sure that your scan is low resolution because many online job sites hold to the 2 megabyte per document limit.
1/3: I personally find this to be a wasteful practice. Employers really only need your official transcript if you've been hired. I have inquired in the past when searches have asked for official transcripts, and have been told on several occasions that unofficial ones were acceptable at the search stage, so it's worth raising the question. The only concern that I can imagine, beyond the purely bureaucratic, is the remote likelihood that unofficial transcripts could be falsified. But, bearing in mind the fact that the hiree would eventually have to supply an official transcript, I cannot imagine why anyone would be foolish enough to doctor an unofficial one.
UK (and other overseas) Jobs
8/24: Is there a particular place where one might go to find out about overseas jobs? In particular, did the person who posted these two jobs at Cardiff find them somewhere other than Cardiff's own website and/or word of mouth?8/25: Word of mouth, sorry! I'll be sure to post any other jobs I hear about, though.
8/25: From the AMS website, jobs are posted here http://www.jobs.ac.uk/ and http://www.vacancies.ac.uk/
3/28: Has anyone else noticed a profound difference in the way UK and US searches are run? I was recently rejected for the Worcester College junior position. The total time of the search, from the time the application was due until the final interviews, is approximately 6 weeks, and this was publicized up front. Immediately upon receiving my application, the Dean of the College sent a letter (form, but signed in ink) assuring me that everything was in order, that they would be having a meeting to form a shortlist in a week or two, and that she would write to all candidates forthwith. True to form, I received another letter in the mail less than two weeks later (also signed in ink), thanking me for my application and telling me I didn't make the cut. I have never, ever been treated with such respect by an American institution, even when I was a finalist or won the job. Can there a good excuse for the behavior of American universities? I can't be the only one who finds it slightly inconvenient to be searching for work outside the academy while also running an academic job search ("I'm sorry, sir. I'd really like to accept your generous offer of an exciting career at Burger Barn...but I applied for this other job five months ago, and I might hear from them in another two, and so could you wait a little for a response? Thanks.")?
4/7: From what I know of UK searches, the 6-week process seems pretty typical. There is no tenure system in the UK, and as a likely result the whole hiring process moves faster: people are hired based on the merits of their CV and professional output, and there seems to be little if any hand-wringing about how the candidates will pan out long term (i.e. as a colleague, prospects for tenure, etc.). Two-day campus visits are not the norm; to the contrary, most interviews I've heard of lasted about an hour or two, many times without any teaching demonstration whatsoever, and I believe also without any visits to deans or other administrators. It's also not unusual for all candidates to be interviewed on the same day, and sometimes to be held in the same waiting room pending their interview. As for the acknowledgement/rejection letters, I don't know if this is typical, although my experience is similar to that described here. I would just hope that US universities could be a bit more conscientious with their communications to candidates.
Contacting Jobs
1/7: This is my first year on a job search. Is it acceptable to contact a job to inquire about the status of the search, or is that frowned upon by the institution?1/9: Unless there is a specific reason to do so (i.e., if you have an offer in hand and need to make a decision), it's frowned upon. Do others feel differently about this?
1/9: I would agree that it's probably not a good idea. Best to just be patient.
Negotiating
2/2: Times may seem bleak and many searches should be moving forward that don't seem to be, but many people reading this page will get jobs this year, so even its just idle daydreaming, I’d like to know the following, especially from people tenured/tenure-track now: what sorts of things can we negotiate when we get an offer? Besides the obvious (higher salary), what else did you ask for or wish you had asked for?2/2(2): Each case/situation is different. Just make sure you ask for what you're worth. Others in similar situations will appreciate the results of your effort. I wonder what percentage of people reading this page will in fact receive offers. I don't imagine that the word 'many' applies.
2/2(3): This topic is covered pretty well elsewhere. Chronicle article 2007 Chronicle article 2002 Generic EHow article 2010 Happy reading!
Regional Conferences
3/2: I was wondering if anybody has heard back from NECMT about proposals. There's something else going on that weekend, but before committing to that, I'd like to see if mine was accepted.3/4: Rejection email from James Baker received yesterday, stating that only 11(!) proposals were accepted. This seems like a very small number for a 2-day conference (I've been on the program committee for a different regional conference that accepted three times that number of proposals). Maybe several of these are panels?
3/19: I have a question about MTMW. They've just made the conference program available through their newsletter. I submitted a proposal-which obviously didn't make it-but never heard anything. Did others get rejections from them? Or did they only send out acceptances? Should I inquire as to whether my proposal was received?
SMT Conference, 2011
3/11: I was excited to get an email from Victoria Long with "Fwd: Re: SMT Proposal" in the subject line...but it was just a call for papers for the Israel Musicology Society. Even so, the subject line made me wonder if anyone has heard about acceptance/rejection of proposals for the 2011 SMT meeting? All I've heard so far was the "we got your stuff" email from the beginning of Feb. Anyone else?A1: Last year's acceptances and rejections were sent around the third week of April, but that was later than in previous years. I think it's more usually been in late March or early April.
4/13: SMT Acceptances are starting to come out...
4/13: I've received mine today, but last year I didn't receive an acceptance for more than a week after the first ones went out.
4/14: More acceptances came out today.
4/14: Does anybody know what's taking so long? I have a friend who got an acceptance yesterday and another who got one today. I also know somebody on the committee, and he/she tells me that final decisions were made nearly three weeks ago. I'm still waiting to hear...
The Wiki Phenomenon
3/3: Now may not be the time, but is anybody else fascinated by the whole wiki phenomenon, as applied to the academic job search? It's been very interesting to see "outsider" reactions from friends and family when I mention this page in the course of explaining the whole academic job search process. I've noticed from comments here that a lot of us (myself included, at one point) take for granted that everything that happens in every job search is posted on the wiki (which is actually a false assumption), and likewise we are sometimes lured into assuming that we, as job seekers, are entitled a completely transparent process from every institution (... obviously, such transparency would be nice, but is not technically our "right"). Also, I'm curious to see how search committees and HR departments have changed (or not) their procedures over the years given the presence of pages like this, if they are even aware that such pages exist.3/11: It's definitely an interesting thing. If I don't get a job this year, maybe I'll start working on a paper about it - team up with a sociologist for something nice and interdisciplinary. :-) All kidding aside, what kind of "interesting" reactions do you get from outsiders? Most of the people I talk to say, "wow, that's cool. I wish there was something similar for my field," and then lose interest. I'm also curious about the impression WITHIN our field - do many of us REALLY believe that everything on this page is 100% current/accurate? I sure don't. And at this point, as things start to look less and less hopeful for next year, it's a source of hope for me to think that maybe there's SOMETHING else out there if I find the right place to look. Can we view this wiki as much more than the electronic grapevine?
