<p>I don't know if this will work or not but here goes: What is the best route/action plan for a music performance major to achieve a College Administration Level Career? Preferably in Admissions or Dean of a school of music. What are some of the prerequisites-MBA, research, publishings, etc....?</p>
<p>Hmm... I know several music college administrators. All have Ph.Ds in music (and all also had Bachelor and masters degrees as well). In all cases they were on the faculty of several colleges in varying capacities (e.g. lecturer, associate professor, assistant professor, professor). All are well published and speak at professional music conferences multiple times during the year. Two I know also published texts in their disciplines. I know of one person who is the head of a conservatory who has his PhD and also has an extensive performing career resume as well.</p>
<p>Thanks-thumper. Did their degrees come from the same university or different ones? Were these administrators published/speakers prior to their current position or did they use these opportunities as stepping stones? What were their degrees in? Were their undergraduate degrees in performance and MBA/doctorate in administration? I understand that choral conducting is a good avenue to take!</p>
<p>I found this except in the Juilliard online journal that gives the background of the former Juilliard dean, FWIW:</p>
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[quote]
Stephen Clapp, who steps down as The Juilliard School’s dean at the end of this academic year after 13 years in the position, first came to Juilliard in 1961 as a master’s degree student of the renowned violin teacher Dorothy DeLay, after receiving a bachelor’s degree from the Oberlin Conservatory. Upon earning his master’s in 1965, he pursued a successful career as a chamber musician (he is a founding member of the Oberlin Trio and a former member of the Beaux-Arts and Blair String Quartets), an orchestral player, and teacher (he taught violin at Oberlin from 1978-90) before returning to Juilliard in 1987 as a member of the violin faculty.
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<p>Did their degrees come from the same university or different ones?</p>
<p>Every person I know attended at least two different universities. </p>
<p>Were these administrators published/speakers prior to their current position or did they use these opportunities as stepping stones? </p>
<p>All were published BEFORE they became music administrators.</p>
<p>What were their degrees in? </p>
<p>A variety of things....performance, music education, one had a bachelors in math with advanced degrees in music related fields. </p>
<p>Were their undergraduate degrees in performance and MBA/doctorate in administration? </p>
<p>Only one of the folks I know has a degree in administration. Their music degree concentrations varied...some at the bachelors level, some at the masters.</p>
<p>I understand that choral conducting is a good avenue to take! </p>
<p>I would think this is true only if you become a successful conductor. But that is only my guess. A degree in choral conducting with no proven track record as a leader is NOT (IMHO) going to get you a music adminstration job.</p>
<p>For a terminal degree such as Phd or a GPD beyond a Masters, I'd say that in almost all cases I've seen that undergrad, masters and terminal degress come from at least two, if not three different institutions.</p>
<p>Track records and credentials are established through holding similar lower level administrative positions within departments, disciplines, schools... example, chair of strings at College A, then Director Instrumental Studies College B, maybe Dean of Music College University C and so forth.</p>
<p>Like any appointment, a high level position at a major college/conservatory is going to be based on many factors: education, contibutions to the field, recognition within the professional organizations, and a proven history of accomplishment in positions of increased responsibility.</p>
<p>Google some names. David Cerone (CIM), Malcolm Morrison, (Hartt) and others at the major music schools will give you a great cross section of the varied backgrounds of high level administrators.</p>
<p>It takes years.</p>
<p>Now, that being said, if admission head/dean status is your ultimate career goal, and you know that from starting as an undergrad, it might make sense to get one of the degrees in the management disciplines and plan accordingly.</p>
<p>Administrative opportunities within academia tend to come as a result of being recognized for organization, fairness, reliability, rationality, professional stature, etc., and one is typically "tapped" for the position. Occasionally an opening will arise within a department or school for an assistant dean, and faculty members can certainly apply, but chances are the dean already knows who he wants and why. Typically an emerging dean will have served as chair of his department (performance area) and will have some visibility in all campus committee work. So, if this is a goal, keep your reputation for all of these things intact and constant. Good luck.</p>
<p>An additional observation: while not impossible, it is difficult for performance faculty to make the decision to move to the administrative ranks. Time for ones own practice will be limited, and keeping a studio intact is very difficulty. If the faculty member is the only teacher of the instrument, that means someone new will need to be hired, and ones identity within the faculty becomes difused. It is more likely that an academic musician can rearrange the schedule, teach fewer sections, etc., and conductors come into the job with special talents of coordinating the artistry and contributions of the individuals for the common good of the whole.</p>
<p>The current deans of the conservatories at Juilliard, Oberlin, Peabody and UNT are all Oberlin grads.</p>
<p>Actually, the Oberlin grad (mentioned in my previous post) has retired from Juilliard. Here is his replacement. (Interesting aside - he apparently has only a Bachelor's degree.)</p>
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Ara Guzelimian, senior director and artistic advisor at Carnegie Hall, will become dean of the Juilliard School in July 2007......</p>
<p>Guzelimian, 52, was born in Cairo, Egypt and grew up in Los Angeles. He holds a bachelor's degree in music history from UCLA. He has been senior director and artistic advisor of Carnegie Hall since September 1998...</p>
<p>Before coming to Carnegie Hall, Guzeliman was the artistic administrator of the Aspen Music Festival and School in Colorado and artistic director of the Ojai Festival in California. Before that, he worked for fifteen years as an administrator and radio producer for the Los Angeles Philharmonic.
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<p>Yes he has "only" a bachelors degree but look at that experience!! Wow.</p>
<p>In thinking this over,it seems the music school administrators (top level) I’ve encountered over the years seem to come from the ensemble/bands side of the faculty rather than individual instrument or voice studio faculty. Some assistant/associate deans have been from the music history side as well.</p>
<p>Thanks all-some helpful insight</p>
<p>Although I was not a music major, I have been both a college Dean and Associate Provost. I have a MA in Education and a lot of business experience. Just having a doctorate and being a Dean does not mean one is competent! </p>
<p>I would suggest a doctorate in music AND business experience. Once you has the job, have the college pay for the MBA. Have it written to the contract.</p>
<p>Warning, it is a pretty thankless job sometimes. Fighting with faculty, students and alumni can get old pretty quick. Try mispronouncing the last name of a popular student at graduation sometime. Yikes.</p>
<p>On the other hand, it can be fun. I enjoy soliciting for money. Oh, stay away from admissions. Trust me on that!</p>