Aaron Fox -- Personal FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
NB: As of July 1, 2011, Aaron is no longer chair of the Department of Music at Columbia University. He has been succeeded in that role by Prof. Giuseppe Gerbino. Please contact Prof. Gerbino with any communications intended for the Chair.
Personal FAQs ("Frequently Asked Questions") for Aaron Fox
Howdy,
Presumably, you came here from my listing on the "Contact" page or from my profile in the "Faculty" section, or else I sent you a link to this page in reply to an e-mail you sent me recently. If so, and if you have to look up my contact information, there's a good chance it's because you have to ask me something I am regularly asked.
Truthfully, I just can't answer all the cold-call email inquiries I get personally and still get anything else done. And rather than seem rude by just not replying in cases where I don't have an answer for you, or the answer needs to be a straight "no," or I just can't take the time to decode what you're asking because I'm having a bad email day, I decided to post, here, some common questions and their answers. In some cases, I tell you how to make your communication with me or with the Department more efficient and more likely to merit a helpful response, so do take a minute to scan below before you hit "send."
I know this is an impersonal policy, and I regret that, but I'm sure you, too, are experiencing some form of email information overload and can relate. Thanks for understanding! The questions are roughly in order of frequency. I'll try to sort them into proper categories in the future.
Sincerely,
Aaron Fox
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Q. I left you a message on your voice mail. Why didn't you return my phone call?
A. My schedule is densely packed. I am generally not available immediately by phone (or to return calls immediately) to people with whom I do not already have business (such as people who work at Columbia). I have about a 2 week backlog scheduling appointments with students and colleagues. So it's unfair to them for me to take a cold phone call for half an hour. As I explain on my message, please EMAIL me to arrange for an in-person or phone appointment, if such an appointment is appropriate. I prefer most business to be conducted over email first, unless the situation is truly urgent or you have really good news for me!
Q. I am a musician/ performer/ group/ representative of a performer, and want to get a gig at Columbia. Can you help?
A. The short answer is, usually and sadly, no, and don't get your hopes up. But don't just ask me. You should contact the person in charge of the relevant center, program, conference, or presenting organization on campus directly with inquiries. If you mail (not email!) a professional press kit to the Music Department office, they will try (usually) to send it on to the right person, but the Department is not able to return materials and cannot always respond to emails or return calls from the dozens of musicians and lecturers who contact us seeking to perform or speak for a fee.
Q. I'm a current/former student and I need a letter of recommendation. Will you write for me?
A. I will write letters for my current and former graduate and undergraduate students applying for graduate programs, jobs, etc., and for colleagues coming up for tenure or applying for a job, if:
a) I feel I can write something detailed and constructive
b) There is no conflict if I am writing for someone else
c) You give me at least 30 days notice before a deadline
d) You send me (in a single email message) all relevant information, including the address and deadline and a description of what I am recommending you for, as well as your application letter or essay and/or transcrpts and/or copies of work done in one or more of my classes, if applicable.
e) You provide a stamped, addressed envelope if mail submission is required.
f) You waive your right to see the letter I write, if that is an option, on the relevant application form. I will never write a letter for which that right is not waived.
Please remember to remind me by email a couple of days before each deadline. I don't mind. I appreciate it.
Q. I am a journalist and I want to interview you. How can I arrange that?
A. First, if you want to interview me about country music or American culture in general, I expect you to be somewhat familiar with my published work on the subject. Then, send (by email) me a rough precis of the proposed article (indicating whether it's on assignment or on spec, and what your deadline is), a list of sample questions, and your own resume or vita (ideally with sample publications I can review online). I am much more interested in talking about Native and Indigenous issues than country music or American popular culture topics.
Q. I'm making a film/writing a book/producing a show/suing over a copyright violation. Can I pick your brain for free?
A. Probably not, unless you are doing a strictly scholarly or non-profit project or you have a very impressive track record of past accomplishment. If your project is commercial, I need to be paid if you want my assistance or input. I can't help you brainstorm if you aren't my student or a close colleague. My published work can help you brainstorm. Or come take one of my classes.