Interview Question
4/18: I'm a finalist for a TT position in theory/comp and I just received my schedule for the day. One thing that really caught me off guard is that I have to take an ear training exam (dictation and sight singing). I have never heard of this for any job interview. Has anyone else ever heard of this or experienced it?4/18 (1): I'm a musicologist, so sorry to barge in, but at one interview one of the professors started asking me random music history questions that were way off of the beaten track (like re-taking quals or something - "who was Satie" kind of stuff). I was kind of insulted, like "I can't believe you have the nerve" or whatever, but I can see it from their point of view too. For the ear training (I teach a lot of theory), it's probably the same thinking. In any case, you'll get it when you show up to class someday and students are sitting at the piano to ambush you with the old "what's THIS chord progression" (pressure of course, but fortunately I've always gotten them right on one or two listenings).
4/18 (2): The irony is that some people who are really good at demonstrating their ear-training skills have absolutely no ability to teach it. I've taught students who significantly improved their ear-training skills in my course, after having been discouraged in previous courses where they were just given dictations, which did not lead to improvement. It seems to me that giving a TT candidate an ear-training exam displays a rather simplistic idea of what teaching ET is about. Good ET skills are not like good karma, laughter, or a contagious disease: students can't acquire it just being in a room with someone who has it.
4/18 (3): While I think it is a bit of an odd thing to ask in an interview, it does seem relevant to find out if the person you are hiring to teach theory/ET cannot hear a door slam. Perhaps this is an anomaly, but maybe it will be part of a growing trend in the interview process. Best of luck to you during your test!
4/18 (1): I agree with both responses here. Strategy and actually teaching ET is paramount, while having perfect pitch could mean you can't teach it at all but can take any dictation. Unfortunately, while the best teachers of ET are those that struggle with it the most, you're stuck doing the test for this interview, since trying to not do it (and instead talking about actual teaching) will make you look like you can't do it! Catch 22 for sure.
4/18 (2) Not that it really matters for this discussion, but I don't agree that the best teachers of ET are those that struggle with it the most. Being able to explain and teach what you are able to do does not at all indicate that it's a struggle.
4/18 (3): I'm sorry but that is ridiculous and if I were you I would remove myself from the pool (of course I am in a TT position so I can say that). If they have vetted you and chosen you as a finalist then you must clearly have demonstrated the set of skills needed for the job. If they are concerned about your ability to teach an aural skills course they should make you teach an aural skills class.
4/18 (4): I think it's a legitimate request. If one teaches a set of skills, one should be able to clearly show they have attained mastery of said skills. Teaching strategies can only take you so far, and analysis of music as evidenced by scholarly writing only answers a [smallish] fraction of the job requirements.
4/19 (1): I think it's a legitimate request too, if a sad reflection on our field. It's become clear to me that one can get all the way from undergrad to PhD/DMA without ever getting proper ear training, so they're probably trying to vet for that. Having said that, I agree with 4/18 (3)'s last sentence: it would have made more sense just to have you teach a class. Good luck and congrats on the interview.
4/19 (2): Why not give a part-writing, analysis, and sight-singing exam, too? Do we really think qualified candidates are not getting proper training?
4/19 (3): While this is a pretty serious situation, there is a pretty funny article about this exact thing happening in the 18th century (where Telemann grills some poor organist applicant): "Naive Questions and Laughable Answers" by Steven Zohn, p. 62-92 of "Coll' astuzia, col giudizio, Essays in Honor of Neal Zaslaw." I thought it was very funny, and with the present situation it shows that not too much has changed over the past 300 years of job interviews.
4/19 (4) Once in an interview while I was discussing one of my interdisciplinary subspecialties I was asked to name an article or two that exemplifies what I was talking about. So I named a couple authors and their article titles. But then I was quizzed on what journal and volume they were from, as if I was taking a comprehensive exam all over again. (They were book chapters and I didn't remember the titles of the books.) The grilling seemed pretty silly considering that you can put any author + "title" into Google and immediately get the citation (at least close enough to track it down). The situation seemed confused: It's hard to have the kind of collegial discussion that is appropriate for judging whether you want to hire someone as your colleague if you are simultaneously examining him or her like a student; what kind of role is the candidate meant to take on? The experience did, however, give me a decent idea of the kind of trivialities those interviewers prided themselves on.
4/19 (5): @ 4/19 (2): Frankly, yes, we really do think that. Someone can get an undergrad degree in performance and barely pass their ear training/sight singing classes. If that same person does really well in undergrad theory, especially elective research-based classes, and writes well, he/she can get into a grad program, then graduate with the same Ph.D. everyone else has. I've seen it happen. Someone from our program got him/herself into an Ivy-league graduate theory program despite not being able to find the tonic with a map. I still think that the better scenario for this OP would be to teach a class, not pass an ear-training exam, but I can understand the motivations behind such an exam.
4/19 (6): To my mind, a hugely important element of skills instruction is to present an example of accomplishment, a standard for the students to model and attempt to surpass. In the case of ear training, I truly feel a competent teacher should be able to transcribe a choral with ease before they are qualified to teach dictation, just to give an example. @4/19 (4): The ability to write is amply evident in the materials sent prior to interview. The level of competency in applied music skills cannot be demonstrated in this way. The "grilling" you received during your interview was thus unnecessary, while a diagnostic test we are discussing truly could be vital if the job is based in ear training and oral skills. Lastly, every skill based profession has some standard of proof required by prospective candidates, and many theory gigs are just that - teaching practical skills in music cognition.
4/22: I couldn't disagree with 4/19 (6) more. Ear training is a skill that is acquired based on years of steady practice and facility is often a result of being present in the environment without breaks. Pedagogy is a different story. Without a well thought-out pedagogy for aural skills, neither perfect pitch nor spectacular ear will enable your students to learn anything. What I find more troublesome, however, is the attitude that potential new hires may not be qualified to teach based on how they answer some questions. Perhaps if committees would focus more on quality and depth in applicants rather than fashion this wouldn't be a problem.
Interest expressed in your applications
4/1: I found the survey on the Musicology page interesting and thought we might do the same here. While of course not an accurate view whatsoever, perhaps we'll find some circumstantial support for hiring trends that we perceive.Format: [degree type; degree year]; (sub)discipline; publications/recordings; placement history post-degree; response to applications
A1: [PhD, 2006]; composition; 1 peer-reviewed publication, 1 recording, numerous conference and festival presentations; 4 years of work history in VAP and adjunct gigs post-degree; 1 bite (post-doc) while ABD, 1 interview first year after degree, 1 bite second year after degree, no bites in the past two years.
