MUSIC HISTORY/MUSICOLOGY/ETHNOMUSICOLOGY (2010-11) NOTE: This is a cached copy of the page formally hosted by wikihost.org
[I hope this is just a temporary solution and that the regular wiki server gets up and going again soon. The bolded instances of "musicology" and "job" are a result of the google search I ran to get the cached copy of this page. If anyone wants to clean the page up further, feel free! In the meantime, this should allow us to keep up with any updates.]
- Hi: The wikihost site seems to be up again: http://www.wikihost.org/w/academe/music_history_musicology_ethnomusicology . . . you can keep this page here though, as a back up, if you like. Una74 14:34, November 29, 2010 (UTC)
- I'm still getting a "server busy" error for the wikihost page. You sure it is up and running again?
Musicology/Ethnomusicology
Schools with known acceptances (doctorate-granting institution in CAPS):
American University: Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology, tenure track (Shalini Ayyagari, PhD., U of CA Berkeley, 2009)
Utah Valley University: Lecturer, Musicology, 1 year. (Ross Hagen, CU-BOULDER, 2010)
Schools with rumored acceptances/offers (name unknown):
Cardiff University: Lecturer/Senior Lecturer in Eighteenth-Century Studies
Schools that have requested campus visits:
Brown University: Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology (tenure track)
Cardiff University: Lecturer in Ethnomusicology (focus on Africa or African diaspora)
Fordham University: Assistant Professor, Musicology, Renaissance or Early Baroque (tenure track)
Montclair State University: World Music Adjunct
University of Cape Town, South African College of Music: Associate Professor/Senior Lecturer/Lecturer, Musicology
University of North Carolina at Asheville: Tenure-track Jazz & Popular Music Studies
University of Richmond: Assistant Professor, Musicology. Email request: 11/24
- Q: What did they request? Just curious.
- R: Copies of two articles and a syllabus.
Schools that are conducting phone and/or video interviews:
Schools that have requested more materials:
Eastman School of Music: Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology (tenure track). Email request: 10/26
Franklin & Marshall College: Assistant Professor of Music (Western art music of the 17th, 18th, or 19th centuries) Email request: 11/25 x3
- Q: Wait, do you mean to say this e-mail was sent out on Thanksgiving Day? (x2)
Harvard University: Tenured Professor, Musicology (late medieval through eighteenth century)
University of Chicago: Assistant Professor, Music History. Email request: 11/16 (x2)
University of Delaware: Assistant Professor, Music History, post-1600. Snail mail request: dated 11/18
University of Otago: Lecturer in Music. Email request/references to be contacted: 11/21
Schools requesting conference interviews:
College of the Holy Cross: Assistant Professor, Musicology (HERC) - email 11/3
Luther College: 2-year Mellon Postdoc in Ethnomusicology (AMS-L) - e-mail (11/11)
Schools that have sent out rejection letters and/or established a shortlist:
Babson College: Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology (tenure track). 3 finalists have been selected; e-mail sent to rest of long list (11/19).
Announced jobs with no further information on their status:
Beloit College (31 December 2010): 2-year Teaching Fellow in Ethnomusicology (MVL) http://www.beloit.edu/humanresources/jobs/facultyjobs/?job_id=301931
Boston University (15 December 2010): Assistant Professor in Ethnomusicology (MVL) http://www.bu.edu/musicology/2010/11/
Boston University (15 December 2010): Assistant Professor in Historical Musicology (MVL) http://www.bu.edu/musicology/2010/11/
Bowling Green State University (15 December 2010): Assistant Professor in Ethnomusicology (SEM members area).
Carleton College (1 December, 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology (emphasis American Music) (CHE) https://jobs.carleton.edu/postings/265 Chinese University of Hong Kong (31 December 2010): Associate, Assistant, or Research Assistant Professor (Chinese Music) (AMS-L) http://perntc.per.cuhk.edu.hk//personnel/jobvacancy.asp?id=1011/050%28737%29/2
Chinese University of Hong Kong (31 December 2010): Associate, Assistant, or Research Assistant Professor (Historical Musicology) (AMS-L) http://perntc.per.cuhk.edu.hk//personnel/jobvacancy.asp?id=1011/050%28737%29/2
Colby College (1 January, 2011): 1-year Faculty Fellow, Musicology pre-1750 w/early music ensemble directing ( http://bit.ly/b6OD8T)
Columbia University: Assistant Professor of Music w/Specialization in Music Theory; review begins 12/15/10.
http://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=53900
Columbia University: Mellon Post-Doctoral Fellowships in Music (2 positions); review begins 12/15/10.
http://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=53901
Columbia University: Assistant Professor of Music with a Specialization in African-American Music
http://academicjobs.columbia.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=54013
Cornell University (17 December 2010): Asst/Assoc Professor, Musicology, specializing in Western art music of 20th & 21st centuries and/or opera since 1800 ( http://higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=175477079)
Delaware State University (Open until filled): Chair Music department
Georgia Gwinnett College (rolling deadline): Musicology/Ethnomusicology http://www.insidehighered.com/career/seekers/search?post_id=150265&utm_
Indiana University (15 November): Assistant/Associate/Full Professor, Musicology. 'The committee is particularly interested in applicants with demonstrated expertise in music before 1400 or music of the late nineteenth century.'
