Is a DMA for You?

BY JOANIE BRITTINGHAM

Three singers who hold a doctorate of musical arts discuss the benefits, misperceptions, and challenges surrounding this degree.

here have been troubling articles Century: Special Report, last published There are not a limitless number of over the last several years about in 2006, 20 percent of terminal degrees positions teaching voice, opera, and T the employability of someone are conferred in the humanities, which choir at the college level. According to with a doctoral degree—and even more encompasses the arts, English, literature, the Bureau of Labor Statistics, musicians, troubling articles on the decrease in and some education programs. These including singers, earn a median of full-time, tenured positions at colleges in were broken down only in an appendix, $40,320 per year, while post-secondary nearly every field. Increased reliance on which showed that between 1920 and arts educators earn a median of $64,300. adjunct professors who do not receive 1999, more doctorates were conferred The Chronicle of Higher Education benefits combined with the possibility in music than in any of the other arts. To releases statistics of tenure and tenure- for crippling student loan debt is enough give a specific comparison: between 1960 track positions each year, and teachers to make anyone approaching the pursuit and 1964, 518 music doctorates were in the visual and performing arts with of a terminal degree think twice. Why conferred, while 3,602 were conferred a doctorate earn more—over $9,000 pursue further study if it leaves one between 1995 and 1999. more—than those with only a master’s. underemployed or unemployed? Is a Most post-secondary jobs in music now Anyone passionate about the arts can doctorate of musical arts worth it? require a DMA or that the candidate be argue that the money doesn’t matter, For some singers, a DMA is seen as a ABD (All But Dissertation, meaning that but there is more to it than the numbers safety net for a stalled career. The field all doctoral coursework is complete and found in the charts on the BLS website. of teaching singing, however, is every only the dissertation remains to have the While these statistics can be sobering, it bit as competitive as performing, and degree conferred)—though some require can be valuable and rewarding to obtain students must be realistic about the job a master’s and “requisite performing the degree and can also help with making market upon completion of their degree. experience.” Even some adjunct positions a candidate marketable for more teaching According to the National Science are looking for candidates with terminal positions as well as for positions at a Foundation’s U.S. Doctorates in the 20th degrees. higher pay grade.

“The idea that you teach only because you can’t really sing is incredibly present . . although I enjoy research and teaching, my field is vocal performance.”

Kirsten C. Kunkle

56 Classical Singer / September 2015 Is a DMA for You?

“It’s all about that first job—then you’re up and running! . . . My advice for young professors is that they should send out as many applications as possible and be willing to move anywhere. Literally.” Mathew Hoch Matthew Hoch, associate professor As you can see simply from the pursuit he adds. “I took a church job and was of voice and coordinator of the Voice of the degree, the level of dedication an adjunct instructor at three different Area at Auburn University, earned his and time commitment it takes to universities, which wound up being DMA at the New England Conservatory complete this level of study is a serious essential experience when I entered the in 2006 and recently completed his tenth undertaking. Major considerations for job market.” year of full-time college-level teaching. those contemplating doctoral studies Kunkle began her DMA at a young He spent only two years as a full-time include tuition, stipends, and health age—immediately after her master’s— doctoral student, taking overloads and insurance during this time of intense and while she did not receive tuition finishing his residency early—including study and the additional work of assistance or a fellowship, she was three degree-required recitals—while at singing. able to remain under her parents’ the same time working as an adjunct, Hoch noted that everyone in the health insurance. Hendrix got a large teaching as a fellow at NEC, and working DMA program at NEC received some scholarship, leaving a little left over a church job. He completed his comps kind of scholarship. “But I also had to after tuition. Because she did not have and dissertation while working at his first work a lot in order to afford to live,” duties associated with her award, she university position. Kirsten C. Kunkle, winner of the PA District NATSAA competition, first- place winner of the American Protégé International Vocal Competition, has sung at Carnegie Hall and Opera Lancaster and has taught at the Lincoln University and Shorter College, among others. She earned her DMA from the University of in 2007. During her studies, she was singing at various companies, had a church job, and was substitute teaching on the days where she did not have classes. Suzanne Hendrix, whose singing credits include and the Wiener Staatsoper, and has won the Kirsten Flagstad Award and Wagner Prize offered by the George London Foundation, completed her DMA from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory. She completed her degree after three years of coursework, and an additional year because she postponed her comps for an audition at the . While she pursued her degree, she was an adjunct at a small college and sang in the chorus at the Lyric Opera of Kansas City.

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“As a young dramatic soprano, my voice did not really start to fully develop till I was 30, which was about four years after I finished my doctorate . . .” had free time to sing in the opera chorus are completely out of the applicant’s For Hoch, his experience as an adjunct at the Lyric, audition, and take singing control. The search committees might during his master’s and DMA studies engagements out of town for short be looking for a certain voice type or paid off. He was able to land a full- periods. they might already have an internal time, tenure-track job right away. “It’s all As difficult as the pursuit of the degree candidate (someone they know or who about that first job—then you’re up and itself was, these three experienced a already works for the university) in mind running!” he says. “My advice for young difficult and competitive entrance for the position. professors is that they should send out into the job market as well. “Finding “Committees also subjectively screen as many applications as possible and be employment as a full-time college voice for a certain ‘personality’—someone willing to move anywhere. Literally.” professor was extremely competitive and they think will be a good colleague or Kunkle took three adjunct positions still is, especially when you’re young,” a good fit for the institution. In sum, immediate after completing her DMA Hoch says. “You’re competing against the process is far more complicated across the state of Ohio. “It was a slew of applicants, many of whom than simply having a DMA and being incredibly taxing to travel so much have terminal degrees and a ton of a good artist-teacher. Those are simply for adjunct work, but I did enjoy my performance and teaching experience. prerequisites that you have to have to be students and colleagues very much,” There are also a lot of elements that in the running.” she says. “After a year of adjunct work, Discover your voice.

