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...as it turns out...I guess I don't have to!
So I recently just finished my Bachelor's Degree in Mathematics, and right now I'm kind of on cooldown before I attempt to get a Ph.D of any sort. My endgoal is to become a professor; I don't really care what I become a professor of, I just want to become a professor. A community college professor (one that's tenured) would be nice, because I want to focus on the teaching aspect of it as opposed to the research aspect of it. I want to change people's lives...I might do research who knows. I'm not even that good at math though, compared to the people I know I doubt my research will contribute anything.
ANYWAY.
So at the encouragement of someone close to me, I applied for a front desk job at a school, which is full time, but entry level (though it still pays better than the median salary of a music composer LOL that tells you something...). I'm kind of afraid. Afraid I won't have time, afraid I won't like the job...but I sucked it up and did it anyway because I wasn't really doing anything.
In the past couple weeks I sought out some of the accomplished composers in my area and asked for advice, and one of them asked if I wanted to meet up! Of course I did, and he liked my stuff and took me under his wing! (I'm expecting to publish my first work in July). He told me though that it's difficult to support yourself off composing, so he told me to do something else and just compose in my spare time and if I'm successful, then pursue it as a career. So I plan on doing exactly that...
So I'm pretty elated I get to do both of the things I love (this job is just for like 1-1.5 years, to keep me busy so I don't die of boredom... My whole life I thought I would have to eventually give up music for my career. I clung on to it desperately the past couple years, it's a very deep part of who I am, and I don't know what I'd do without it.
Here's one of the pieces I'm working on (10 Preludes for Piano). This is number 5, in Ab. The beginning is pretty vanilla, I know, so hang in there...
http://www.freewebs.com/evil5partan/1459669402_0314sPqdaZy7AknrgbXJ.mp3
EDIT: I got the job! YEAAAAAAAAAAAAA ya boi is employeddd
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You've finished your bachelor and you are already thinking about a PhD? Isnt there something in between? A master 
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On April 14 2016 07:01 solidbebe wrote:You've finished your bachelor and you are already thinking about a PhD? Isnt there something in between? A master \
Only vocies go into Masters programs. For academics, a Masters is just a speedbump on the way to a doctorate. Some don't even bother getting it.
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On April 14 2016 07:08 Jerubaal wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2016 07:01 solidbebe wrote:You've finished your bachelor and you are already thinking about a PhD? Isnt there something in between? A master \ Only vocies go into Masters programs. For academics, a Masters is just a speedbump on the way to a doctorate. Some don't even bother getting it.
or a master's is what you end up with when you give up on your phd 
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A community college professor (one that's tenured) would be nice, because I want to focus on the teaching aspect of it as opposed to the research aspect of it.
Unfortunately, tenured-track professorship positions (especially in math) are almost exclusively reserved for researchers, not teachers/ educators. You'll need to be doing research 90% of the time and they'll throw a single class or two at you while you write grants and proposals and other things that actually bring in money to the universities  Maybe you'll have decent luck at the community college level (where they don't really do substantial research), but I doubt it'll be tenured-track. Found all this out the hard way, as I was going for my PhD, teaching as an adjunct professor, and looking for secure college jobs.
Best of luck though, and it's great that you can enjoy both passions of yours!
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On April 14 2016 13:11 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:Show nested quote +A community college professor (one that's tenured) would be nice, because I want to focus on the teaching aspect of it as opposed to the research aspect of it. Unfortunately, tenured-track professorship positions (especially in math) are almost exclusively reserved for researchers, not teachers/ educators. You'll need to be doing research 90% of the time and they'll throw a single class or two at you while you write grants and proposals and other things that actually bring in money to the universities Maybe you'll have decent luck at the community college level (where they don't really do substantial research), but I doubt it'll be tenured-track. Found all this out the hard way, as I was going for my PhD, teaching as an adjunct professor, and looking for secure college jobs. Best of luck though, and it's great that you can enjoy both passions of yours!
Yeah, I plan on teaching community college if I end up teaching. I would totally be down to do research though, that's something I've always had some interest in haha.
