Exploring the functions of alumni mentoring in higher education music contexts

This article explores the impact of alumni mentoring schemes on music students as they think about their future working lives. Research suggests that opportunities for career preview, working alongside more experienced musicians, can help support the transition into the professional world. We consider the functions of mentoring in this context and the potential of alumni mentoring as a strategy to support career preparation for music students. The study explores alumni mentoring schemes involving a total of 46 undergraduate students at two higher education university music departments in England. Mentees were invited to complete questionnaires before and, along with the mentors, after their mentoring, and some mentors and mentees elected to participate in follow-up interviews. The findings provide valuable insights into the experience of both mentees and mentors and the impact on perceptions of career preparedness and self-efficacy. We conclude that alumni mentoring is a powerful resource for supporting work transitions, with mutual benefits for mentor and mentee alike.