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“I’m making as much singing as I would at a small school as a beginning teacher and, frankly, in a weird way, I feel like I have to prove less as a singer than at schools. So, I’m sticking with singing for now, even though teaching Suzanne Hendrix is what I always wanted to do.” I obtained a visiting assistant professor Hendrix had a different experience lone person they chose to represent position at Shorter College, where I upon completing her DMA “I applied the ‘newbies,’ which was flattering, but stayed for two years. After my time at for so many teaching jobs, it was I was up against really veteran teachers Shorter, I became the opera director depressing and I stopped counting,” she with longer performing careers. Other and a voice professor at the Lincoln says. “I had close to 20 phone interviews schools seemed very concerned about University for four years. Although I am and one on-site interview. Oddly, it was my performing, which I was doing currently not teaching at the collegiate the best job for which I had applied. primarily to get experience to be a better level, I found that I grew very much It was non-tenure track at a nationally teacher.” as a singer and a teacher during that recognized state university. They said Hendrix was an adjunct for several time. I have always felt that singing and when they wrote the job description, years while looking for full-time teaching teaching are intrinsically related. When I was the exact type of candidate they work and, while she enjoyed the work, I am singing consistently, my teaching thought they were looking for—but she had to substitute teach and maintain improves, and vice versa.” many, many more people who had more a private studio to pay base expenses. experience applied, and so I was the “And, like all adjuncts, I had no idea

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“I might get more singing jobs without it but, at least for me, I doubt that I would be the musician I am without it, because of the rigor that is required to finish a DMA. It’s a large commitment of time and energy but, ultimately, it is worth all of the effort.” how many students I would have and a stigma against a terminal degree. For Azucena.” For someone singing “-ina/- how much money I would be making,” Hendrix, her DMA studies helped. “I etta” roles, performing while younger she says, “or if I would even have a job. wasn’t performing before my DMA, so and waiting until later for doctoral “After three years of applying, I gave it must have helped!” she says. “Of studies might be better. up,” she continues. “I’m making as course, with my voice type, I needed For Hoch, the idea of an academic much singing as I would at a small extra time to mature, so getting a DMA lifestyle was appealing. “I never tried school as a beginning teacher and, is a ‘practical’ way to kill time. Better, to have a performance career,” he says. frankly, in a weird way, I feel like I have in my mind, than an AD [Artist’s “I never wanted one. I always knew I to prove less as a singer than at schools. Diploma], especially since I have wanted to be a college professor, even in So, I’m sticking with singing for now, interest in teaching. junior high school. I would still rather even though teaching is what I always “I haven’t encountered a stigma,” she teach a voice lesson than sing an opera wanted to do.” continues, “but also, with my voice any day. I love being a college professor Some singers want to teach, but are type, it is easy to explain why I would and would never trade it for the lifestyle afraid a DMA will negatively influence have been in school a long time. No of a performer.” their performing career—there has been one really wants to hear a 25-year-old

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60 Classical Singer / September 2015 Is a DMA for You?

Hoch believes that might be unusual, fullest extent. I also needed to be in an of the rigor that is required to finish a as many voice teachers identify as environment that can usually be found DMA. It’s a large commitment of time “singers first” and then move on to only in a school.” and energy but, ultimately, it is worth all teach later in life to “settle down.” “I Voice type was also a factor for Kunkle. of the effort.” don’t really think there is much of a “As a young dramatic soprano, my voice These three individuals encompass connection between DMA programs did not really start to fully develop till the variety of work that is possible for and a performance career,” he says. I was 30, which was about four years those who pursue doctoral studies. It “From my perspective, a DMA serves after I finished my doctorate,” she says. is competitive and it requires passion, one purpose only: to propel one into “Staying in school was vital to me, to much like a career as a performer. There a full-time college teaching position. If both grow as a person and an artist, but are many paths in both performing and that is your career goal, then the DMA especially to nurture my large voice that teaching—and doctoral studies, while isn’t really a positive or negative—rather, was still quite difficult to navigate at the not for everyone, are a means to follow it is simply necessary.” time. I’m currently putting my focus on that path. Kunkle believes there is still a stigma singing full time, but I am so glad I spent in the singing world. “The idea that you the time early on to learn my craft in an Joanie Brittingham is a soprano and teach only because you can’t really sing academic setting. writer living in New York City. She is incredibly present,” she says. Kunkle “Acquiring a terminal degree was can be reached at joaniebrittingham also disagrees that a DMA is specific to never about finding a job for me,” she @gmail.com. Visit her blog, Cure for working in academia. “Although I enjoy continues. “It was based on a drive for the Common Crazy, at commoncrazy research and teaching, my field is vocal education and my own personal goals. .blogspot.com or see her column on the performance. I was incredibly young I might get more singing jobs without it arts scene of New York, “Big Apple Sauce,” when I finished my DMA. I always but, at least for me, I doubt that I would at the website JUiCYHEADS.com. wanted to pursue my education to its be the musician I am without it, because

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