The school that I plan on applying to (UCLA) has a Ph.D - Masters program, which means you either get both...or you get neither LOL. Ehhhh....Ph.D is where all the scholarships are at from what I hear so I think I'd be safer going down that route XD
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On April 14 2016 13:43 XDJuicebox wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2016 13:11 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:A community college professor (one that's tenured) would be nice, because I want to focus on the teaching aspect of it as opposed to the research aspect of it. Unfortunately, tenured-track professorship positions (especially in math) are almost exclusively reserved for researchers, not teachers/ educators. You'll need to be doing research 90% of the time and they'll throw a single class or two at you while you write grants and proposals and other things that actually bring in money to the universities Maybe you'll have decent luck at the community college level (where they don't really do substantial research), but I doubt it'll be tenured-track. Found all this out the hard way, as I was going for my PhD, teaching as an adjunct professor, and looking for secure college jobs. Best of luck though, and it's great that you can enjoy both passions of yours! Yeah, I plan on teaching community college if I end up teaching. I would totally be down to do research though, that's something I've always had some interest in haha. The school that I plan on applying to (UCLA) has a Ph.D - Masters program, which means you either get both...or you get neither LOL. Ehhhh....Ph.D is where all the scholarships are at from what I hear so I think I'd be safer going down that route XD
Let me know if you end up at UCLA! I'm a PhD student there currently.
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On April 14 2016 13:05 synapse wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2016 07:08 Jerubaal wrote:On April 14 2016 07:01 solidbebe wrote:You've finished your bachelor and you are already thinking about a PhD? Isnt there something in between? A master \ Only vocies go into Masters programs. For academics, a Masters is just a speedbump on the way to a doctorate. Some don't even bother getting it. or a master's is what you end up with when you give up on your phd
Wait is a master not required to get a PhD? I was under that impression at least. Learn something new every day.
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Here is my input:
- Difficulty: It can be difficult, it can be easy. It really depends on what kind of lifestyle you feel suits you the most. For example:
on a full time front desk job, you might get say 2.5 k each month. Composing you might get 6 k at one time. Then for 3 months no other entries. Are you able to spread out that 6k for 3 months? as opposed to having 7.5 k all toghether at regular intervals.
- Independence: searching and sounding for jobs, gigs, networking. There is a lot of competition in the music industry. You have to constantly show what your worth to become established.
- Time: you are your own master of time. In films, composing is the last step accomplished, and the one they give you less time to do. It is started when filming is started, or before, to search for ideas or tunes. After the film is filmed, edited, you get free pass to make the music. This falls beetwen the end of editing and the release of the film. Bear in mind that some major hollywood films out there, the music was made in less than 1 month. The Lion kings song "circle of life" was done in 1 week.
If you are able to come to terms with these 3 things, i assure you its more easy than hard. This is all other than the actual music and creative part, which, listening to your piece of music, you are definitevly able to do it seems to me.
About math and music:
Music is technically numbers and waves. Music is sound, sound is vibration, and vibration is math. Except for the timbre, all other aspects of music are classifiable throught math. Even notes, La minore Bemolle, or Ab, is number of vibrations per minute that the actual sound produces throught the medium (air, water, metal, wood) Many musicians and composers i know have skills in math, like math, use math.
Also i don' t know if you play another instrument: learn to play another instrument aside from the piano. Yes, i agree that its the best instrument of all time to compose with, for its versatility, completness, ability to perform almost any gendre and style. Other instruments will open up ideas and concepts, new roads and its very rewarding .
And check out http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/ImbaTosS Elegants blogs too if you haven' t allready
Edit: i would review those notes you choosed at 1:12-1:16
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On April 14 2016 15:40 solidbebe wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2016 13:05 synapse wrote:On April 14 2016 07:08 Jerubaal wrote:On April 14 2016 07:01 solidbebe wrote:You've finished your bachelor and you are already thinking about a PhD? Isnt there something in between? A master \ Only vocies go into Masters programs. For academics, a Masters is just a speedbump on the way to a doctorate. Some don't even bother getting it. or a master's is what you end up with when you give up on your phd Wait is a master not required to get a PhD? I was under that impression at least. Learn something new every day.
Pretty big distinction whether you are in the U.S. or in Europe in that matter. In Europe it is the standard to do 3 year bachelor, 2 year master, 3 year Ph.D., while in the U.S. it is more common to go 4 year bachelor and then directly 5 year Ph.D.. As you can see the total time of studying is almost identical, so it's just a matter of formalities.
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(Even after a 5 year master degree, PhDs can last for up to 5 year in Europe, and I believe 4 is more standard than 3, not sure.)
