<p>In the field of music which is more useful. Also, is it true that if your admitted as a PhD student that after a few years you will earn a masters anyway? If so can you simply cease your PhD education after getting the Masters?</p>
<p>This is hard to answer objectively. Keep in mind that the PhD is terminal degree while the MM is not. So really, the counterpart to the PhD is not an MM, but rather a DMA. Similarly, the counterpart to the MM is the MA.</p>
<p>In your query about being "more useful", I would be inclined to think the more advanced degree, the more useful. Perhaps what you meant to ask was, "Which is more useful, the PhD or the DMA?"</p>
<p>PhD's are usually only given to fields such as musicology, history, theory, ethnomusicology, and similar research based fields. The DMA is generally for performance, composition, and the such.</p>
<p>About your other question - traditionally, one would get a bachelors, then go on for a masters, then finally get a doctorate. However, some schools do indeed have graduate programs like the scenario you mention, where you apply directly for a doctorate immediately after getting a bachelor's. Columbia and Northwestern are two that I know of. You can think of the masters degree as something you pick up "on the way" to your doctorate. I suspect that each individual case is different, and I'm not sure if these institutions frown upon applicants who enter the 4 year doctorate program with the intention of leaving after obtaining a masters.</p>
<p>Performance work beyond the masters tends to be in the Artist's Diploma, Graduate Professional degree areas which are two to three year high level performance specific study; can be seen as a step below a DMA, but often as intense and sufficient for active performers finely honing a specific facet of their craft. </p>
<p>The academic disciplines of theory, musicology, music education often will terminate in the PhD, but may vary if there is a strong cross discipline, and the end goal.</p>
<p>It depends on short and long term focus, interest and projected career path and goals.</p>
<p>A Ph D (or any other degree) doesn't do you a whit of good if you want to be a performer. A performer who has it probably got it "incidentally" while pursuing deeper knowledge and skill on his instrument. </p>
<p>Advanced degrees are useful for teaching. Conservatories don't necessarily require them, but regular colleges and universities often do.</p>
<p>MM = performance degree; the terminal degree in performance is a DMA.
PhD = academic degree, e.g., music history, music theory, ethnomusicology. As a general rule, the top programs accept only for the PhD; you get an MA and sometimes an MPhil and/or DPhil (pre-dissertation), along the way.<br>
DMA degrees can lead to academic jobs, particularly in historical performance. MM degrees can lead to performance jobs at a college.</p>
<p>When applying to graduate programs in the sciences and humanities, you generally apply to the PhD program, and eventually receive and MA or MS along the way. DMA programs do NOT work this way; you must already have (or be completing) an MM to be eligible to apply in almost every case. Moreover, admission to an MM program has little or no bearing on your eligibility for doctoral study at the same institution.</p>
<p>I think in many ways, the Master's degree is really a continuation of undergraduate studies with increased specialty and intensity. The PhD is primarily a research degree, focused on a dissertation. The DMA is based around a final project, like a composition portfolio or a final concert (I believe.) Certain people are great at learning information, but cannot produce an original idea in the fields they're interested in. Others are great at writing articles on entirely new ideas; they are more suited for PhD's, I suppose.</p>