Ithaca College (6 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Music History http://apply.icjobs.org/applicants/Central?quickFind=177087
Kennesaw State University (15 November 2010): Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology http://www.kennesaw.edu/facultypositions/Ads%202010/Arts/AssistantProfessorofEthnomusicology_PVA59575.html
Mahidol University in Thailand (1 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology (MVL)
Mahidol University in Thailand (1 December 2010): Historical Musicology (MVL)
Marlboro College (5 November 2010): Tenure-track with focus on jazz, electronic music, western art music, pop music ( http://bit.ly/dlDRxU) confirmation letter (materials received) 11/12
McGill University (review begins November 2010): Dean, Schulich School of Music
Middlebury College (15 December 2010): 3-year VAP, Ethnomusicology (CHE)
Montclair State University (15 October 2010): Ethnomusicology Adjunct for Spring 2010 (AMS-L)
Oberlin College Conservatory (1 October 2010): one-semester, non-renewable position in 19th c. Musicology for Spring 2011 (MVL) confirmation letter (materials received) 10/1
Princeton University (1 Nov 2010 Until Filled): music history, open; "Scholars specialising in music of the Medieval period are especially encouraged to apply."
Saarland University: Research Fellowship in Musicology, 16th-century music, proficiency in Spanish and/or Italian required
Saint Anselm College (1 November 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175464901&utm confirmation letter (materials received) 10/22
Saint Michael's College (1 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology, American music, esp jazz and rock (MVL)
Santa Clara University (15 November 2010): Assistant Professor - Ethnomusicology (CHE) http://www.scu.edu/hr/careers/faculty.cfm?id=2763 confirmation letter (materials received) 11/15
Simpson College (1 December 2010): Assistant Professor with a bunch of other stuff...
Southern Methodist University (15 November 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology/Ethnomusicology, Western music history, interdisciplinary studies (AMS-L, SEM, MVL, CHE) http://www.higheredjobs.com/Faculty/details.cfm?JobCode=175469357 confirmation email (materials received) 11/17
Syracuse University (1 December 2010): Assistant Professor, African-American Studies (history, theory, practice and performance of African American musical heritages) (SEM-L, CHE)
Texas Christian University (3 January 2011): Assistant Professor Music History/Musicology (AMS-L) http://www.academiccareers.com/cgi-win/JobSite/SendJob.exe/ACO/?28258
University of Alberta: Director of Folkways Alive! With tenure at associate or full, renewable term position. ( http://www.iaspm.net/?p=200)
University of Auckland (3 October 2010): Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology ( https://www.opportunities.auckland.ac.nz/psp/ps/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/HRS_HRAM.HRS_CE.GBL)
University of Hawai'i at Mânoa (Continuous - application review begins Feb. 1, 2011): Assistant Professor (Asian Studies, ethnomusicology possible)
University of Iowa (15 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology, primary research emphasis in music since 1900; strong secondary area of research in medieval music, American music, opera studies, or eighteenth-century music (AMS-list)
http://jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view/58640
University of Iowa (3 January 2011): Lecturer in Ethnomusicology AND Musicology (AMS-L) Note: One position to cover both fields. http://jobs.uiowa.edu/faculty/view/58649
University of Kansas (19 November 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology, Classical/Romantic (CHE) https://jobs.ku.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1285941552794
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1 December 2010): Tenure-track Musicianship/Aural skills http://music.unc.edu/news/musicianship-position
Just noticed that the deadline has been changed (?): it's now listed on the online application as December 6.
University of Notre Dame (1 December 2010): World Music and World Christianity (rank open, early career applicants especially welcome) (SEM)
University of Pittsburgh (22 November 2010): Senior Musicologist (music before 1850 but other specializations will be considered).
University of Pittsburgh (22 November 2010): Ethnomusicologist specializing in African Music (junior or senior).
University of Rochester (1 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Musicology/Music History (AMS-L)
University of San Diego (1 February 2011 or until filled): Associate or Full Professor and Music Department Chair in World Music, Ethnomusicology, or American Music (MVL).