@OP: have fun, whether it's teaching and/or musics (or teaching music? :p)
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On April 14 2016 22:18 padiseal2 wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2016 15:40 solidbebe wrote:On April 14 2016 13:05 synapse wrote:On April 14 2016 07:08 Jerubaal wrote:On April 14 2016 07:01 solidbebe wrote:You've finished your bachelor and you are already thinking about a PhD? Isnt there something in between? A master \ Only vocies go into Masters programs. For academics, a Masters is just a speedbump on the way to a doctorate. Some don't even bother getting it. or a master's is what you end up with when you give up on your phd Wait is a master not required to get a PhD? I was under that impression at least. Learn something new every day. Pretty big distinction whether you are in the U.S. or in Europe in that matter. In Europe it is the standard to do 3 year bachelor, 2 year master, 3 year Ph.D., while in the U.S. it is more common to go 4 year bachelor and then directly 5 year Ph.D.. As you can see the total time of studying is almost identical, so it's just a matter of formalities.
To be clear, in many American universities, you can enter into a PhD program without a master's (and just a bachelor's), but through your coursework and research, you frequently earn a master's degree along the way. Some PhDs have no master's, but many PhDs have earned their master's as a byproduct of their doctoral program
And many others just go bachelor's -> master's program -> doctoral program (new or continuation of previous master's program), where most of the bachelor's/ master's courses count as credit towards PhD qualifications. That's the route I took at Rutgers.
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To be honest, you've already made it pretty clear you don't want to do the Mathematics PhD route. And it also comes across like it would be a very bad choice for you. Tenure-tracked positions are going to be REALLY rare by the time you're done with your degree, so unless you're in it for the long-haul and really good (or really well connected), you're setting yourself up for a lot of failure. (This is why having an advisor in the field is really important while you're getting your Bachelor's. They know the lay of the land better.)
If you have the mental stamina for it, the classic advice is to get several of the Actuary tests done, get an Actuary job and work your "hobby" until you can do that full time. You'll have a steady job, make good money and generally have pretty set hours, allowing you to pursue your other activities.
Also, I've noticed a trend where people in our age bracket have this view that you lack the ability to work a primary job and have a secondary "job" or advanced hobby that's profitable. (Especially with plans to switch later.) I still find that odd.
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On April 14 2016 13:43 XDJuicebox wrote:Show nested quote +On April 14 2016 13:11 DarkPlasmaBall wrote:A community college professor (one that's tenured) would be nice, because I want to focus on the teaching aspect of it as opposed to the research aspect of it. Unfortunately, tenured-track professorship positions (especially in math) are almost exclusively reserved for researchers, not teachers/ educators. You'll need to be doing research 90% of the time and they'll throw a single class or two at you while you write grants and proposals and other things that actually bring in money to the universities Maybe you'll have decent luck at the community college level (where they don't really do substantial research), but I doubt it'll be tenured-track. Found all this out the hard way, as I was going for my PhD, teaching as an adjunct professor, and looking for secure college jobs. Best of luck though, and it's great that you can enjoy both passions of yours! Yeah, I plan on teaching community college if I end up teaching. I would totally be down to do research though, that's something I've always had some interest in haha. The school that I plan on applying to (UCLA) has a Ph.D - Masters program, which means you either get both...or you get neither LOL. Ehhhh....Ph.D is where all the scholarships are at from what I hear so I think I'd be safer going down that route XD
That's not how it works, it cannot be a fad, you need to be REALLY interested in becoming a researcher.
Me thinks the only thing you are interested in is teaching community college people.
Do the necessary steps for that, like Plasma i doubt that they will let you get into a tenured postion, that is only for researchers.
On April 15 2016 05:46 Taf the Ghost wrote:
To be honest, you've already made it pretty clear you don't want to do the Mathematics PhD route. And it also comes across like it would be a very bad choice for you. Tenure-tracked positions are going to be REALLY rare by the time you're done with your degree, so unless you're in it for the long-haul and really good (or really well connected), you're setting yourself up for a lot of failure.
Agreeing with this!
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Yeah, when I was a PhD student all you need to do to get MA was to fill up some paperwork once you finished your coursework and you were automatically awarded MA. Around third of us did that, while the rest could not be bothered. Nobody cares about MA once you get PhD.
And yes, there is no need to have master degree to do PhD in US/Canada and some of UK schools. I went straight from undergrads and that's not that uncommon.Though, I was the youngest in my cohort and felt that I lacked certain degree of maturity that comes with age and that helps you with research.
And as many said earlier, unless you are really passionate about research/math PhD is not for you. It is extremely tough and only if you are passionate enough about it you will be able to complete it. Otherwise you will drop out in the middle wasting bunch of years of your youth.
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EPT
