Are you an aspiring music educator looking to excel in your career? Landing a university teaching position in the competitive world of music requires more than just degrees. In this enlightening video, renowned violinist Danielle Belen, violin professor at the University of Michigan and a juror of the esteemed Radda Rise International String Competition, shares her invaluable insights on how to pursue and succeed in university teaching roles.
Summary
The Importance of Student Recruitment at Universities
One aspect that sets university teaching apart is the emphasis on student recruitment. Unlike many other university roles, such as engineering faculty where recruitment is not their primary responsibility, your ability to attract students to the institution is a fundamental measure of success as a music teacher. Whether you manage a small studio or lead a larger class, your capacity to bring in students to study at the school is pivotal.
Entrepreneurialism in Music Education
In today's dynamic landscape of music education, the importance of entrepreneurialism cannot be overlooked. Building a product, brand, or content that resonates with your target audience and potential students can be a game-changer when it comes to student recruitment. A shining example of this is Danielle Belen's Center Stage Strings program. By creating an innovative and inspiring program for young musicians, Danielle not only attracted students but also developed a devoted following, demonstrating Danielle's ability to not only teach but also build a thriving community. It was this entrepreneurial mindset and proven track record of drawing students that caught the attention of the University of Michigan. Recognizing the value of her program and the audience she had cultivated, they saw Danielle as a unique and impactful addition to their faculty. Whether you’re creating a program like Danielle’s, online content, or an engaging brand, building something that resonates with a niche audience and genuinely represents who you are as a musician or teacher can lead to exciting opportunities for your career.
The Misconception of Degrees and Job Guarantees
It is crucial to dispel the misconception that acquiring a bachelor's, master's, and DMA degrees guarantees a university teaching position. The field is highly competitive with a significant number of candidates holding advanced degrees. While education is undoubtedly valuable, it is essential to recognize that differentiation is key. Standing out from the competition requires a combination of qualifications and additional factors that highlight your unique strengths. In Danielle’s case, she only had a bachelor’s degree when she was approached by the University of Michigan, but her success with Center Stage Strings set her apart from other teachers and caught the university’s attention.
The Role of Salesmanship and Demonstrating Capability
Teaching is not just about imparting knowledge; it involves selling something people want and need. Demonstrating your capability to attract and retain students is essential. Building a reputation as a compelling educator and performer helps you stand out in a crowded field. Universities recognize the value of individuals who can draw in students, even without an extensive list of advanced degrees.
The Power of Connections and Relationships
Forming connections and nurturing relationships with influential mentors is powerful in any industry, especially the music industry. Danielle shared personal experiences where the connections she made with her pedagogues, especially Robert Lipsett, played a pivotal role in building successful teaching programs and eventually led to the University of Michigan seeking her out as a professor. These relationships opened doors and facilitated collaboration with renowned educators. When seeking a university position, these connections can significantly enhance your chances of success.
Gaining Teaching Experience
Another piece of advice for those aspiring to become university-level music teachers is to actively seek and accumulate teaching experience. Embracing opportunities to observe and assist experienced teachers not only provides valuable insights into effective pedagogical approaches but also helps foster a deeper understanding of the intricacies of music education. In the early stages of her teaching career, Danielle exemplified this dedication by offering her assistance to her own teacher's students, even teaching them on her own dime. This commitment allowed her to gain invaluable experience instructing high-level students and further refine her teaching skills.
Pursuing a university position in music is a multi-faceted journey. To increase your chances of success, it is crucial to prioritize student recruitment, cultivate meaningful connections with mentors and influential individuals, gain substantial teaching experience, and create compelling a brand and content that authentically reflect your teaching philosophy. By embracing these strategies and leveraging your unique strengths, you can position yourself as a strong candidate for a coveted university position in music teaching. Remember, success in this competitive realm requires a combination of passion, dedication, and a proactive mindset.