A2: [Ph.D. 2005]; composition/theory; 2 peer-reviewed publications, 5 recordings, many conference and festival presentations; 5 years of work history in both VAP and TT gigs post-degree; 2 bites while ABD (1 led to a VAP), none the next year, 1 bite/interview/offer/TT gig year after that. Last year (1st time on market as TT) I got one bite/interview; this year four bites, two interviews, response pending
A3: [PhD, 2005]; composition; no publications or recordings, numerous conference presentations/performances (2-3 per year) and several officer positions held in professional organizations; VAP 2005-06, in a TT position since then, teaching 5-5 most years, making it very hard to be productive in scholarship and composition; sent out about 40 applications in last five years, three bites, one interview last year that led to an offer I declined ($ was WAY too low and position was eventually filled by an ABD). Update 5/2: now tenured. But I'll keep on looking all the same.
A4: [DMA, 2010]; composition/music technology and EAM composition; 1 peer-reviewed publication, 3 critical reviews, 1 peer-reviewed academic presentation, 2 recordings, 3-4 conference/festival performances per year, 20-25 performances per year, several dippy prizes; 3 years adjuncting ('06-'09); three bites during ABD (one on-campus interview); post-doc, 1 on-campus interview and 2 phone interviews. End result: not a blasted thing. Maybe my cover letter just sucks. Back-up plan: community college in the fall for sustainable technologies development.
A5: [PhD, expected 2011]; theory (performance/cognition); 1 book review, 3 SMT presentations, one year of part-time adjunct work while ABD, ~40 applications, 5 bites, 1 offer.
A6: [DMA, 2009]; composition (minor in theory); 1 recording, not very many performances, no prizes (dippy or otherwise); continuing tiny (about 20 hrs/yr) high-school theory gig; while ABD: one campus interview for an adjunct position and 2 phone interviews; since degree: 1 or 2 "bites" and one campus interview; no offers
A7: [PhD, 2006]; theory; 1 paper accepted for publication while ABD; extensive teaching experience while in grad school; 15+ apps sent out 1st year ABD with one phone interview; 15+ more sent out 2nd year ABD with 2 bites, one of which led to current T-T position.
- A4: You (perhaps unintentionally) raise a good point. There is an art to applying. If your credentials are as good as you say, you should - at least - be getting more solid bites. Talk to people who have been on search committees and friends who have gotten jobs. See what they are doing. Copy. That approach worked for me. Once I learned how to "apply," it was then that I started to get bites and offers - multiple.
A8: [PhD, expected 2011]; composition (minor in music history); 1 small recording, many commissions, several prizes (three major), no scholarly publications, little substantive teaching experience, tons of performing/conducting experience; 20+ apps sent out this year (first year on market); 2 campus interview invitations for TT positions (theory/comp), no other bites, one offer.
A9: [DMA 2001 (!!!)]; composition; 2 small recordings (forthcoming); avg. 3-5 commissions per year; a few prizes (one major); no scholarly publications; several journalistic publications (online but for major sites in the field); 3 years total VAP experience (at two institutions); 1 year high school A/P teaching experience; 4 years adjunct (near full time load) teaching experience (3 at a major conservatory teaching undergraduates AND graduate students); 8 years conducting experience; entrepeneurial experience founding and running performance series/ensembles; 25-30 performances this year (average anywhere from a minimum of 3-4 to a max of 30); two interviews last year, one this year; no offers since 2006 (but stopped looking after spouse found a good gig this December).
A10 [Ph.D., 2005]; theory; 1 large article in print; 2 in press; lots of teaching experience while in M.M. and Ph.D. programs, plenty since; very active professionally. 2 years of VAP experience, 2+ years in TT (looking to leave current position). 8 interviews in 2006–2007, two offers [not one, sorry], no interviews since 2007; asked for more materials twice in 2008–2011; two phone interviews in 2008–2011. Not sure where things are going off the rails...
A11 [DMA, 2009]; comp; no recordings, not enough performances; 1 peer-reviewed article in print; 1 forthcoming; lots of teaching experience - theory, history, you name it, first as grad student, later VAP and now adjunct; countless years of performance experience. About 10 applications per year since 2007, this year 1 additional material, previously no interest whatsoever except in 2007 when asked for more material from a top-tier school.
A12 [DMA, 2011]; comp; no recordings, a few juried performances; no articles; 2 years TA, 3 years instructor (theory/ET); some conducting, no performance experience. First year applying, 61 apps, no interest shown. Sobering. Any advice, what's the biggest hole in that portfolio?
- My first thought is that 61 is way too many jobs for you to have applied for. Since you're a composer, you probably don't want to apply to most of the "theory-only" jobs because they'll be looking for a theorist (apparently having your teaching experience in theory is not enough). If you narrow your focus, you'll be able to spend more time crafting and customizing your application to each position. Don't take my advice too seriously, though, because I haven't gotten any offers (I'm A6). Also, the person who responded to A4 says "learn how to apply from people who have offers, and copy them". Well, that hasn't worked for me. I talked to a friend who has a job and has received multiple other offers, and his cover letter didn't look any better than mine (in fact, his had typos!), but his credentials and experience blow mine out of the water, and of course since he currently has a job, his experience keeps improving, while mine simply recedes further into the past.
- The above poster is right about not bothering with the theory-only jobs unless/until you have some theory publications or find yourself attending conferences and networking with theorists. He/she is right that your teaching experience in theory is not going to count for much, because the theorist applicants will all have the same teaching cred plus a degree in theory. To me, the biggest hole is the lack of recordings and relative lack of performances. I think there's a balance between your institution and your professional experience; viz, if you went to an Ivy League but don't have too many recordings or performances itmight be okay, but if you went to a smaller-name school you'll need tons of professional work to balance it. Start some ruthless self-promotion; get performers playing your stuff, try to put together recordings, etc. Good luck.
A13: [PhD, 2011]; theory (MM in performance); no publications; 3 regional presentations; 1 SMT & 1 international invite for next year (didn't make it onto the CV until the last few apps); 2yr TA at conservatory; 2yr TA/instructor as theory grad student; some orchestral performance experience; 3yr church music experience; a few tech-related publications (mostly online); 60+ applications; 5 bites (3 as finalist, 2 semifinalist); 2 offers (1 VAP, 1 TT).
A14: [DA, 2007] theory/comp emphasizing pedagogy and tech; no publications, small composition portfolio, attractive ed. tech portfolio; 1 year TA, 11 years instructor (while puttering away at my doctorate), last 2 years as adjunct; started sending out apps for 08/09 school year; 80+ apps with 10 bites (8 as finalist, 2 semifinalist) over last four years; 1 TT offer this year. Finally!