University of Texas, Brownsville (15 January 2011): Assistant Professor, Ethnomusicology (Latin America) (MVL)
University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh (10 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Music History (MVL)
Wayne State University (7 January 2011): Assistant Professor of Music (Music History/Ethnomusicology - see link) (MVL) https://jobs.wayne.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/position/JobDetails_css.jsp?postingId=447971
York University (1 December 2010): Assistant Professor, Music of the Americas ("including expertise in plucked strings") h http://webapps.yorku.ca/academichiringviewer/viewposition.jsp?positionnumber=1137
Canceled and failed searches:
University of Michigan-Dearborn: search listed in CMS Vacancy List (10/29) but email from chair confirmed search cancelled (11/11)
Deadline Calendar (in chronological order; YYYY.MM.DD)
2010.09.20 Utah Valley University
2010.09.22 American University
2010.10.01 Babson College
2010.10.01 Brown University
2010.10.01 Oberlin College Consv.
2010.10.03 University of Auckland
2010.10.12 Harvard University
2010.10.15 Cardiff University x 2
2010.10.15 College of the Holy Cross
2010.10.15 Fordham University
2010.10.18 Eastman School of Music
2010.10.20 Luther College
2010.10.20 Montclair State University
2010.10.28 University of Chicago
2010.11.01 Franklin & Marshall College
2010.11.01 University of Delaware
2010.11.01 University of Otago
2010.11.05 Marlboro College
2010.11.15 Indiana University
2010.11.15 Kennesaw State University
2010.11.15 University of Richmond
2010.11.15 Southern Methodist University
2010.11.15 Santa Clara University
2010.11.19 University of Kansas
2010.11.22 University of Pittsburgh (senior musicologist)
2010.11.22 University of Pittsburgh (ethnomusicologist)
2010.12.01 Carleton College
2010.12.01 Mahidol University in Thailand x 2
2010.12.01 Syracuse University
2010.12.01 University of Notre Dame
2010.12.01 University of Rochester
2010.12.01 York University
2010.12.06 Ithaca College
2010.12.10 University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh
2010.12.15 Middlebury College
2010.12.15 Boston University (historical)
2010.12.15 Boston University (ethno)
2010.12.15 University of Iowa (tenure-track musicology)
2010.12.17 Cornell University
2010.12.31 Beloit College (ethno)
2010.12.31 Chinese University of Hong Kong (Chinese music)
2010.12.31 Chinese University of Hong Kong (Historical musicology)
2011.01.03 University of Iowa (lecturer, ethno/history)
2011.01.07 Wayne State University
2011.01.15 University of Texas, Brownsville
2011.02.01 University of Hawai'i at Mânoa (Continuous)
????.??.?? Saarland University
????.??.?? Georgia Gwinnett College (rolling deadline)
Discussion of Specific Schools
Cardiff University
Q1: What are you all doing about signing the application. Must a signature be scanned or can I just email the darn thing without one?
A1: If they accept e-mailed letters, I write at the bottom "submitted electronically on DATE" or something to that effect.
A2: Do you have online banking? I cut and pasted a signature from a check scanned by the bank and it worked great.
College of the Holy Cross
Q: Has anyone heard from Holy Cross about AMS interviews?
A1: Just got an e-mail from them requesting one, though I have no idea what that actually means (e.g. am I now "short-listed"?).
A2: I think it means they liked your undergraduate transcripts.
A3: Why would they bother emailing the eve of the conference when people are in transit and away from email?
A4: I think the "short list" usually refers to the group invited for campus visits (this is the "long list"). I got the email too, but nothing afterward. Did anyone else hear anything more?
A5: Despite the 24-hour advance notice, did anyone actually have an interview with Holy Cross at AMS?
A1 (again): I'm wondering the same things as A4 and A5. I got the e-mail on 11/3, and replied to it the next day, but never heard anything more. As it turns out I wasn't able to be at the conference, but the e-mail did offer the possibility of a phone conversation the following week - which has now come and gone. Needless to say, I'm more than a little concerned. Can anyone clarify the situation? I sure hope this doesn't mean I've lost my chance....
A6: Long-list interviews did take place at the AMS meeting.
A7: I had an interview at AMS and was told I was on the "tentative long short list." They're still accepting applications through Dec. 15 to be on track with other hiring at the College, so I don't think anyone's chance has come and gone, especially if you received an e-mail.
Columbia University
Q1: The given Columbia University link doesn't work at the moment. Is the job advertised elsewhere?
A1: Yes, the correct link is now given above (as of 10/13/10), along with a second posting for 2 Mellon postdocs. I apologize for posting a garbled link initially for an hour or so. Reposted now with both listings having the correct link. If the link does not work for you, please email departmentbusiness@gmail.com. (A. Fox, Chair, Music, Columbia U)
Eastman School of Music
Q1: The announcement circulated by e-mail lists gave Oct 18 as the deadline, while the one posted on their website said Oct 4. I just checked with E. Koskoff and she confirmed that it's Oct 18.
