Members

Patrick McCreless (Yale University), Chair
Sean Atkinson (University of Texas at Arlington)
Deborah Burton (Boston University)
Anne Marie de Zeeuw (University of Louisville)
Matthew McDonald (Northeastern University)
Matt Steinbron (Lousiana State University)
Jan Miyake (Oberlin Conservatory)
Alfred Cramer (Pomona College)
Johanna Devaney (McGill University)
Alan Street (University of Dublin)

Conference Guides

For many years the Committee has sponsored the Conference Guides Program, in which members of SMT who are attending one of their first conferences are paired with more experienced conference goers, who help orient them on the first day, introduce them to other scholars, and in general help them feel welcome at the conference and in the Society. Anyone wishing to have a Conference Guide may check a box on the Registration Form, or directly contact Alfred Cramer (awco4747@pomona.edu), the CPD member in charge of the program. Veteran society members are also urged to volunteer to serve as guides, and they may also indicate their willingness to do so by checking the box on the Registration Form or e-mailing Alfred. Alfred will convene a meeting for introducing guides and “guidees” on Thursday afternoon, November 4, from 5:00–5:30 at a location to be announced.

Mentoring Program

SMT encourages mentoring within our community, recognizing that through mentoring theorists can provide invaluable service to one another, giving advice on a range of issues. The Mentoring Program sponsored by the Committee on Professional Development helps to match those seeking advice with those interested in helping to provide it. The program is available to all members of the Society, at all stages of their careers. Mentoring relationships are private and confidential, allowing you an avenue for advice and counsel with any issues you may be facing. In order for the program to be successful, we need volunteers at all stages of their career. Please fill out the form for more details or contact Deborah Burton (burtond@bu.edu). Note that the Committee on the Status of Women (CSW) also offers a Proposal Advising Program that provides female graduate students and junior faculty with assistance in preparing conference proposals. More information on the CSW Conference Proposal Advising Program can be found on the CSW Web page. Members should feel free to take advantage of either of these mentoring services as they see fit.

Graduate Student Breakfast

The CPD hosts a Student Breakfast during the conference. In the past we have called this a Graduate Student Breakfast, but in recent years more and more undergraduates have wanted to come, so we have opened the event to students at both levels. The breakfast not only offers excellent food, juice, and coffee, but it is also a great way to meet students from other institutions, to begin to develop all-important professional networks, and to learn about conferences and publications that invite student participation. The annual breakfast is scheduled for Friday morning of the conference from 7:00 to 9:00. Hosting the breakfast this year is Alan Street—currently of the University of Dublin, but soon to be on the faculty of the University of Kansas. Questions about the breakfast can be addressed to Patrick McCreless (patrick.mccreless@yale.edu).

Student Facebook Page

The CPD maintains the SMT student Facebook Page, which is intended specifically for students and first-year faculty. The Facebook Page, which replaces the CPD listserv of past years, provides a safe forum for new members of the professional community to discuss issues relevant to graduate study, applying for jobs, or other questions and concerns, without being shared with the entire SMT membership. CPD members Sean Atkinson and Matt Steinbron currently manage the Page, which now includes over 130 SMT members.

CV Review Session

The CPD will offer a CV review session in Indianapolis, in which senior members of the society are available to review and critique CVs and cover letters one-on-one with those applying for jobs in the near future. Conference attendees who wish to take advantage of this opportunity should bring at least five copies of both their current CV and a generic cover letter for this session. Questions regarding this session should be addressed to Anne Marie de Zeeuw (AnneMarie.deZeeuw@louisville.edu), session coordinator.

Special Sessions

For information about one of the topics below, presented as a special session at a national SMT meeting, click on the appropriate program title:

Tenure and the Musical Scholar: Philosophical and Practical Issues (2010)

The Teaching Component of the Job Interview (2009)

Publishing in Music Theory and Musicology (2008)

Presenting at a Conference (2007)
In this special session, a panel of five distinguished music theorists provided an overview of the steps in presenting a conference paper to a professional society. Each panelist gave a 10-15 minute presentation on a specific aspect of preparing or delivering a conference presentation.

Mid-career Renewal (2006)
For this special session the Committee on Professional Development invited a panel of senior music theorists who have continued to renew themselves professionally by exploring new areas of scholarship or new teaching venues, reexamining their pedagogical approaches, moving from teaching to administration, pursuing grants for research or study abroad, returning to performance, or by other means.

Preparing an Effective Tenure Case (2005)
For this special session the Committee on Professional Development invited a panel of administrators and tenured faculty members to speak about the policies and procedures for preparing effective tenure cases at their respective institutions. Presenters addressed such issues as: what are the main parts of a tenure dossier; what should a personal statement cover; how many inside and outside letters should be included (and who should write them); how teaching effectiveness is best documented; what strategies nontenured faculty should follow in choosing journals and other professional activities that will work most strongly in their favor; the importance of establishing collegial relations within the department; and how to balance service, research, and teaching.

Writing for Publication in Music Theory (2004)
For this special session the Committee on Professional Development invited several panelists consisting of editors of prominent music theory journals (both print and on-line journals) as well as an acquisitions editor from a well-known textbook publisher.

Sessions prior to 2004

Relevant Links

SMT Homepage

SMT Newsletter (online version)

Committee on the Status of Women (CSW)

Chronicle of Higher Education's Career Development Website

College Music Society (Main Site)

College Music Society (password required)

American Association of University Professors (National)