Klarinet Archive - Posting 000146.txt from 2005/06

From: "Bruce M" <bmcgar@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] DMA vs. PhD
Date: Mon, 06 Jun 2005 23:14:03 -0400


Fernando,

I never suggested that a person WITH a DMA couldn't be an excellent player.
The point is that it isn't the DMA that MAKES an excellent player (or,
especially, teacher), yet more and more we hear of the DMA as a credential
that opens the doors to auditions and teaching.

There's a parallel in my own former profession, technical communications:
Business people don't know how to evaluate good technical communications, so
they rely on what they do know: programming courses, networking
certifications, technical coursework. Consequently, what needs to be
evaluated isn't evaluted because the people making the decisions don't know
how to evaluate it. They fall back on what they know.

The same thing goes with music: Many of the very people who have to make the
decisions about who performs or who teaches don't know music and don't know
the instruments. (Hell, lots of people writing for the clarinet these days
don't even seem to know what the usable range of the instrument is.)
Therefore, they rely on credentials, which may or may not give a true
perspective of playing and teaching ability, rather than learn what they
need to know to make the best choice.

By the way, I got one of the top jobs in technical communications in the
computer manufacturing business, not because I was very good at what I did,
but because I had a master's degree in the field, so I was a beneficiary of
the very practice that I hate; the degree opened doors for me that were not
open for others. But I'm not so blind as to know that there are people out
there who really know their stuff, but who don't have fancy credentials, and
I made it a practice of never choosing interviewees based on their degrees
BEFORE looking at their work samples.

I wonder how many top-notch players who are starting out have been nixed by
selection committees in favor of degreed people who couldn't play their way
out of a paper bag.

Seems as if it's getting to the point that we'll all have to have a degree
just to blow our noses.

>From: "Fernando Silveira" <fernandounirio@-----.com>
>Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
>To: <klarinet@-----.org>
>Subject: Re: [kl] DMA vs. PhD
>Date: Mon, 6 Jun 2005 23:18:30 -0300
>
>Hi Dan.
>I agree with you but you can not generalize.
>There is excelet clarinet players with DMA in USA and all over the world.
>
>Best
>
>Fernando Silveira
>Rio de Janeiro - Brazil
>----- Original Message ----- From: "dnleeson" <dnleeson@-----.net>
>To: <klarinet@-----.org>
>Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 10:53 PM
>Subject: RE: [kl] DMA vs. PhD
>
>
>>You are touching on a very sensitive problem. One of the
>>difficulties of a DMA is that there are varying standards. Thus a
>>DMA from a school with weak standards could result in giving an
>>inferior player a level of authority that s/he does not really
>>have. While a DMA from a school with higher standards can
>>produce a student who can compete anywhere.
>>
>>I have read dissertations from some students who received a
>>doctorate of music, and my opinions of some (opinions that were
>>not solicited, I assure you) was that I would not want that
>>person to teach my dog about playing music, so inadequate was
>>his/her written communication skills, his/her knowledge of the
>>subject, and his/her ability to do serious research. Many of the
>>dissertations that I have read border on a college senior's B
>>term paper.
>>
>>There are very few professional players in the major symphonies
>>of America with advanced degrees, though some have attained a
>>bachelor's degree, but fewer a master's degree. Is there a single
>>principle player in America with a DMA? Some have no degrees at
>>all, which is unfortunate because their music history knowledge
>>is often inadequate. But they can play!!! Wow, can they play.
>>
>>This has given rise to two armed camps, namely the professional
>>performers on one hand and the academics on the other, with each
>>seriously mistrusting the other.
>>
>>It is a situation that is going to be with us for a long time.
>>
>>Dan Leeson
>>DNLeeson@-----.net
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: Bruce M [mailto:bmcgar@-----.com]
>>Sent: Monday, June 06, 2005 6:34 PM
>>To: klarinet@-----.org
>>Subject: RE: [kl] DMA vs. PhD
>>
>>
>>
>>Re. DMA:
>>
>>Used to be that you had to play excellently. Now you have to have
>>a piece of
>>paper that says that you do.
>>
>>"You can't choose her over me! *I* have a DMA, and she doesn't!"
>>
>>That's advancement for you.
>>
>>
>>
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>>
>>
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