INSTITUTION-SPECIFIC DISCUSSION
Augustana University
1/27: Offer made and accepted 1/27? That was fast. The Position Announcement says "Review of applications will begin February 1, 2011." Glad I rush-mailed mine today. Was this an inside candidate?1/27 (2) Yes, How absurd it is!! This is really illegal...
1/27 (3) Is it actually illegal? Does anybody know?
1/27 (4) Does the person who moved the search know this as a fact? As far as I can tell David Davies is the only composition faculty and he is an assistant professor who has been there since 2007. It seems like an inside candidate is unlikely. Does anyone know David well enough to find out the situation? I know he is pretty active in SCI.
1/27 (5) I remember being confused about this one, because the CMS Vacancy List said it was "open until filled", but the HR site said 2/1 for a deadline.
1/27 (6) It might be irregular or perhaps unethical, but it isn't illegal - they're a private college and can hire as they please. Plus, the "open until filled" was posted; the 2/1 was probably just a typo by HR.
1/29: Yeah...probably just a typo, just like the one that said "position available."
1/29 (2): They were considering applications on a rolling basis. The form letter they sent out on receipt of applications stated "we will begin...review in the coming weeks".
1/30: Rolling or no rolling it would appear a bit deceptive since the cap for rolling stoppage was either not indicated, or indicated incorrectly.
2/4: Received my form letter today, dated 2/1, stating "we will begin...review in the coming weeks". Yet it was *accepted* days ago. Very frustrated with their HR, but congrats to the successful candidate.
Ball State University
Just noticed the position was reposted to Higheredjobs. Does anyone have an idea of the significance?2/4 - I do not think there is any significance... Probably HR posting it late on the Higheredjobs site.
3/3: This job has been reposted again to HigherEdJobs. It says in the "type" that it's a Part Time/Adjunct position, however, the posting says TT. Mistake by HR? Unintentional repost?
3/4: Campus interviews are being scheduled for late March and early-mid April.
4/5: posted on Higheredjobs again(!) dated 3/30. Oh, HR, HR! how many yanks of the chain will finally leave you sated?
Boston University
11/30: Does anyone happen to know whether this is a tenure-track job? BU has historically not made TT appointments in theory/composition, though this is evidently changing:http://www.bu.edu/ntt/task-force-report/6-ntt-faculty-roles-and-titles/6-1-standard-professorial-titles/
(see paragraph 4 in section (i)).
11/30: The posting made to SMT-announce describes it as a full-time tenure-track junior position.
1/6: EOE survey sent via email.
Bowling Green State University (Theory)
1/31: Additional materials were due on Jan. 10. References currently being contacted.2/16: Has anyone heard anything about interviews?
2/21: Received a phone call on 2/17 to schedule an on-campus interview for next month.
Carnegie Melon University
2/19: any news beyond "additional materials requested"?Carroll University
4/3: Anything since the phone interviews a few months ago?4/5: I assume they've offered by now, but I never heard a thing after the phone interview.
6/2: Generic rejection email today stating an offer has been accepted, but did not name names.
Colgate University
Beware. The grapevine informs me that the last composer there got railroaded at tenure time."Colgate" is the Spanish word for 'go hang yourself,' so I guess it figures!
4/6: "Announced with no updates" yesterday, "Accepted job" today. Way to rock the updates on this one...
Columbia University Mellon Post-doc
2/8: Any updates here?2/8(2): According to the Musicology wiki they're having interviews, but I don't want to move it based just on that.
2/18: Onsite talks have been happening.
5/25: Anyone hear who got these?
DePaul University
1/27: I see that this has been moved to "conducting onsite interviews." That seems remarkably fast considering the initial deadline was 1/3. Can anyone confirm phone interviews and/or requests for additional materials? Or is this about an inside candidate?1/27 (2) Another absurdity! There are must be an inside candidate. You will hear " the person has been chosen tomorrow, i bet!
1/27 (3) At any rate, I bet you a hundred bucks to a penny the eventual candidate will be a Chicagoan.
1/27 (4) I don't think they are conducting onsite interviews. I know someone who has had there references contacted today and has not had additional materials or a phone interview requested.
1/29: Oh, I wouldn't assume that DePaul has a Chicago hiring bias. The last guy who landed a gig there was not from Chicago, nor was the other finalist who didn't get the gig. They do seem to have a bias against hiring part-timers though, and have plenty of local, Chicagoans on staff who will never receive an offer to move up to full-time status. Some very talented teachers and composers.
2/1-A: What kind of perverse industry is it in which working part-time to gain experience and stay current disqualifies one from obtaining full-time work? (This is not specific to DePaul.)
2/1-B: (reply to 2/1-A) To add to your question, what else are we supposed to be doing while we await our full time jobs? Work at Starbucks? I'm hoping that universities who at one time looked down upon part timers realize that there is nothing else for us to be doing, that we enjoy academic teaching and that we will seek it out as a means of making a living whether that means part or full time. What is the percentage of people looking versus those that have been placed in the last few years? I can't imagine it's very high.
3/21: At least you could get health insurance working at Starbucks...
3/27: The person who got hired is currently based in San Francisco so there was definitely no Chicago hiring bias. And as 1/29 pointed out correctly, the person who has held this job until now is also not from Chicago.
Duquesne University
Any word on Duquesne? It's been a month, almost...2/4: Nothing. I never even got confirmation about my materials (contrary to the note in the job about such in the job section).
2/4: I did not receive confirmation either. Perhaps applications received closer to the deadline were not acknowledged?
2/4: Did you apply online? I applied using the email address they provided, and got an automated response "thanking me for the interest." Maybe that's what the "acknowledgement of materials" means?
2/6: I believe there is an internal candidate.
2/6(b): What, for both jobs?
2/7: In regard to the phone interview update above, does anyone have info (when candidates were contacted, etc.)?
2/7: Contacted 2/7, phone interviews scheduled for 2/9-2/11.
4/5 (1): Any update?
4/5 (2): Haven't heard anything. At least I'm not the only one.
4/7: Any more speculation on the inside candidate issue?
4/8: Not sure who got an offer, but it wasn't me.
4/15: Anyone hear names?
4/15: Posting of candidate names isn't appropriate prior to acceptance of an offer.
5/4: Surely this process has concluded by now. Any updates?
6/27: Anyone get a rejection letter and/or know who accepted the second position?
