Resumen de Music Faculty Positions in Higher Education: An Analysis of the College Music Society Music Faculty Vacancy List for the 2003-2004 School Year
William E. Fredrickson, Melissa C. McCabe
The present study examines a snapshot of the recent job market for music teaching positions in higher education with an eye toward primary and secondary teaching responsibilities. Data were gathered by examining the Music Faculty Vacancy List published by the College Music Society from September 2003 to September 2004; 1003 jobs listed during this period. Forty-nine percent of the jobs listed were categorized as junior-level positions. However, 86% of these types of positions either specified that there would be other teaching expected outside the primary focus or that there would be a dual focus to the position. For graduate students to be competitive as they enter the profession it appears to be prudent for them to look for ways to develop their expertise in at least one other area at some point during graduate study. In addition it would seem wise for schools and departments of music to explore ways to help train graduate students to handle the various venues of teaching so that graduates are ready to deal with the variety of ways in which they may encounter students, such as in the classroom, ensemble, and the private studio.
