Mission of the Career Development Initiative
The Career Development Initiative helps CMS members create strategies for successful careers in music.
Focus of Work in the Career Development Initiative
The Career Development Initiative includes work in two areas: (1) Academic Careers and (2) Careers Outside the Academy. Committees that coordinate work in both areas have common concerns such as career entry, mentoring, and career advancement. The committees (1) provide online resources for career development and advancement (e.g., information concerning resumes/curriculum vitae, cover letters, press-kits, grant-writing, project development, professional networking, and other career tools); (2) maintain and disseminate relevant information regarding career trends in the music field; and (3) sponsor workshops and mentoring opportunities concerning career issues and skill development essential to the professional lives of musicians.
In addition, several committees offer focus to specific aspects of the careers of musicians within the higher education community: (1) Academic Leadership and Administration, (2) Academic Citizenship, (3) Music Entrepreneurship Education, and (4) Musicians' Health.
Committees of the Career Development Initiative
The Career Development Initiative includes the following committees:
(1) Academic Careers,
(2) Careers Outside the Academy,
(3) Academic Citizenship,
(4) Academic Leadership and Administration,
(5) Music Entrepreneurship Education
(6) Musicians' Health.
The committees within the Career Development Initiative seek to provide CMS members and the music profession with opportunities necessary for (1) developing essential employment-seeking skills, (2) thriving in a music career, (3) working as an independent musician, and (4) life in higher education.
Career Development Coordination
The Chairs of the committees on Academic Careers, Academic Leadership and Administration, Academic Citizenship, Careers Outside the Academy, Music Entrepreneurship Education, and Musician's Health meet at the annual National Conference to share progress on current projects and ideas for future plans, helping to coordinate ideas for conference presentations, workshops, and other events.
Academic Careers
Mission of the Committee on Academic Careers – The mission of the Committee on Academic Careers is to provide information, resources, and analysis concerning music careers within traditional academic fields.
Careers Outside the Academy
Mission of the Committee on Careers Outside the Academy – The mission of the Committee on Careers Outside the Academy is to provide information, resources, and analysis concerning professional music careers outside academe.
Academic Leadership and Administration
Mission of the Committee on Academic Leadership and Administration – The Committee on Academic Leadership and Administration focuses on developmental and career issues of administrative work in music.
Goals of the Committee – The goals are (1) to support effective service and career development of administrators through workshops on skills essential for addressing daily and recurring challenges and opportunities in administrative positions; (2) to promote and advocate administration as a career path for faculty; and (3) to serve as a resource for experienced administrators. By offering a forum in which established and aspiring administrators may consider a range of issues and challenges relevant to their work, the committee indirectly promotes productive dialogue between faculty and administrators.
Academic Citizenship
Mission Statement of the Committee on Academic Citizenship – The mission of the Committee on Academic Citizenship is to explore what it means for musicians to be part of the higher education community and to identify and articulate the responsibilities that academic citizenship holds.
Music Entrepreneurship Education
Mission Statement of the Committee on Music Entrepreneurship Education – The Committee on Music Entrepreneurship Education focuses on infusing entrepreneurship into the fabric of curricular and programmatic music training.
Goals of the Committee – The goals of the Committee on Music Entrepreneurship Education are to (1) provide insight into the role of the artist (creative being) in the 21st century creative economy; (2) become a leading advocate for entrepreneurship education in music training; (3) maintain and disseminate relevant information regarding trends in music entrepreneurship education; (4) introduce entrepreneurship into the fabric of music training by supporting the development of scholarship and the dissemination of curricular and programmatic efforts; and (5) promote understanding of how entrepreneurship can act as a catalyst for the career aspirations of students involved in music programs across the country.
Musicians' Health
Mission Statement of the Committee on Musician's Health – The Committee on Musicians’ Health serves as a resource to the CMS membership on all aspects of musicians’ health.
Goals of the Committee – The goals are (1) to bring the subject of musicians’ health to the foreground in the thinking of all musicians and administrators; (2) to provide the CMS membership with access to research, educational resources, and key events on the subject of musicians’ health; (3) to aid faculty and administrators in fulfilling the NASM wellness advisorie; and (4) to support CMS members seeking information about musicians’ health.
Career Information Services
Mission of Career Development Information Services – The mission of The College Music Society’s professional information services is to provide the members and the music profession with high-quality data resources to meet their professional needs.
Databases of The College Music Society
In order to fulfill its career development mission of service to music and higher education, The College Music Society has established and maintains several databases. From these databases several products are made available in order to provide information and fulfill communications needs. Presently, products are made available through print and electronic media.
Databases of Institutions and Faculties — The College Muisc Society establishes, maintains, and expands databases of postsecondary faculties and institutions in music. These databases include (1) names, addresses, and telephone numbers of institutions; (2) names of administrators; (3) faculty information, including name, gender, rank, highest degree earned, and teaching specializations.
Databases of Organizations — The College Music Society establishes, maintains, and expands a database of international organizations that serve postsecondary faculties and institutions within the music field. The database includes: (1) names, addresses, and telephone numbers of organizations; (2) names of presidents and administrators; (3) names and editors of publications; (4) names and chairs of committees; (5) details concerning annual conferences; (6) details concerning special events.
Databases of Employment Opportunities — The College Music Society maintains a database of employment opportunities in the music and higher education field.
Policies and Procedures for Maintaining Databases — Databases are formally revised annually. The goal is to have the revised faculty and institutional databases available by October 1 of each year, the organizational databases available by Februay 1. In principle, the following schedule will apply:
July 1 - Prepare proof sheets and mailing
August 1 - Mail proof sheets with instructions and request for revisions
August 7 - Receive, organize, and process revised data
September 15 - Mail reminder, with final deadline of October 1
Music Specialty Code Revisions — Music specialty, teaching, and other codes used in databases will be reviewed and revised as necessary every three years. As appropriate, the advance of members of specific disciplines will be sought when revising teaching and other codes.
Database Development — The College Music Society will continuously expand its current databases and add new databases as the music profession may require or find useful. Operational plans for database projects will be developed by staff for review and approval by technology committees.
Products and Services
Mailing Labels, Rosters, and Statistical Studies — Based on the contents of its databases, The College Music Society makes available mailing labels and rosters in printed form on a rental, single-use basis. Upon request, the Society assists individuals and businesses in need of statistical analysis concerning faculty teaching and specialization.
Databases — The College Music Society does not make its databases available for rental or purchase.
Music Vacancy List — To assist the field of music in obtaining qualified applicants for professional positions and to assist persons searching for employment, The College Music Society offers the Music Vacancy List. The Music Vacancy List is available for use by institutions, businesses, and organizations seeking to employ qualified musicians. The Music Vacancy List is distributed to the membership of the Society electronically.