Eastern Illinois University
2/5: I recently did a telephone interview with them and was very impressed. No BS, no posturing, just honest thinking about how to move a program up to the next level. Kudos.2/15: I noticed this was moved to on-site interviews in February/March. How were candidates informed? When were they informed?
5/3: Heard their first choice candidate said no.
Georgia College and State University
1/7: Has anyone heard anything about this position?1/8: I haven't heard anything and figured they had moved on however I have gotten a few hits on my website from Milledgeville, GA. It could just be a coincidence though.
1/11: Maybe it was the ghost of Flannery O'Connor. She haunts that place.
Georgia Southern
10/8: rejection e-mail stating semifinalists have been selected10/8: I received an email today saying I had made it through to the next round but they had not picked semifinalists yet. Curious if anyone received a similar email?
10/9: Here's a quote from the rejection e-mail: "The search committee identified semi-finalists with strengths in areas that best match our needs at Georgia Southern University. As a consequence, many candidates were eliminated." Sounds like their definition of semifinalist was ambiguous.
10/11: I received the same email as 10/8b. Sounds like we're somewhere between the applicant pool and the semi-final round (a demi-semi-finalist?)
10/20: Originally told I might be a semi-finalist (what a thing to aspire to!), now told sorry I am indeed not.
Georgia State University - "Digital Music Technology"
3/24: Has anyone heard anything about the progress on this position?4/22: Nope!
Illinois Wesleyan
1/19: Those invited for phone interviews were supposed to be contacted last week - did anyone hear anything more than the form letter sent out in early January?1/20: One of my references was contacted today, though I was never invited for a phone interview
1/26: Invited, by phone, for a phone interview to happen next week
Indiana State University
7/8: I got an email on 7/5 asking for more materials. Was ISU put under "phone interviews" by mistake?7/8: No mistake, but maybe double-dipping. I received an e-mail asking for materials (a four-semester musicianship curriculum), as well as scheduling a phone interview for early next week.
7/8: Strange, I didn't get the phone interview scheduling question, just the four-semester curriculum.
7/9: A word of caution: not a professional work environment, especially for a music theorist. The current chair is a game player and has a bias against music theorists. She's a "composer."
7/14: Elaborate, please, 7/9, and give a few examples.
7/20: All cautions and elaborations aside, has anyone heard back from the phone interviews?
7/21: No, but they contacted one reference the same day (9 days ago)
Indiana Wesleyan U
1/19: Rejection e-mail says something like "even though you were not selected..." Does this mean they HAVE selected someone? I didn't want to move it all the way to "offer made". Anyone else hear anything?3/14: Search cancelled due to lack of funding. They intend to try again next year... (I contacted HR to check status.)
3/20: to the 3/14 poster - were you able to tell how far they got in the search? Did you have a phone interview? (I'm the 1/19 poster, wondering if I should apply next year...)
3/21: @3/20 - No, I hadn't heard anything since I submitted my application (and additional questions). I applied the day before they took the posting down, and when I didn't get the email you reported, I started to wonder if my app had gotten lost in the shuffle. Based on my experience following the job market for several years, I've decided not to draw any negative conclusions about my candidacy from a failed search. I'll improve my application materials and submit again next year - if they conduct another search.
Ithaca College
2/7: Has anyone heard anything?2/24: Yes; phone interviews 2/25 and 2/26
3/10: Any news? Phone interviews were two weeks ago.
3/22: Received an email this evening asking to schedule an on-campus interview.
Kenyon College
Has anyone heard anything about Kenyon College?1/31: Followup email (1/27) from the department's admin assistant asking for help tracking down a recommendation letter (which I did). Not exactly "news," but hey.
1.31 b: Good for you - I can't imagine they would have bothered to chase your letter if they weren't interested. Looks like a nice gig, at any rate.
1/31 (3): Or, they're being thorough and taking every candidate seriously. Three letters of reference were asked for up front. Many schools would simply can candidates with incomplete applications. 1/31 a should consider him or herself lucky.
1/31 (b2)@3: Do you mind? I'm trying to imbue every little bit of information with significance (not to mention crucial indication as to my and everyone else's future.) You're harshing my buzz. :]
1/31 (4): I just got an email requesting a phone interview.
2/10: Extra materials requested by email.
2/10 b: Can you divulge which materials were asked for?
2/11: Syllabi and work samples.
3/16: Has anyone heard anything?
Lawrence University
3/16: Applications were due in November. I'm curious if anyone's heard anything about what's going on there.3/20: Wow, Lawrence. Rejection letters that use not just Comic Sans but also Papyrus? Makes me glad I won't be working there. =)
3/21: 3/20: Which font and paper combination would you prefer for your rejection letters? Super serif Gothic on steel?
3/21: You mean Papyrus font, right 3/20? I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one who hates mixing fonts in the same document (and especially those two "little kid fonts." That's a hallmark of a letter that should have a lot of exclamation points. Does it? You know, things like "Thank you for applying for our position! Although you were not selected, we are very excited about the qualifications of the successful candidate! The decisions was very difficult! There were so many qualified applicants!"
3/22: Someone better tell Ian Bates not to accept his position unless his offer had Times Roman 12 pt. type. Or, maybe his eyes saw... dare I say it... more than one font!
3/23: For your reading pleasure: bancomicsans.com;
The Global Curse of Comic Sans
5/5: FWIW, don't judge a book by its cover...or an institution by the font of its rejection letter. I interviewed at the Lawrence Conservatory in the recent past and was completely impressed by the institution. Although I was not offered the position, I cannot say enough good things about the faculty, the sense of community, and the professionalism of my campus visit. Have we really been reduced to such sour grapes that we snipe about the font of our rejection letter?
5/9: Is that a rhetorical question?
5/15: I'll echo the 5/5 poster's comment above: I interviewed at Lawrence a few years back and found them to be very thorough, respectful, and completely professional. I was also highly impressed by both the quality of the faculty and the student body, as well as the extent to which the faculty invested itself in student learning and development. The faculty line I'd applied for got canceled in favor of post-doc positions that were initiated after the faculty search had commenced, but nevertheless I still hold these individuals and their institution in high regard.
Macalester College
11/12: I just received confirmation via e-mail this week that my materials were received. Was there a semi-finalist stage or did they jump right to campus interviews?11/14: There were phone interviews.
12/14: My rejection states: "Your file and letters of recommendation were placed in a group that was given an especially thorough discussion. Although you were considered a strong candidate, the position was ultimately filled by another applicant." Is this B.S. e.g. Did everyone else get this rejection?
12/14: R1: Yes. Amazing that both our dossiers received "thorough discussion." Who was hired? There was a potential inside candidate.
