Posted by D.AsKew on February 06, 2003 at 15:13:23:
In Reply to: Looking for a DMA posted by YO on February 06, 2003 at 13:45:56:
Several things come to mind regarding this question:
1. Many schools (if not all) that offer the DMA require a year
of residence on campus. Beyond that, most of the rest of the
coursewok can be completed during summers. (why the year? some courses are
just not cost efficient (too specialized) to be offered during the summer)
2. Why do you want this degree? Many people get it (or at least start it) with no real purpose in mind. Before you start seriously looking into programs, you need to answer
this question for yourself. Too many folks go into DMA programs to escape working--and rack up tons and tons of debt in the process.
3. A DMA, by design, focuses on performance. Many schools do have quite a bit of coursework involved, but that, in turn, can help one prepare for college teaching, with
the development of strong secondary areas.
4. Why worry about the program, when it's the TEACHER you need to focus on. If you have a good teacher, the program is not a worry. Who do you want to study with? Why? Will obtaining the DMA degree be worth the effort, if your primary objective is to play? (see # 2)
5. If you decide the the DMA is really what you want, be sure to ask potential schools questions regarding number of recitals, types of exams required, examples of recent dissertations, job placement of grads, ensemble requirements for grad students, language reqirements and probably 100 other things I'm not listing here. (in other words, shop hard)
I'm not looking for answers for any of these questions, just posing them for you to consider. Good luck with your quest.