Q2: I just re-read last year's discussion of Eastman's teaching video requirement, and I wholeheartedly agree with whoever said it was a mickey-mouse requirement. Applying for jobs is an onerous-enough process already. The teaching video is a pointless requirement that will not really help the committee evaluate the applicants in any meaningful way, and will require hours more of unpaid work from the beleaguered job-seekers. Eastman should decide on their short list based on phone interviews, as is customary, call in their three people, and make the decision based on the campus visits. In conclusion, this is not a seat on the President's Cabinet, but a $60,000 a year job in Rochester, New York. The insanity must end.
Q3: Yes, I just got the funniest, most non-committal little e-mail from them: "We anticipate contacting a group of candidates in mid-December with a request for additional material. It is very likely that we will request a teaching video (30 minutes to an hour) at that time" (emphasis mine). No idea whether this went to everyone who applied, or just to those most likely to be contacted. But you're right, Q2, it's definitely a pretty silly requirement - especially when they're eventually going to see their finalists teach IN PERSON.
Q4: Odd, I was contacted last week and asked to send a teaching video by November 8th. I did not receive the email mentioned by Q3. Anyone else in this situation?
Q3: Oh, you know what, I think I may accidentally have mixed up Eastman and U of Rochester. I see there's an Ethno position at Eastman listed above, and a Musicology one at U of Rochester - the e-mail had to do with the latter. Mea culpa. Sorry about that.
Fordham University
Q1: Why hasn't this been posted anywhere else? Can someone confirm this search is for real?
A1: It was posted on the CMS MVL and the AMS Announce list.
C: Subsequent email circulated to faculty advisors indicates that medievalists are also welcome to apply: "Please note that qualified medievalists will have opportunities to teach in the Medieval Studies graduate program." (MVL)
Q2: Anyone received any updates on this since AMS?
A2: They are conducting Skype interviews for candidates who weren't at AMS.
Indiana University
Q: I saw this job advertised on the AMS list, but it is not on their human resources page? Has the search been canceled?
A1: I received a snail mail acknowledgment from the executive associate dean along with an AA/EEO form after submitting my materials online. No reason to believe it has been canceled. http://music.indiana.edu/faculty/positions.shtml
Q: Hmm. I applied well in advance of the deadline, but (unlike A1) still haven't received any acknowledgment. Anyone else in a similar situation? (x3)
A2: I also received a snail mail acknowledgment from the executive associate dean along with an AA/EEO form.
A3: I only just received mine today (11/23), even though I applied pretty far in advance.
Ithaca College
Q: The Ithaca College search says, "only original letters or copies of letters held on file at the career planning office of an accredited academic institution are acceptable." Does Interfolio dossier service qualify as acceptable?
A: When I sign on to Interfolio, it comes up as XYZ University Career Services, powered by Interfolio. I would hope that counts. I'm just wondering what they're trying to head off. Fake recommendation letters? Isn't musicology a small enough field that such things could be confirmed?
Luther College
Q: Can anyone confirm that interviews for this postdoc actually took place at SEM? I consulted with several other applicants who were asked to submit teaching evaluations. But we heard nothing back from the search committee. Did interviews actually take place?
A: Yes, I know several people who had SEM interviews for this position.
Marlboro College
Q: I cannot find this job posting anywhere! Help?
A: Here is the link: http://www.higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=175466092
Princeton University
Q: Where is this advertised?
A: Higher Ed. Jobs http://higheredjobs.com/search/details.cfm?JobCode=175467821
Simpson College
Q: Can anybody provide a URL on the Assistant Professorship in a bunch of stuff?
A: http://www.simpson.edu/hr/jobs/asstprofmusic.html
C: It certainly looks like the music history component is lowest in priority, after opera conductor, accompanist, piano instructor, and vocal coach.
University of Alberta
Q: Are they accepting applications via email? I can't tell based on the call.
University of Chicago
Q: Regarding their request for additional material: has anyone gotten a request for materials after 11/16? Just wondering whether that was it, or whether the requests might be coming in phases. I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering: they probably got well over 100 applicants.
University of Delaware
Q: They just advertised for musicology (I forget where). Haven't they had a number of openings in musicology the past five years or so? What's the story?
A1: Nothing untoward. The last national search was three years ago. The person hired subsequently accepted an unbeatable offer at a major research university.
Other searches have been for temporary and part-time positions to handle this and the overloads of a growing department.
University of Hawai'i at Mânoa
NB: Posted to the SEM members' area job board with this note: "position for a researcher/instructor in Asian performing arts with Ph.D. in hand; ethnomusicologists are encouraged to apply." (SEM, http://www.pers.hawaii.edu/wuh/srchresults.aspx?si=572388)
University of Kansas
Q: For those of us who are considering applying to U. of Kansas (where the job description reads "Scholarly productivity in Classic or Romantic required, with expertise in music of the United States preferred") are we interpreting that to mean that they'd prefer an Americanist who has published on Classic/Romantic topics, a scholar of 18th/19th c. American music, or an 18th/19th century scholar with experience in other American topics? It's such an oddly-phrased description!