Video Transcript
Michelle Schodowski: If we could just take one more moment, because I thought of a question that many people are probably curious about. Getting those university positions can be highly competitive, so do you have any advice for anyone wanting to pursue that route? What can they do networking-wise? Or, what is the best way to pursue that?
Danielle Belen: I would love to answer that question because when I was younger, I definitely wouldn't have known the answer. It might have surprised me, but at university, there's one thing that you are expected to do, and it's the primary measure of your success: your ability to recruit students to the school. That's essentially what you're doing. It's as simple as that. Of course, there are scholarships and other factors, but essentially, unlike most jobs at the university, such as in engineering school where their job isn't necessarily to recruit students, as a violin teacher at a university, you must have students. It can range from having a studio of eight or nine students, especially if you're also a touring soloist and that's what you bring to the school to help with recruitment. A medium-level class might have 12 or 13 students, and a full-time professor usually has around 18 students. Currently, I have between 18 and 20 students at the University of Michigan, and I also have pre-college students on top of that. That's considered a full load.
I'm telling you all this because when you're applying for positions, some people think that if they just get their bachelor's, master's, and DMA degrees, they'll automatically get a job. But it's actually quite competitive. Having a DMA doesn't guarantee a position at a university because there are many people with DMA degrees. So what can make you stand out? One thing we've all mentioned today is the connections we made with our teachers. We haven’t studied with these teachers for 20 or 30 years, but the connections we formed with those pedagogues, like Minna Rose Chung with Hans Jenson and myself with Robert Lipsett, helped us build our own programs. In my case, my Center Stage Strings program was one of the main reasons I was approached by Michigan. High school and middle school students come there, work with the teachers, and if the relationship goes well, they might apply to the University of Michigan. We've already worked together, so we hit the ground running.
So, my advice for anyone interested in teaching long term at the university level is to teach as much as you can and gain as much experience as possible. It takes a long time until you start getting really good students. It might take you five years until you have a student who wants to be a music major, and then you might want more of those types of students. Cozy up with your teacher and ask to watch them teach or do things for them. There were times when I taught additional lessons to students on my own dime because I knew it would be a learning experience for me to teach students who were good enough to study with Mr. Lipsett. It helped me build relationships and improve my teaching skills. And Michelle, you've mentioned this a lot too—creating content. It doesn't have to be when you're 14 years old, but at some point, create something that represents who you are and has the potential to develop a community. For me, that was Center Stage Strings. I started it when I was 25, showcasing myself as a teacher and sharing my beliefs. I gathered a faculty who believed in the same thing, and students saw that passion, thinking it would be a good fit for them. Over the years, it grew. So having some sort of, you know, I hate to call my Center Stage Strings a product, but in a way it is. It's my product, and I sell it. You know, so much of what we do is sales, right? And in any field, teaching is sales, performing is sales, you're selling something that people want. You're providing people with things that they need. Over time, you'll prove your capability to attract people, and universities will notice. Personally, I don't have a Master's or a DMA, only a bachelor's degree. But I teach at the University of Michigan because they saw my ability to recruit and draw students. They took a bit of a risk when they hired me at just over 30 years old, trusting what I had done and built. Thankfully, I've been able to follow through and fulfill their expectations.
So, that's a long answer to your question, Michelle, but it's a complicated process. Many students often think, "Oh, I just need to get my DMA, and then I'll get a job." But it's highly competitive. However, I do believe that everyone should get their DMA if they want to teach because nowadays, it's even more important to have that degree. And while you're working on that degree, you can also develop all these other things, if that makes sense.
Michelle Schodowski: Yeah, I think that's really interesting. It makes total sense. I never really thought about the recruitment aspect as much. I think it's really inspiring to hear your story. Even though it is important to get those degrees, I think a lot of musicians fall into the trap of thinking, "Oh, I have to keep going back to school because I don't know where my career is going yet." So they just keep getting another degree and then another degree and then an artist certificate. But I think that's really valuable information so thank you for sharing that.
Danielle Belen: Happy to.
This transcript has been revised for grammar and readability.