mklish

Hi there, I come from a similar background as you do and it's great to know that there are others out there dealing with the same situation! I am completing my Masters in piano performance and decided last summer that musicology was something that I really wanted to pursue, much more than a performing career. It was a tough decision but I am convinced I made the right choice. Like you, I was a bit intimidated by the major switch in focus and the big difference in experience gathered throughout the years. I also didn't know much about what musicologists did outside school but after meeting some students, it seems that attending conferences would be their version of summer festivals (: The biggest obstacle for me was definitely the writing sample in the applications, especially since I never had the need to write a Masters thesis or anything of that scale and of course, my credentials consisted of performances and competitions, not publications or academic awards. One question: do you study at a conservatory or in a music department at a larger university? I have been told many times that a certain bias exists in the more *ahem* 'elite' universities against performers looking to enter the academic field and for example, even if you have a 4.0 GPA, the general impression is that conservatories/music schools place a much lower emphasis on academics and thus that 4.0 would not match up to a 4.0 from a Harvard grad. There is not much one can do about it but that is why the writing sample is so important in making up for the lack of academic credentials as well as good recommendation letters from people who can vouch for your academic abilities and highlight the fact that you have shown dedication and perseverance in a field as challenging and consuming as an academic program. Unless you have the time to take a year or two off to build up an academic resume, it would probably be a good idea to put as much effort as possible into the writing sample(s), GRE and your final GPA. Also, it might help to start getting in touch with faculty members from the prospective programs you would like to apply for.. especially since as performers, we seldom have any alliances or the opportunity to be introduced through a professor. I don't think you would have wasted any years in perfecting your performing skills! This is how we came to know and love music and even if we take the academic path, I think it would still be possible to continue working on your instrument if you choose a program that encourages their students to perform and has a more flexible workload. Of course, we won't have the same 'luxury' of hours of practice but you wouldn't necessarily need to give up playing completely.. and the musicality and artistry that you have gained will likely remain with you and even help with your future program. We have had the privilege of being personally involved in many of the musical works that we will come across later as scholars and I think this allows us a rather unique perspective. I hope this has helped a bit! Please feel free to talk about other questions you might have.. The shift was very confusing for me and it helped to talk to others who had been through the same situation. Although I kind of made it sound like performers are at a disadvantage, don't worry too much because there are very diverse programs out there and I am sure one will fit you and you will fit it! I was successfully accepted into a few PhD programs for this Fall and will most likely be attending the Graduate Center (CUNY) as it has an excellent program that also places an encouraging emphasis on performance, not to mention its fantastic location in New York City! Good luck in your endeavors!! p.s. Apologies in advance if I had made it seem too one-sided in regards to the whole performers vs musicologists thing.. The difficulties I described were very real for me and I feel that the challenges of applying to a PhD program are quite different coming from a performance background. In the end however, it is the love for music that makes any obstacle worth it!