A: It seems to me that they are searching for a C/R scholar. If that scholar has some background in American music, all the better. If they wanted an Americanist, they wouldn't have used "required" and "preferred" in the way that they did.
University of Pittsburgh
Q1: Any guesses on the bizarre turn of events? 2008: 2 Asst. Prof jobs pre-1800 cancelled for financial reasons, nothing in 2009 and now a Senior Musicologist before 1850. Anyone know anything?
C1: This doesn't strike me as bizarre at all. It might simply be that the department feels the need for another senior faculty member and that's the best allocation of resources. For example, if a senior faculty member were planning to retire of has had to reduce his/her teaching load due to other professional or personal commitments, this makes perfect sense.
University of San Diego
NB: The ad is for a "tenured professor of music and department chair" with administrative and leadership experience, so they are almost certainly looking for a senior person.
Utah Valley University
Q1: Anyone know when this job would start? Next spring? Next fall? Sooner?
Q2: The job title implies that this position is non-tenure track. Can anyone confirm this? (9/10)
A1: The Dean confirmed this is a 1-year position. The description on their own website is clear, but the announcement circulated by e-mail was not.
C: Textbook inside job: an unusually quick deadline following the announcement, and then the hire was made within a week. Surely no interviews took place here.
C2: Spousal hire, in fact. http://music.colorado.edu/2010/08/26/musicology-alumni-news/ The candidate had already been adjuncting at the University.
Q1(again): Yeah. It is really strange to advertise a one-year in the fall, which is why I was confused about when the job would actually start. Oh well. I'm glad to know that UVU is doing their best to support their adjuncts and lecturers. That's a commendable thing.
C3: While this search was surely handled legally, the fact that it was so obviously a sham given the timeline and lack of interviews is insulting to those who spent considerable time and effort making application. I'm not even on the market, just a casual observer, and I was disgusted by how this affair appears.
York University
Q: I'm wondering how others are approaching the bizarrely specific requirement for plucked string expertise. If the job seems like a good fit otherwise, is it worth applying?
A1: Good question. Six-week summer intensive in frailing banjo?
A2: It could also be an inside hire. i.e., they want to hire one of their postdocs or grad students, but they have to announce the position publicly for the hire to be "legal," so they specify an impossibly unique combination of skills. Same goes if they want to hire someone who is not Canadian.
A3: Or they could just want someone who can run a specific type of ensemble.
A4: Not a bizarre request at all if you consider the vast repertoire of music from the Americas that feature plucked-string instruments (from the banjo and guitar to the cavaquinho and vihuela).
A5: Is it common to request have such a specific instrument requirement? I've seen lots of jobs that advertise specific ensembles, but why in the world would it matter if you played fiddle or plucked strings or strummed your guitar?
A6: Very bizarre. Have you ever heard of a struck or blown specialist in music?
A7: As someone said at SEM, Harpsichordists of the world, Apply!
Q: Does an innovative application of radion modulation technique on a drumheller harp with Centressar strings qualify for this position? Or is it restricted to the (now conventional) study of Xantha performance practice?
A8: Regarding the harpsichord comment - my sense is that they're looking for someone w/a more direct relationship to the strings.
A2: @A8, I'm guessing that A7's comment was satire. (Although I'd love to see a harpsichordist try for it.)
Wiki Counter(Check all that apply)
I am a musicologist: 26
I am an ethnomusicologist: 11
I am a little of both: 15
I am looking to leave my current TT position: 2
I am looking to leave my current VAP/Lecturer position: 16
I am a recent PhD and on the market: 16
I am a no-longer-so-recent PhD and on the market: 1
I am ABD and on the market: 15
I am ABD and no longer on the market:
I am not on the market but am an interested observer: 6
I am a member of a search committee: 2
Wiki Counter, Pt. II
(including postdoc apps)
I have submitted zero applications this academic year:
I have submitted 1-2 applications this academic year: 4
I have submitted 3-5 applications this academic year: 4
I have submitted 6-8 applications this academic year: 1
I have submitted 9-11 applications this academic year: 4
I have submitted 12-14 applications this academic year: 1
I have submitted 15+ applications this academic year: 5
I have submitted 20+ applications this academic year: 1
General discussion
Conference informal interviews
Q. What does an "informal interview" at a conference entail?
A1: Not sure. But I've heard the AMS conference venue has a hot tub.
A2: No such thing as an "informal interview", IMHO. If it's going to make the difference between making the next cut or not, you should prepare as if it were a formal interview.
A3: Focus on the things that are harder to convey through a letter/c.v. Faculty like to hire someone they can get along with, for example.
Q.: For those of you visiting here who are on search committees (we know you are here!) Do an applicant's materials have to be submitted on the expensive 100% cotton resume paper or is this just a waste of money? Saving money on this paper would go a long way towards keeping up with the rent...