12/14: I also received the same email this morning. Maybe we made the very initial cut of apps, or they were just being nice to the candidates?
12/14: Yes, I got an email with the exact same wording. Maybe we're all the same HIGH quality of candidate? *blush*
12/14: Not the inside candidate. The one currently on campus that is.
1/10: Still no reveal?
1/31: Perhaps the winner's name will wind up on WikiLeaks. Shocked this hasn't come out yet...
2/1: This whole process definitely does feel like playing the lottery, winners and losers, spend a lot of money, only a tiny, select few will win.
2/1: The 'winner' of this position has been known since the end of November, but for some reason Macalester has not as of yet sent out their official notification. Oversight or just plain rude?
2/1: It often takes forever, so this is nothing new.
2/1 (4): Just a guess but they are probably waiting for official word to come back from their Board of Regents approving the hire.
2/1 (5): Why does this matter? I've applied to a couple hundred jobs in the last 5 years, and probably found out the name of the hired candidate via mail from the school in fewer than 20% of the cases. Unless Macalester has not even notified its semifinalists that the search was completed, I don't think they're doing anything rude.
2/2: It doesn't matter, since they have clearly notified people that the search is complete. I *was* a semi-finalist and got the same rejection as everyone else.
3/21: I don't think they're obligated to tell the world who they've hired. The only reason that it could matter is if the new hire is leaving a position elsewhere, and then another job would open up. And there are certainly any number of reasons why the new hire might ask for discretion.
Mars Hill College
3/6: Rejection received stating tha app materials will be kept on file in case they have to return to the applicant pool. Is this standard language? I guess I'll keep treading water . . .3/7: Also, received one the other day stating that they went with a candidate who "more nearly" matched something. Nice, huh?
McGill University
5/25: "McGill University (5/24) - Associate Professor of Composition" - anyone know where this posting appeared? I couldn't find it on McGill's Academic Job Postings page.5/25: I found it through the School of Music: http://www.mcgill.ca/music/faculty/academic-positions-available
McMaster University
11/8: Don't know the details of this job, but apparently McMaster is (going to be) looking for a theorist with a background in cognition. Unclear as to how much of a background they REALLY want. The position was announced at the Music Cog Interest Group meeting at the SMT conference last weekend. (Sounds like the provost has approved the position, and they're tweaking the official job ad.) I believe it's a tenure-track position. Can anyone confirm?11/23: Yes, this will definitely be a tenure-track position, and the official posting should be announced very soon.
11/29: The search is now "official," and details are available at http://www.mcmaster.ca/vpacademic/MusicTheoryandCognition.html. A core requirement of the job will be teaching either freshman or sophomore theory. Beyond that, the teaching requirements will be tailored to fit the background and interests of the successful candidate.
1/30: They are interested exclusively in music cognition people who can also teach theory. You will not likely get an interview if you do not fit this profile.
5/26: The position has now been filled.
Metropolitan State College of Denver
1/12: Where does it say that this job has been cancelled or suspended? It's still on the HR site of MCSD.1/12 to 1/12: In an email (you didn't get it?) on 1/11. Anyone else?
1/12b: No, I didn't actually apply yet due to the 2/1 deadline.
1/12c: I called the department and was told that the search was NOT cancelled. This job should go back to the "No updates" category.
1/12a again: Say what?!! And I quote: "The department and the search committee for the position of Music Tenure Track Faculty at Metropolitan State College of Denver has made the decision to close this search because departmental, school, or college needs or priorities have changed." I will certainly be calling them tomorrow to verify.
1/12d: Yes, you should do so. I spoke to the SC chair on the phone about this. He's the one who told me it's not cancelled. He said he'd like to see the email, so maybe you should forward it to him.
1/13: I just spoke with MSCD. Apparently a computer glitch (you gotta love this) sent messages out to all us folks who had applied previously that the search had been cancelled...
1/13: I applied, but didn't get the e-mail. I just logged on to double-check my e-mail address on the application, fearing a typo, but all was well. Sounds like a selective glitch.
1/13: Yes, as I said above the message was sent to those of us who had applied in 2009 when the search was indeed cancelled.
1/13: I don't think the first 1/13 comment was clear in that it was to applicants from a previous year.
1/13: Since it seems apparent that the e-mail was indeed a glitch, I've moved this to institution-specific discussions
4/3: Any word since the very brief phone interviews back in Feb.?
New Jersey City University
12/11: I was wondering if anybody else emailed this application instead of mailing a hard copy, as it said you could do in the announcement. If so, was the email application acknowledged, and how? Would it be better to also send a hard copy (belt-and-suspenders fashion)?3/10: Has anyone heard anything about this position? We're going on three months without a sound.
5/2: Has this job been cancelled? Deadline was 12/15.
6/5: Received a letter yesterday saying that "for administrative reasons, the current search has been terminated."
Oberlin College Conservatory
2/20: Oberlin had a job opening this year. Was it never listed on this page? Was it removed? Can anyone comment on the status of the search?2/21: To my knowledge the job was never listed on this wiki site. I received an acknowledgement of my application, but haven't heard anything since. I suspect there was an inside candidate, but I'm not really sure. Anyone else?
2/21 (2): Uh oh, not Oberlin again (see discussion from last year). Was this job for composition or theory?
3/8: It was a theory job.
3/9: Marginally less dysfunction than the composition department.
Oklahoma Baptist University
2/28: Short listed candidates were calledOklahoma City University
1/27: Requested permission to contact references after phone interview (by email today)2/9: On-campus interview requested by phone yesterday (2/8/11)
Peabody Conservatory
1/10: Any information regarding when candidates for phone interviews were contacted and when the interviews were scheduled for?1/13: Contacted the first week of January, interview the same week.
3/2: I've heard that they only hire their own grads; the department sure seems full of them. True, or just coincidence?
3/3: @3/2, that's easily fact-checked. Go to their department website. They list 8 people as "Music Theory Faculty." Of the 8, 4 have no Peabody degree, 3 have doctorates from Peabody (and one of those has a second doctorate) and 1 has a master's from Peabody.
4/2: Did this position go to Joel Puckett (already on the faculty) or is this a hire of another body?
5/7: This position went to Joel Puckett, who was not tenure track before.
Seton Hall University
2/14: Received application acknowledgement letter dated 2/9. (Note: This position is still not listed on their HR webpage.)3/17: When were candidates contacted about phone interviews? When were they scheduled for?
Shenandoah Conservatory
2/7: Anyone have more info on the move to "offer made"? I was a finalist for the job, haven't heard anything yet, and just had a reference contacted about me this past Friday.2/28: Offer accepted.
