I recently graduated from a midwest conservatory with a DMA. What is that you wonder? I have a doctorate of musical arts in flute performance, let the money flow....
I spent 26 years of my life in school with no breaks. I started at the age of four in a French program in Canada. Then I moved to the US where I had to repeat the 2nd grade in English. I did a double degree in music and history with a minor in French in my undergrad in a small college town in the northwest. I then pursued a double masters in flute and music history at another university in the northwest. I finally moved away and spent four years working on my doctorate in flute performance in the midwest. I was ready to enter the workforce at a low point in arts and education funding. I have the BEST timing EVER.
I've been told over and over that you need at least 3 years of college-teaching experience in order to teach at a college. This makes no sense. You need the experience before you can get the experience? Really?! Lame. Luckily, I was able to scrape up a job teaching flute at a small university in the northwest. So, I packed up my house and forged my own Oregon Trail.
I thought my life was looking up after I landed this job. Perhaps I could finally be a grown-up at the age of 30. Nope. Life loves to mess with me, no matter how big or small the situation.
Listen up kids, just because you get a doctorate, it doesn't mean you are in the clear. In fact, you find yourself having to deal with situations you thought you'd outgrown.
To quote Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it."
But you have to laugh about all of this. As a fortune cookie from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Kansas City said: "Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think."
I spent 26 years of my life in school with no breaks. I started at the age of four in a French program in Canada. Then I moved to the US where I had to repeat the 2nd grade in English. I did a double degree in music and history with a minor in French in my undergrad in a small college town in the northwest. I then pursued a double masters in flute and music history at another university in the northwest. I finally moved away and spent four years working on my doctorate in flute performance in the midwest. I was ready to enter the workforce at a low point in arts and education funding. I have the BEST timing EVER.
I've been told over and over that you need at least 3 years of college-teaching experience in order to teach at a college. This makes no sense. You need the experience before you can get the experience? Really?! Lame. Luckily, I was able to scrape up a job teaching flute at a small university in the northwest. So, I packed up my house and forged my own Oregon Trail.
I thought my life was looking up after I landed this job. Perhaps I could finally be a grown-up at the age of 30. Nope. Life loves to mess with me, no matter how big or small the situation.
Listen up kids, just because you get a doctorate, it doesn't mean you are in the clear. In fact, you find yourself having to deal with situations you thought you'd outgrown.
To quote Buffy the Vampire Slayer: "The hardest thing in this world is to live in it."
But you have to laugh about all of this. As a fortune cookie from my favorite Chinese restaurant in Kansas City said: "Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think."
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