A1: Save your money. Everything gets copied for the members of the committee.
Q1: How are we defining "recent" Ph.D.?
A1: I'd suggest 3 years- mid tenure review if you're (super) lucky or long enough to have your sea legs.
Q2: Just added a "Deadline Calendar" section to help keep track of which submission deadlines are coming up (and to help prioritize when things come to a head in the fall). What do y'all think?
A1: Great idea!
Thoughts on the new rankings*
Q. Thoughts on this: http://chronicle.com/article/An-Elaborate-Ranking-of/124633/ I don't know how many of us will be qualified to go through the statistics, but you can get something of an idea from the web site.
R1. I got a good chuckle that it is a musicology degree that is apparently the longest median to completion.
Society for American Music Conference
Q. Does anyone know when decisions are going to be sent out for the Cincinnati conference or if they have been sent out already?
A1. Last year acceptances were sent out on 31 July.
Q2. Has anyone out there received a decision one way or the other? Since it's a joint meeting with IASPM, I'm wondering if the decisions are going to be sent later than last year's.
A2. I haven't received anything as of August 9. I don't think it's likely that SAM being a joint meeting will effect its notification date, though. The IASPM deadline isn't until October 1, and it would be crazy of SAM to wait that long (or until IASPM had reviewed its submissions) to send out notifications.
A3. Acceptance received today (8/9) (x3, for seminar paper)
A4. Rejection received 8/11. What's the etiquette for submitting the same abstract to the IASPM portion of this conference? :)
A5. I think Ms Mentor would say "Tacky"
A6 I can't see why it's an issue at all; submit away.
A7. I've read at both conferences. Not only do I think it's not "tacky," I think it's quite foolish not to submit to IASPM if your paper fits the conference themes. They may be meeting together, but SAM and IASPM are two very different societies with different interests, leadership, program committees. Have a look at a couple of SAM programs. I've seen as much as a quarter of the conference made up of papers on three or four classical composers. If you work on a popular topic, you are much more likely to have luck submitting to IASPM. SAM is, IMO, not as interested in including topics that are popular, break new theoretical ground, or are ethnographic as is IASPM.
A8. While it's true that different program committees have different interests, please be assured that SAM is indeed interested in those topics mentioned by A7! Often the local culture of a particular society is as much determined by what papers are submitted as by what gets chosen. If you'd like to see different topics at SAM, it's up to you to propose something and make it happen!
A9. I'm not sure it this is the place for this discussion, but here's my experience. I've had SAM members tell me pretty much what A8 has said, but I just don't find it to be true. I have known a very large number of ethnomusicologists who have been rejected from SAM, who go on to present the same work at SEM, IASPM, or area studies conferences. The choices they make for their programs make it pretty clear what they're interested in. Also, if they were serious about getting ethno papers, they might consider putting an ethnomusicologist on the program committee more than once every five years or so.
A10. IASPM and SAM are being organized almost entirely separately (i.e., they're sharing hotel space and working on one or two joint sessions, but otherwise they are two separate conferences). In this sense, you can rest assured that the IASPM program committee hasn't seen the SAM program submissions.
A11: I have been on three different SAM program committees over the years (yup, I'm senior), and I can tell you all that it's a two part process. First the abstracts are read individually (and blind) to see if they are coherent and have some ideas behind them. Stage two is when the committee gets together in a room and tries to put together sessions. This is where you can find excellent proposals getting rejected because they are "orphans" and there is nothing else they fit together with to create a session. Inevitably, one or two innovative papers can't be programmed because of this problem. So it's up to you submitters to try and build themes into your abstracts that connect them up with the work others are doing, even if that connection is tenuous. For SAM, just get the word "American" into it somehow. (I am an ethnomusicologist, by the way).
Lack of job ads so far
Q. Is there any reason NOT to get really worried that August 15 has come and gone without even a trickle of new job ads? Feel free to tell me that I am paranoid, but I seem to remember August 15 in past years being a key time for finding new postings.
A1. If I remember correctly, most other disciplines post jobs in August, but ethno/musicology openings tend to be posted throughout the fall. There were also a number of jobs posted quite late last year (like, in the spring). I'm under no illusion that this year will be any better than last year, but I do think it is a little early to be completely panicked! Hang in there.
A2. I just looked at the history of '07-'08 (a pretty good year) and there were NO new jobs offered during August.
A3. (Q. again) Thank you, A1 and A2, for the reassurance.
A4. There hasn't even been time for faculty at prospective hiring universities to meet and argue about "desired qualifications" yet, so it is quite premature. October is historically a major month, that is, if there are any jobs to be found...
A5. Is it just me, or is it the year of the ethnomusicology jobs? 9/14 seems like a much higher ratio than in previous years. Is this a response to increased NASM support for "world music" in the curriculum?
