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[kweary]

Hello fellow forumites...

Question for you.  I am wanting to start my doctorate as soon as possible, and have the opportunity to start at a school that isn't my first choice, but is geographically close to where I work, so I wouldn't have to leave my job as I could take classes part time.  The other option is waiting a few years and then leaving my job and being a FT student.  This doctorate would be in music performance (conducting). 

I am not sure of what to do.  I would like to move into higher education when I am finished with my doctorate, but, I feel like I should be working on it now (I will be 29 this year) so I can move into teaching at the collegiate level sooner...

Any fellow conductors out there?

[txgalprof]

I'm not in music, but I'll weigh in with my 2 cents.

I did my PhD full-time, with a (generous) graduate assistant stipend. In retrospect, those were the best years of my life. I learned alot- and not from classes or work, but from being a part of the department on a full-time basis. It was the incidental moments that taught me what it is like to be a part of academia, what the expectations are for professors, and the "teachable moments" from my mentors and other faculty members.

At the university where I currently teach, I am the exception, many of my colleagues either went to school part time or online. They did not receive the mentorship that I got in my program, and thus, they don't understand what is expected of them from journal editors, grant proposals, etc, etc, etc.

It is unfortunate really, and I feel bad for the bright and intelligent people who really didn't get their money's worth from their education.

I advise everyone to go ahead and take the plunge, wait a while if you have to, and do the PhD thing full time.

[brixton]

Chime to the previous post.  Also, conducting/music performance is competitive ( as are most jobs in higher ed.). You need to go to the absolute best school you can get into -- however that is defined by your profession.

[pageturning]

I am not a conductor and am no longer in the music performance side of things. Based on observations from when I was in grad school for music, though...

1) a lot of people start their DMA way older that you are. And this might just be where I went to school- I get the sense that performance majors tends to "go straight through" and finish at 27 much more often than conductors or music ed. people.

2) In terms of your choices, I think it depends almost entirely on what kind of job you have now and what opportunities are around you. If you are currently conducting a youth orchestra, then I would stay where you are, and keep that gig. If you are a computer programmer than I agree that you should take full plunge. My experience/observation in the music world is that meaningful connection weighs more than pedigree. If you stay around to build a conducting reputation, area schools will find you and you will have a better job prospect.

[totoro]

Hello fellow forumites...

Question for you.  I am wanting to start my doctorate as soon as possible, and have the opportunity to start at a school that isn't my first choice, but is geographically close to where I work, so I wouldn't have to leave my job as I could take classes part time.  The other option is waiting a few years and then leaving my job and being a FT student.  This doctorate would be in music performance (conducting). 

I am not sure of what to do.  I would like to move into higher education when I am finished with my doctorate, but, I feel like I should be working on it now (I will be 29 this year) so I can move into teaching at the collegiate level sooner...

Any fellow conductors out there?

Why not start taking classes part time and see how it goes? You could potentially transfer later if you really wanted to. I'm thinking this field may be one that is over-supplied?

[tt_wannabe]

It seems likely that whatever you do, you're going to need letters of recommendation (LORs). The people that would be writing them for you (the academics, if any) what do they say about your choices to go part time or go full time?

[kweary]

Everyone - Thanks for all of the help.  I know, it's hard when it's not your discipline and each area is different.

@tt_wannabe: One of my recommenders said I'd be okay doing part-time (as I teach at a Performing Arts High School), the others said I should wait and go back full time.

@totoro: That is one option that I was thinking about doing.  Although, I'm not sure if the one school will accept any transfer credits. I do have options for professional growth where I am. My choirs are singing at Regional Conferences as well as performing at large venues such as Carnegie Hall. 

Thanks!