The mentorship of beginning teachers is a phenomenon of interest among those in the field. Numerous education (Ingersoll & Strong, 2011; Gray & Taie, 2015) and music education (Conway, 2001, 2003, 2006; Smith, 1994) authors and researchers have cited the potential impact of mentoring on success and retention in the profession. Most extant research is focused in the realm of P–12 education, though recent investigators have examined mentoring teachers at the collegiate level (e.g., Austin, 2018; Driscoll, Parkes, Tilley-Lubbs, Brill, & Pitts Bannister, 2009; Maher, Lindsay, Peel, & Twomey, 2006; McCormack & West, 2006; Mullen, 2005; Pellegrino, Conway, & Millican, 2018; Walker, Golde, Jones, Büschel, & Hutchings, 2008). While many mentorship endeavors reflect the traditional mentor (veteran) and mentee (novice) approach to pairing, peer mentoring—a type of comentoring that reflects a more “mutual and reciprocal” relationship (Draves & Koops, 2011, p. 68)—can be effective at the collegiate level (e.g., two early-career, tenure-track professors). Considering both approaches have yielded positive perceptions by participants, it seems that the application of varied mentoring methods might prove meaningful when guiding music teacher educators through the various stages of a higher education career.

 

The purpose of this panel discussion was to examine the mentoring experiences of

instrumental music teacher educators (IMTEs). Professors (assistant, associate, and full

professors) and doctoral students from three institutions served as panel members, and

represented the typical stages across the career. Topics covered various aspects of IMTE

development and support, including (but not limited to) instruction, research, professional

affiliation/interactions, micro-politics, and personal/emotional issues. We intended to highlight

our own experiences, making connections to strategies described in the professional literature.

The interactive session began with a brief introduction and presentation among panel members.

All attendees then engaged in a breakout session, divided into four groups based on career stage:

early-career doctoral students, late-career doctoral students, junior faculty members, and senior

faculty members. Each group discussed various components of mentoring IMTEs (e.g., concerns,

needs, solutions) and created a list/summary. To conclude, session organizers led a debrief and

discussion between the panel and all attendees. Implications for the continued guidance of

doctoral students and IMTEs were compiled and are presented in this document.

 

 

 

References

 

Austin, J. R. (2018). Take a researcher to lunch: Informal mentoring for researchers. Journal of

Music Teacher Education, 28(1), 6–9.

 

Conway, C. M. (2001). Beginning music teacher perceptions of district–sponsored induction

programs. Bulletin of the Council for Research in Music Education, 151, 1–11.

 

Conway, C. M. (2003). Great beginnings for music teachers: Mentoring and supporting new

teachers. Reston, VA: MENC.

 

Conway, C. M. (2006). Navigating through induction: How a mentor can help. Music Educators

Journal, 92(5), 56–60.

 

Draves, T. J., & Koops, L. H. (2011). Peer mentoring: Key to new music teacher educator

success. Journal of Music Teacher Education, 20(2), 67–77.

 

Driscoll, L. G., Parkes, K. A., Tilley-Lubbs, G. A., Brill, J. M., & Pitts Bannister, V. R. (2009).

Navigating the lonely sea: Peer mentoring and collaboration among aspiring women

scholars. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in Learning, 17, 5–21.

 

Gray, L., & Taie, S. (2015). Public school teacher attrition and mobility in the first five years:

Results from the first through fifth waves of the 2007–08 Beginning Teacher Longitudinal

Study (NCES 2015–337). U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National

Center for Education Statistics. Retrieved from http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch

 

Ingersoll, R., & Strong, M. (2011). The impact of induction and mentoring programs for

beginning teachers: A critical review of the research. Review of Educational Research, 81,

201–233. doi:10.3102/0034654311403323

 

Maher, J., Lindsay, J., Peel, V., & Twomey, C. (2006). Peer mentoring as an academic resource.

Australian Universities Review, 48(2), 26–29.

 

McCormack, C., & West, D. (2006). Facilitated group mentoring develops key career

competencies for university women: A case study. Mentoring & Tutoring: Partnership in

Learning, 14, 409–431.

 

Mullen, C. A. (2005). Mentorship primer. New York, NY: Peter Lang.

 

Pellegrino, K., Conway, C. M., & Millican, J. S. (2018). Tenure and promotion experiences of

music teacher educators: A mixed-methods study. Journal of Music Teacher Education,

27(2), 82–99.

 

Smith, M. V. (1994). The mentoring and professional development of new music educators: A

descriptive study of a pilot program. Available from ProQuest Dissertations and Theses

A&I. (9501133)

 

Walker, G. E., Golde, C. M., Jones, L., Büschel, A. C., & Hutchings, P. (2008). The formation of

scholars: Rethinking doctoral education for the 21st century. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-

Bass.

 

 

Early-Career Doctoral Students

 

Concerns:

 

• Dealing with imposter syndrome

• Adjusting to a new role as a student

• Lack of information communicated/available

• Music theory and history courses (enrollment, success in)

• Diminished ability/time for music making

• Competition among fellow graduate assistants

• Age/cohort disconnect

 

Solutions/Desires

 

• Being reached out to regularly

• General encouragement and feedback

• Availability and approachability by professors

• Specific opportunities offered based on our skills or experiences

• More opportunities for music making

• Increased collaboration across departments within music

 

Late-Career Doctoral Students

 

• Importance of peer mentors ahead of you in the program

o e.g., coursework, institutional knowledge, the job search

• Co-navigation with faculty members

o Networking, cheerleading, participation encouragement

• Moving from surviving (entry to the program) to thriving (toward exit/graduation)

• Identity shift from student to professor/expert in the field

o Imposter syndrome

 

 

Junior Faculty Members

• Ask for an experienced mentor

• Seek people out

• Find/importance of close colleagues

• Peers from Ph.D. study, including those who are a “little” ahead in the tenure/career track

• Not always sure what to ask for and who to ask

• Unclear expectations—“How will I be assessed?”

• Navigating leadership changes

• Getting outside music

• Mentoring the people you are a “little” ahead of

• Being the first “new” person in a long time can be challenging

• Being with all “new” people in music education

• Knowing the cost–benefit analysis of investment (particularly your time)

• Lack of mentoring—“I’m not sure how I’m doing”

 

Senior Faculty Members

 

• Vagueness of process/requirements for associate to full professor

o Build relationships

• Ethics of letter writing

• Institutional context

• Find your own mentor