A-A5. It seems a silly question to ask in August, don't you think we should wait for the school year to begin. I am, however, all for separating out Ethno onto its own section, or better yet, its own page.
A6. There's nothing like a little ethno/historical musicology partisanship before the semester gets underway.
A7. But where would we put the Americanists? We could do what theory/comp does in terms of separation..
A8. I like the theory page, especially the discussion at the bottom divided by school.
A9. Yes, a separate section for ethno would be good.
A10. Separate sections would be a problem for those jobs that are neither ethno/muso, or are open to both. This shows up most often with Pop Music positions.
AMS-L job ads
Q. I am subscribed to AMS-L, so why can't I find the University of Chicago and University of Richmond announcements, even in the archives? I've certainly received all the Beethoven discussion, surveys, and other items. What am I missing here?
A: It isn't really AMS-L it is AMS-Announce. They split announcements off of AMS-L four or five years ago.
AMS Conference
Q. How important is the National AMS conference in securing a job? I am having a really hard time justifying the money this year, is it really worth the $600-700 (when you add flight, hotel, registration, ramen, etc together)? What do you all think?
A1: If you're not reading a paper and don't expect to interview or meet with prospective employers, not that important. The cost is high indeed, and while networking can be valuable, it's not everything. That's just my opinion, but $600-$700 can be useful in other ways to further your career (e.g. research).
A2: If you're actively on the job market and you identify primarily as a musicologist, then it's very important. Some schools will hold their preliminary interviews there, and there's a lot to be said for making yourself known to search committee members before the winter decision-making season. Same goes for SEM if you're an ethnomusicologist. Consider talking to your department head about funding, even if you're not presenting; department administration has an interest in ensuring quick outplacement, so they sometimes can offer partial travel support.
A3: I'm more in agreement with A1. Over the past 7 years, neither I nor any of my friends/colleagues has directly benefited from the whole job networking/preliminary interview thing. OTOH, presenting is important to the CV and there is lots of other important stuff that goes on (for instance negotiating a book proposal, or talking with a book review editors of a couple journals to get in on the published book review scene). Also if you've been out of grad school for a few years, it's about the only way to keep in touch both with "the field" and with all your old friends/colleagues.
A4: If you are a confident schmoozer, I think AMS can be worth it. Asking a smart question in the right panel can also help, if you then schmooze after wards. But, for most everyone I know, A3 is correct.
Q2: Does anyone know if it's par for the course that only two jobs so far are listed as interviewing at AMS? It would seem a more worthwhile schmoozing opportunity if more of the above jobs were represented.
A3 (again): Usually there are from 2-6 of these, which I understand is quite a bit less than most other fields. There are plenty (depending on the climate) of informal interviews that happen, and even closed-door interviews, but of course they call you about it.
Transcripts
Q. When a school (e.g., Holy Cross) asks for transcripts, do they generally want just graduate transcripts, or are they interested in undergraduate transcripts, too?
A1: You can safely assume they want a copy of your graduate transcript only.
Q2: What about when a school wants materials emailed, and doesn't provide a mailing address (e.g. Carleton), but requests transcripts? Official transcripts (at least at my school) can't be emailed. Is it bad form to call the department and ask what to do, or am I missing something obvious?
A2: Last year, PSU accepted scanned copies of official transcripts through email.
A3: I would agree with A2. If they want it emailed, they know it won't be an official version.
A4: I emailed the search head at Holy Cross, and he said that for now, it would be fine to send unofficial transcripts, but did specify that undergraduate as well as graduate transcripts were expected.
A5: Based on what A4 just typed, I'm beginning to wonder if we should be sending undergraduate transcripts to everyone, too. Why don't they just tell us this in the announcement!?
A6: Am I the only one who thinks that undergraduate transcripts are completely irrelevant at this point? Do the chairs of faculty searches really need to know what gym credits you took in college? On that note, why are graduate transcripts even necessary? I'd be curious what experience others had, but at my graduate program you weren't assigned grades for course work. Letters of recommendation are therefore the only way for a search committee to get a sense of your performance in graduate school.
A7: Yes, undergraduate transcripts do seem a little out of the ordinary, but then as I was photocopying mine, I noticed that my undergrad transcript actually reveals more about me than my grad transcript, i.e. what courses I selected while attending a SLAC vs. what courses I took in grad school because they were the only ones offered in my department. But who knows what a search committee is looking for in the materials they ask for. [Thanks, by the way, to the person who asked about transcripts, otherwise I would have only sent my grad transcript.]
Q3: Any thoughts about a posting that doesn't ask for any transcripts, i.e., U of Delaware?
A8: It seems Delaware is interested in things that matter (teaching, publications, etc.)
