#but apparently i should've like. idk. taken out 100k in loans and tried to extend my college career into something TOTALLY different.

[the-everqueen]

articulated something to my therapist today that i think i can expound on for mine own sake here: a recurring thing i've noticed in music dept job postings is a "doubling up" of roles. i.e., the dept *wants* a musicologist to teach the music history courses (general) and maybe some period-specific stuff, but they ALSO *want* someone to teach private lessons in instruments or lead an ensemble or direct the annual opera/theater/big tableau performance. and what they'll do is prioritize someone's ability to do the latter over the former, and then just...give them the music history courses. there's this privileging of "well, YOUR expertise clearly translates into applicable results re: graduating performance or education majors," and inversely a total devaluing of what i do. like of COURSE you need to have been signed by a major label or have performed with an orchestra or taught private lessons at the college level in order to get an applied music role! but you DON'T need a specialized degree to approach history! :) anyone can crack open a textbook and talk at students about what's inside. :) no one needs to develop critical thinking skills re: history and music lit. :) just memorize the dates and practice your audition pieces. :)