Q. Can I come see you and pitch my publishing company's latest textbook?
A. No. You'd be wasting your time. Our Department does not set standard textbooks for use by our instructors, and many of us don't teach with textbooks at all. All such inquiries are ignored.
Q. I am looking for "bright, energetic, motivated" student interns willing to work for nothing. Can you recommend someone?
A. No, never, really. Not unless you're paying them decent wages, and the internship has genuine educational value as well -- i.e., it entails not just busywork or administrative labor.
Q.I want to enter your graduate program in Ethnomusicology. How can I learn more about the PhD program in ethnomusicology at Columbia?
A.Read our Grad Program's FAQ in detail. Almost any question I've ever received about the program is answered there (go on, try to stump it!).
(If you're interested in our other grad programs, please see the link "For Prospective Grad Applicants" at left.)
Q. I want to visit the Ethnomusicology grad program because I am thinking of applying. Can you set this up?
A. Contact my colleague, Prof. Ellen Gray at leg2114@columbia.edu . Prof. Gray is currently (2011-12 academic year) the head of the Ethnomusicology area committee and is handling all initial inquiries from prospective students. If you are specifically interested in working directly with me as a student in our program, I am of course happy to entertain inquiries. Begin by emailing me a CV or resume, along with a brief (2-3 paragraph at most) description of your research interests. Always do this before arranging a meeting with me to discuss the program.And do put some thought into it. If you send me a sloppily written inquiry, I'm going to assume you aren't serious. Please note that it is our program's policy that we do not (normally) interview prospective applicants in the Spring semester. We limit all interview/program visits to the Fall semester, with significant advance notice, and with no guarantee we will be able to accommodate your visit. Exceptions can only be made to this policy in rare cases.
Special Note for Native Studies Inquiries
Inquiries with a specific focus on Native/Indigenous issues or cultural and environmental rights issues will always have priority, as these are my current foci. I welcome them from colleagues, journalists, and from students at any level (including K-12 school students and educators). Native American students curious about what we are doing with repatriation at Columbia are especially encouraged to get in touch.
Q. I applied to your PhD/DMA program and was not accepted. Can you explain why?
By policy we do not comment on the reasons why an application to our PhD/DMA programs was rejected. We have very competitive programs with only a few funded positions and many strong applicants. That's why we reject even very strong applications.That is all I will ever say on this subject.
Q. Will you review a book manuscript for our press or an article manuscript for our journal?
A. I will only review books and papers for publication that are directly within my own areas of expertise (ethnomusicology, American music, country music, linguistic anthropology), and then only if I am allowed at least 3 months to complete the review. If you're in a bigger hurry than that, I'm not the reviewer for you. I do expect remuneration for book manuscript reviews.
Q. Will you write a book review for our journal?
A. At the moment (Fall 2011) I am not accepting any book review assignments for journals. I will try to recommend a colleague or graduate student who can take a review assignment if you are having trouble finding a reviewer.
Q. Will you give a talk in our department/conference?
A. I will speak or lead seminars or give keynote talks on my current research interests if you pay all of my travel expenses and a reasonable honorarium (waived for institutions that serve primarily low income or disadvantaged communities).
Q. Will you serve on a grant-review committee or evaluate proposals for us? (outside of Columbia University)
A. Only if I have previously done so for a specific agency or grant program in the past. At the moment, I can rarely do this otherwise.
Q. Will you serve on a non-Columbia dissertation committee?
A. Yes, but only if the dissertation is squarely in one of my areas of specialization and I am really the right person for the role. I must have at least 30 days to review a dissertation draft. I will only travel for a defense if all travel expenses are paid.
Q. Can I sit in on or audit one of your classes if I am not at Columbia?
A. Columbia does not permit auditing by non-matriculated students, so I do not permit auditors. I will usually allow you to visit one session of one of my classes if you are considering our graduate program or are a student in another PhD program,if you give me at least 2 weeks notice by email. This is my personal policy. My colleagues may have other policies and should be contacted individually if you plan to visit our program.
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