Recommendation Letters
Q. One of my recommenders often submits letters after the deadline, and has told me that posted deadlines don't apply to recommendation letters. Can anyone confirm that this is true? On the one hand, I can understand that schools would cut faculty recom
A1: Oy vey. I've dealt with this and seen colleagues deal with this and it's not fun. (I've also been on search committees as a student rep, so I've seen the other side of the process.) Recommendation letters are very important-especially if the search
Q2: Related Q: How many people send in more letters than requested, or other materials? I'm surprised, for example, that SLACs don't always request teaching evals in the first round.
A2: My advisor has the attitude that Q1 describes, which has been incredibly stressful. I've gotten into the habit of telling him/her that the deadline is a couple weeks sooner than it really is.
A3: Two cents from someone who is currently on a search committee: I'd rather get a letter that arrives on time from a dossier service than one that arrives late from a faculty member who has cut/pasted to include the name of my institution in the lette
Q1 (again): Well, it's nice to know I'm not alone, at least. And very useful to have some insider perspective on this. Thanks.
A4: Use Interfolio. And request letters from your recommenders in like, June.
Pet Peeves
C: Job "announcements" that direct you to an HR website for a description of the position, yet when you click through, the search is not listed.
D: Frustrated Leading tones.
E: When people delete entire job postings. Unrelated: what happened to Holy Cross?
- Right where it has always been: "College of the Holy Cross"
E (again): Oh. Well, the frustration still stands.
F When people get the jobs that I want.
- Yeah, that totally bugs me too.
Salary Info
http://chronicle.com/stats/aaup/ http://www.collegiatetimes.com/databases/salaries http://blurblawg.typepad.com/files/university-of-virginia-faculty-salaries.pdf http://www.indystar.com/data/government/state_salaries2008_search.shtml http://umich.highedsalaries.com/department/details/2074 http://www.uvm.edu/~isis/sr/sr08.pdf http://www.timesunion.com/data/payroll/2008/ http://ia310825.us.archive.org/2/items/UniversityOfIllinoisSalaryList2008-2009/UI-Sal-2UIUC.pdf http://www.sacbee.com/statepay/ http://ia310809.us.archive.org/2/items/UniversityOfMinnesotaSalaryList2008-2009/ http://php.app.com/rutgersweb/search.php http://data.desmoinesregister.com/results/index.php?info=State_Salaries http://lbloom.net/ http://www.dailyillini.com/salary-guide http://www.uillinois.edu/trustees/agenda/September%2023,%202010/012%20sepGrayBook2010-2011.pdf - UIUC 2010 Salaries http://www.archive.org/details/CommonwealthOfPennsylvaniaPayrollDatabase2008 http://www.bostonherald.com/projects/payroll/massachusetts/ http://ia310834.us.archive.org/3/items/UniversityOfConnecticutSalariesSep2008/ http://ia331421.us.archive.org/3/items/OhioStateUniversitySalaryListJune2008/OSU_salaries_as_of_June_2008.pdf http://ia331414.us.archive.org/0/items/NorthCarolinaStateUniversitySystemSalaries2008/NC-State-Universities-Salaries-2008.pdf http://ia310803.us.archive.org/1/items/UniversityOfMarylandSalaryListSep2008/ http://www.azcentral.com/news/datacenter/payasu.php?fdepartment=&ftitle=professor&fsalary=0 http://www.azcentral.com/news/datacenter/payasu.php?fdepartment=&ftitle=professor&fsalary=0 http://open.georgia.gov/sta/entryPoint.aud http://www.kansas.gov/KanView/client/js/#dataTable=salary/emp_salary%3Fid%3D682%26job_title%3DAssistant%20Professor http://ia310831.us.archive.org/2/items/TexasAmUniversitySalariesSep2008/ http://www.ir.ufl.edu/factbook/v-14_salaries.pdf http://www.kentucky.com/1028/story/353631.html http://www.utahsright.com/h_salaries.php http://blog.nola.com/graphics/2009/02/search_for_state_employee_sala.html http://transparency.sc.gov/BCB/transparency/BCB-state-salary-query.phtm http://oira.unc.edu/faculty-salaries-at-research-and-aau-universities.html http://chronicle.com/article/Graduate-School-in-the/44846/ http://oira.unc.edu/faculty-salaries-at-research-and-aau-universities.html
Acronym guide
CMS: College Music Society
CHE: Chronicle of Higher Education
HERC: Higher Education Recruitment Consortium
IHE: Inside Higher Ed
MVL: Music Vacancy List (published by the College Music Society). Requires a member login.
AMS-L: American Musicological Society listserv
SEM-L: Society of Ethnomusicology listserv
SEM: Society of Ethnomusicology. Their current job list requires a member login.
TT: Tenure Track
VAP: Visiting Assistant Professor
ABD: All-But-Dissertation
Archives
2009-2010 Search
2008-2009 Search
2007-2008 Search
2006-2007 Search