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Re: Sad employment figure for PHDs

Author: Tom Puwalski
Date: 2010-10-27 12:40

As long as there are DMA and Phd clarinetists with teaching gigs at universities there will always be starry eyed kids at those universities. These teachers aren't going to let their gigs disappear. University clarinet recruiting is the one place I've seen more "truth flexibility" than with military recruiters. For a teacher to tell a prospective student that he or she has the talent to "make it" if they practice and study intensely and come to their school and study them smacks of malpractice.

When I returned to UofMD in 2001 to finish my BM and Masters, there were first year students that had never played through Rose Etudes, these were performance majors. Now in my own defense I was paid to go back to school, there is no way the education was worth what they were charging or would I have gone back and pay for it.

When I was auditioning Clarinetists for the U.S. Army Field Band, we had an audition in the late 90's that involved 15 or so clarinetists. In this group were two players both from a very expensive music school in "Chicago land" Both of whom had studied with a "very famous" clarinetist/religious figure(who shall remain nameless) one ABD on a DMA with $90K of student loans, the other with $70K. The Army at the time paying off up to $60k of your loans. Neither of the aforementioned players made it past the behind the screen prelims. In short they really couldn't play very well at all. AND get this, when I announced the numbers of the candidates that were advancing, they approached me and asked " Do you know who our teacher is?" Maybe they didn't know how stuff works maybe it's a generational difference, but I can't ever imagine asking someone on a committee that question.

It's sad but there really isn't a profession anymore. The few gigs that are out there are getting really squirly with their auditions. If Ricardo takes NY, all that means is Philly will have auditions and not hire anyone either, I mean if Ny is so good that they can't find a qualified candidate Philly will take twice as long as NY and Chicago. Do you really want your kids going into a Business like this????

Tom Puwalski, former clarinet soloist and principal clarinetist with the U.S. Army Field Band, author of The Clarinetist's Guide to Klezmer, More Klezmer Gig tunes and coming soon Clarinet Basic Training.

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Sad employment figure for PHDs new

Ed Palanker

2010-10-26 16:42