SUNY Potsdam
3/26: phone interviews took place in mid-February and then not a peep. Has anyone heard anything?4/18: did this search get canceled?
4/27: Offer accepted
Trinity University (Texas)
1/19/11: Has anyone heard anything about Trinity? I submitted additional information and haven't heard anything else since their request for that information. Have they moved on?yes, they are already conducting on-site interviews now.
Union University
2/7: Had an interview with them, have heard nothing else. Anyone else?2/8: I had a phone interview with them one of the previous years they had this opening, and never heard from them again until a rejection letter a month or two later. Of course, things might be different if there's a different search chair, etc. They may be going with the inside candidate.
UC Irvine
1/27: Does anyone heard anything about the composer/improviser position?Offer made early Feb.
2/25: That happened fast (saw this update a couple weeks ago I think). Given the specific job description, was the opening for an inside candidate?
Seems they were looking for both a composer and improviser.
4/7 Based on what?
4/8 Well, for starters it was in the job description. (x2)
4/11 But was it an inside candidate?
4/11 This has been updated several times recently with information occasionally removed. It seems that someone doesn't want us to know about a possible inside candidacy *grin*.
4/14 UCI invited finalists for on campus interviews. If you would even bother to look at the faculty bios in the music department at UCI - you will quickly realize that none of the other professors outside of the core composition faculty match the job description. Also - do not delete other people's comments.
4/14 Agree with above about deleting comments. Regardless of whether the candidate was internal or not, it doesn't help to do delete things.
4/14 Don't know the details about this search, but internal candidates are not uncommon. Just look at some of the offers made so far this year. I see no reason to doubt that the offer went to an internal candidate.
4/14 Whenever these gripes about internal candidates come up (regardless of the UCI situation), it's worth remembering that it's not like an "internal" candidate was born on the campus and often got that status through an earlier competitive process.
4/15 So was an offer made in February or are candidates being interviewed now? (given the January application deadline, if an offer was made in February that does suggest an expedited search process)
4/16 Finalists are indeed being interviewed right now. (I suspect that some person will delete this comment, as s/he has done several times already, to erroneously show that the offer was made in February.)
4/16 To the above poster, and simply put: why do you care? Why is it in your personal interest to keep insisting that the search is currently under way?
4/17 Ouch! Strong words but interesting point. Maybe a cover-up?
4/17 I can speak to this: I was a member of an SC a couple years ago, and for some reason someone kept posting erroneous info about the status of our search. My guess is that 4/16 (1) is probably on the UCI committee and is just getting irritated at the posting of misinformation and the deleting of the truth. It's probably not a cover-up (which would be silly given that the result of this search will end up being public) as much as a simple desire for correct information.
4/18: Could there be confusion about which position is being discussed? Do I remember correctly that Irvine had posted an adjunct opening as well as the TT Composer/Improviser position?
4/18 (2): seems pretty simple: wait a month or two... if it's John Crooks we'll know it was an inside hire. I don't know why it would matter much as he seems immanently qualified, btw.
4/25: Offer accepted.
University of Hawaii, Manoa
Has anyone heard anything from University of Hawaii? How far has their search been going to?what is the matter?
2/28: It was moved to "onsite interviews." Did they skip the phone interview stage?
3/3: Phone interviews were in December. Campus interviews have been taking place recently.
4/12: any updates? Has UH hired someone?
4/29: Received a letter in the mail today the search had been cancelled
University of Illinois, Chicago
Does anyone know if a "clinical assistant professor" is a tenure track rank?Also, any idea which materials are needed in addition to cover letter and c.v.? the website does not indicate this.
3/11 Clinical Ranks are not tenure track. They are typically a full time non-tenure track assistant professor position where your load is 100% teaching.
University of Iowa
01/07: Writing sample requested via email (anyone else get this?)01/07: Yes, I got this email today as well.
2/28: Just curious if anyone's heard anything. Additional materials were requested almost 2 months ago now.
3/2: Received emailed request yesterday for a phone interview to take place next week.
University of Mary Washington
12/6: Has anyone heard anything about this job or received acknowledgment of their application? Anyone do an interview at the SMT conference?12/7: I did a 10-minute interview at SMT, but have heard nothing since. I believe this will be the last open SMT interview I choose to do!
12/7: Why?
12/9: I also did a SMT interview and haven't heard anything. I felt like I had a good experience and I'm curious why the other poster isn't going to do another open interview.
12/10: I am the other poster. I really didn't intend to stir up a big controversy about SMT interviews. I just feel like I'm not able to make a great impression in 10 minutes
and, in all cases, felt like I *hurt* my cause by doing so. And, this isn't coming from someone who is an introvert in general; rather I'm quite charming if given even an hour!
12/10: I'm butting in here, but I totally feel the same way about the 10 minutes, I always walk out feeling like I'd have been better off not doing it at all.
12/12: That's interesting. I'm the opposite I feel like I do much better in person then I look on paper. I did an interview at SMT with them and felt really good about it. Of course I haven't heard anything from them so maybe I didn't do as well as I thought.
12/12: I helped conduct the SMT interviews. I can't comment on the status of the search, but I can say (at least from my perspective) that no one hurt their candidacy through our speed-date interviews. Honestly, I think it's difficult to do much damage in ten minutes or less when we're seeing a number of candidates. But it IS possible to distinguish yourself in positive ways that we will remember.
1/3: Has anyone heard anything about this search moving forward, either first or second hand? I know they started reviewing apps in Nov. so I'm wondering if I should give up all hope on this one as well.
1/24: So no news?
3/16: Did they make an offer? They disappeared from the wiki.
3/17: Changed the status a few days ago to reflect that an offer was made and accepted, but it was quickly changed back....
University of Massachusetts/Amherst
10/31: References being contacted. Short list of interviewees to be established by or just after SMT meeting.1/27 Offer accepted; position closed
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
11/26: References being contacted.1/6: Has anyone who had a phone interview heard anything?
1/7: I have not heard anything since my phone interview several weeks ago.
1/14: Onsite interviews have been scheduled for later this month and into next month.
2/7 (1): This job has been reposted on HigherEdJobs. It doesn't look to be an HR error, since there's a clear statement saying "Job originally posted on 7/30/10" or something like that. Any idea?
2/7 (2): I know that they are in the middle of on-site interviews, with at least one candidate yet to complete his/her interview. It would seem odd for them to repost the job description at this stage in the process, if it is not some kind of error.
2/16: With University-wide budget cuts announced yesterday, I wonder if they will cancel the search...
