DMA programs

[dizforprez]

what is the general consensus on what it takes to get into a DMA program for trumpet?

[davidjohnson]

check the school catalogues for specifics, other than that it's $ & time. what do you wish to use the degree for?

dj

[dizforprez]

I am hoping that someone on the board has a DMA and can give more info beyond what rep. is needed.

basicly how well do you need to play in order to really go after those spots and get TA's and such..

thanks....

[dbacon]

Hi diz,

When I did my grad work I spent time at the school I was interested in, took a couple of private lessons from the guy and hung out with a couple of the T.A.'s. This helped me know if I wanted to work there for the next two years and also gave a small window for the prof to know if I could play. Still had to formally audition. Duets with one of the other grad students let me know where I stood, and checking out a rehearsal or two did not hurt either. That was the late 70's, but I think a similar process might still work. I know some of the grad students here at Arizona State University (Dave Hickman students), and you'd need to have an "A" game as a legit player.

[Trptmaster]

Always bring your A game!

TM

[dizforprez]

still working on the A game thing....but thanks for the rest of the info,

[Nonsense Eliminator]

How well you need to play depends on where you're auditioning and what program you're looking at. Some schools have programs in both performance and in pedagogy, and in some cases there are different admission standards. But the biggest difference is between schools. Getting into one of the big-time schools is usually going to require that you are pretty close to a professional level. Farther down the food chain, it gets significantly easier. There are schools where you can get a DMA where the trumpet teacher doesn't play well enough to get into the DMA programs at the major schools.

[davidjohnson]

diz:

what degrees do you already have? it might help to know where they are from.

dj

[dizforprez]

NE are you saying that if I couldnt get a DMA from a top school it wouldnt be worth it?

My goal is to be able to teach at a college....with that in mind any more thoughts....

[dbacon]

You don't want to wait too long to get out and teach at the college level. If you are late 20's, early thirties and getting in a couple of years teaching at the college level that's about right. 35 to 40 and it's almost too late. Entry level needs to be sooner rather than later to move up the food chain.

[diggindiz]

IMHO it almost doesn't matter where you go for undergrad as long as you get a good experience and develop your playing and other skills.

On the other hand, it is crucial that you get your terminal degree from someplace that has a reputation and will set you up with a network and letters of recommendation from well-known and influential teachers. This probably means that you want to go one of the top 10 or 15 schools for your graduate study.

Also, I agree with dbacon that you want to get involved with university teaching and begin to acquire some experience at that level before you hit 40. This could simply be part-time work, community college teaching, or covering someone's leave of absence for a temporary period.

The only exception to this rule of thumb would be if you spend the first part of your career actually working (at a high level) in the field where you eventually hope to be teaching at the university level. For example, if you want to be a college trumpet teacher it is alright to postpone your involvement in academia for a few years while you get experience playing professionally in an orchestra. If you hope to teach college music education it would be good to have a number of years as a high school teacher first.

[dizforprez]

I was thinking about going out for the air force....

do you guys think that would help me out? or is it not worth it?

[Mikey]

If I was young enough, I would be in one of the military bands. When I got out of high school way back in 1977, Viet Nam was too fresh in our minds, and it was not ''cool" to be in a military band. Oh, how I wish I would have listened to my Uncle (he was a trumpet player in the Army band in the 1950's). He wanted me to join the military and I did not. Since the cut-off seems to be around 34 years of age for most service bands, you can't wait too long. Think about it: Full pension, medical paid, good salary and no expenses, to play your horn, travel all over the world, and get paid for it!

Sure, there is always the chance you would get called to combat duty (except for the Marine band), but then you would have the chance to pop some of Saddam's goons.......... :-)

If i could do it all over again, I would have enlisted. At least with the military bands, you don't hear them being in financial trouble like many symphony orchestras these days...........


And it will look great on your resume if you do decide to get out after your enlistment is up.

Go for it, and good luck.

Mike

[robertwhite]

I'm nearly done with my DM from Indiana. I loved studying there, and have benefited from being plugged into a lucrative freelance network in Indianapolis. I have no doubt that Indiana University's profile helped me get my current job at Indiana State.

That being said, the DM program at IU is hard. Hard to get into, hard to finish, and hard to cope with! Academically, it is MUCH more challenging than most other schools I've investigated. I was lucky enough to have an assistantship there held over from my Master's degree study. Otherwise, I probably would have tried to go somewhere less academically demanding.

I think if I had it to do over again, I'd seriously look at Arizona State. David Hickman seems to be very active with placing his top graduates and helping them discover interesting, relevant dissertation topics! For trumpet study, though, I'd reccomend John Rommel to absolutely anybody.

Bob