MA or MA/PhD?

[PhDavid]

Hi all!

I am gearing up for graduate school applications for Fall 2017 in the coming months and I am caught in a vicious circle trying to decide between applying to Master's programs first or going straight for a PhD.  I see a lot of pros and cons to both sides and that is why I am so torn.  I am curious to know what some of the rest of you are doing or have done.  

A little about me:

I am currently finishing up a Bachelor's in Music Theory and Literature from a small no-name university (though the school of music it is NASM certified).

4.0 undergrad GPA.

Verbal 165, Quant 153, and AW 4.5 on the GRE.

I am hoping to end up in a top PhD program in Music Theory eventually (Yale etc.).

 

I have a vague idea of my interests (music of the Renaissance and 20th Century) but I couldn't say that I am confident enough to choose a school based solely on research fit.  This is partly why I am considering an MA and also because I am coming from an unknown school.  

I would really appreciate any thoughts you have.