Dr. Melissa McCabe graduated from UMKC with a master’s degree in music education in 2004, then an Interdisciplinary Ph.D. in Music Education and Education in 2007.
“I grew up with the love of music,” she said. “Growing up in Kansas City, I was always aware of the wonderful reputation of the Conservatory. That reputation is what brought me to UMKC for my master’s degree in music education, but it was the outstanding faculty that brought me to the IPhD program.”
During her time at UMKC, Dr. McCabe enjoyed working closely with her professors.
“The knowledge I gained from them is priceless,” she said. “The arts, by nature, are meant to be interdisciplinary. Music education is interdisciplinary. It was the ability to design my own program that catered to my strengths and interest areas in education that drew me into the program.”
Dr. McCabe has recently received tenure and a promotion to Associate Professor at Towson University in Maryland. She has served as the Division Leader for the Music Education program and the Graduate Program Administrator, and will begin next year as the Graduate Program Director.
“I chose Towson because the position allows me to specialize in elementary instrumental music education,” she said. “Ever since the completion of my bachelor’s degree, I have wanted to teach at the college level to prepare future music educators for teaching in the public schools.”
Because she had completed the UMKC master’s program and completed a substantial portion of the graduate music courses, Dr. McCabe considers her Ph.D. journey to be a unique one.
“In addition to the teaching and research, I was able to present sessions and conferences across the country. Every step of the way, I had the support of my professors and they had a special way of turning any situation into a teaching and learning moment. It was remarkable,” she said. “I would say the program at UMKC gave me a wealth of experience in the areas of teaching, scholarship and service – the three areas of promotion and tenure in higher education.”
Since earning her doctoral degree, Dr. McCabe has presented at conferences for the National Association for Music Education and the International Society for Music Education. She has published articles in the Bulletin for the Council of Research in Music Education. She has served as the president of the Maryland College and University Music Educators Association. She also teaches group exercise classes at her gym, and maintains a private music studio of 20 students.
Dr. McCabe has some advice for students who are interested in earning a Ph.D.
“Make connections at conferences and other institutions while you are working on your degree. Teach as much as possible. Work on developing a line of research that interests you and that can provide a platform for continued study as you pursue your first tenure-track position. Present your research and present in as many venues as possible,” she said. “When searching for that first [post-degree] job, hold out and wait for the job that is a perfect fit for you – it will be worth it.”