2/17: Possible bankruptcy/exigency (firing tenured faculty and eliminating entire departments). $2.3 million cut, College of Fine Arts alone. http://www.lvrj.com/news/unlv-faculty-warned-university-system-may-be-forced-to-declare-bankruptcy-116279269.html
2/17: Holy Toledo I'm sure glad I applied TWICE for this position.
3/16: With the big budget cut does anyone know if this search was cancelled?
3/17: I had an on-site interview over a month and a half ago and have not heard from them since. That could mean anything, though I would actually be a little surprised if the search wasn't canceled. It's better for me to think that way, at least. Who knows.
3/25 Music Dept. will be spared from cuts. Offer made and accepted.
University of New Mexico
10/26: Do they always have something open here? They just had a theory/comp search last year, and musicology, I think. And now they're hiring another theorist. It's great, don't get me wrong. But I'm curious if anyone knows anything about this opening. Is it a replacement? Or a new TT line? They've got a research specialty in mind, it seems. Any ideas?2/6: I'm wondering the same questions. It seems like this comes up every year. Any information or speculation here?
2/25 Any news?
University of North Carolina
10/26: Does anyone else think this job should be in the "theory only" category? Seems to be an aural skills gig, which I would certainly consider "theory." (If we want to keep it in "Theory/Etc" should we, then, move the U Mass and Western Carolina jobs down there as well?)10/26: I made a new category for them. Does this look any better? Is it too spaced out now?
10/27: I like the "Mainly Aural Skills" category. I vote we keep it.
11/8: Also, like!
2/3: What is going on with this search? Inquiring minds would like to know...
2/4: Looks like it's at the on-campus interview stage.
University of Northern Colorado
01/14: Writing sample requested via email02/21: On campus interview scheduled early March
University of Oklahoma
4/4: Where is this posted? I can't find it on their HR site.4/5: Nor is it posted on the school of music's site. Any idea?
4/5: Message was sent on SMT-announce. Application deadline is April 14. Send cover letter, CV, and three letters of recommendation to Sarah Reichardt, Chair, Music Theory Search Committee, University of Oklahoma School of Music, 500 West Boyd, Room 138, Norman, OK 73019.
4/27: Anyone contacted about additional materials?
4/29: Video of teaching requested from semifinalists last week.
University of South Dakota
6/4: Just out of curiosity, how were you contacted about the on-site interview? Phone or email?6/28: I got a phone call
University of Texas, Brownsville
7/10: Didn't they have a TT theory search last year? Is the department really growing that much?7/14: Has anyone heard back from last week's phone interviews?
Wesleyan University
Has anyone received acknowledgment of their application? This seems like a pretty sweet position. Is somebody retiring?12/8 I got a request to upload an audio file about November 18 or so. Was that a standard request, or does that count for something?
12/8: The position is replacing Alvin Lucier, who is retiring. But they seem to be looking for a junior faculty member to replace him, not a "name" composer. Every applicant received the request for a recording, a 15-minute mp3 containing excerpts.
12/14: I didn't get a request to upload mp3s. I guess it means you got to the next level!
12/15: So... we have a definite "yes" vote for significance of mp3 upload, and a definite "no". Any tie breakers?
12/15: For the person who wrote in 12/14, you should definitely contact them. The mp3 upload was meant to be part of your initial application... I got a perfunctory email from an administrative assistant with the URL for upload. It was only 2 days after the deadline and I am quite sure they had not been through all the applications yet! They must have gotten a ton. I think it's possible that they'll hire a name composer... you don't need a PhD or even an MFA to apply.
12/15: I'm the first 12/8 comment. Sadly, your take sounds mighty convincing... I am overdoing the lurking on this page, me thinks.
1/3: Phone interviews.
West Liberty University
4/2: Had phone interview first week of February and no word. I assume I'm out by now, but does anyone know what's going on with this search?4/2: I also interviewed back in February and have heard nothing.
Wichita State University
3/29 Does anyone know where they are in the search process?3/30 I got an email on Thursday (the 24th) requesting some clarification about when I would defend. I was told they would be deliberating the following day, but haven't heard anything since.
4/4 Received an email today notifying me I was a semi-finalist and requested a Skype interview for Thursday.
4/26 Has anyone done an interview yet?
Williams College
4/11 Has anyone heard anything from them? I'm wondering what their hiring schedule is.[College of] Wooster
3/4: WTF?! I received an "affirmative action" form today and a few hours later the job is placed in the "onsite interview category??3/5: One limb knoweth not what the others are doing...or when. Maybe, as someone intimated above, some schools might want to check out this wiki site to keep tabs on their own departments!
3/6: The affirmative action forms are generally sent out by the college/university's HR departments and have nothing to do with the hiring/selection process. It's not that they're not communicating with one another, it's that the college/university is the unit interested in the statistics from the AA forms. Since those have nothing to do with the hiring process, it doesn't matter when they get sent out.
3/7: Um, (3/6) if they have nothing to do with the hiring process then why do some schools actually have hiring goals directly calling for increases in faculty minority, etc. presence? I don't think the HR department is merely collecting statistics with no practical purpose. Are they allowed to directly insert themselves into the hiring process? Probably not. But, let's not assume that there aren't all sorts of indirect ways in which the AA forms (or the kinds of information they collect) do in fact have something to do with the hiring process. I have taught for several colleges that, when making a new hire, looked around at the mostly male departments and said "we've got to hire a woman next" or "we really should hire a woman next."
3/7(2): Um, Google will typically get a committee all the superficial demographic information it needs without bothering the HR department. 3/6 is correct that HR collects the data for statistical reports, not for influencing the hiring process.
3/7(3): I'm the poster from 3/6, responding to 3/7 (1) ... committees may have hiring goals, but the HR department and the affirmative action cards are really completely separate from that. Most of the diversity language in a job announcement is boilerplate HR stuff that universities are required to put in any and all job announcements. Committees may look around and say, "Gee, we need to hire a woman," but the HR department is not going to insert themselves into a search. I've been on searches where there is a member of the search committee who is designated as the AA 'representative' - that is, they will point out that there are only X women on the long list or that person Y is a member of a minority group that is under-represented - but even they have no power to require the committee to change anything on the list; they just document the reasons why those candidates weren't selected in case there's any questions further down the road. (Then again, I've also been on committees where we shortlisted three women for a job, and the AA person wondered if it would look unusual that we had done so, given the normal distribution of the field and the ratio of male to female applicants!) Honestly - the HR AA forms have absolutely nothing to do with the committee's hiring process.
3/8: HR usually has nothing to do with either the hiring process or the search committee's timeframe, but they should consider that the response rate from a pool of hopeful applicants will be much greater than that from a pool of disgruntled rejectees.