Expression of Interest - Mentoring

South West Music School (SWMS)forms part of a national network of centres for advanced training for young musicians with exceptional potential and talent aged between 8 and 18.

Our programme consists of individually tailored packages for each young person participating in South West Music School.This includes mentoring, individual tuition and development, and an average of two / three residential projects per year. In addition, the cohort will also have opportunities to participate in existing programmes and projects delivered by the SWMS partners.

South West Music School is looking for committed individuals who wish to, through their knowledge and expertise, support and nurture talented young musicians.

The role of a SWMS Mentor

The mentor for SWMS is a key role for our organisation. It is the link between the young individual musicians and the SWMS Director. Through detailed mentoring sessions the young people will explore their current musical development and look to the future. The Mentors will work with their mentees to identify their strengths and weaknesses and form an Individual Learning Plan (ILP) from which the mentees individual tuition and development programme for each year will be created. The Mentor will liaise with key people in their mentees musical development (parents, instrumental teacher, head of music, head of music service, etc) and provide information to help the SWMS Director keep these people informed with regards to their mentees developmental requirements.

Overall good mentoring is about empowering the mentee to:

  • Become self aware – evaluating themselves, developing awareness of their personal strengths and weaknesses, their skills, the contributions they make are valued, their interpersonal relationships with others, etc.
  • Become self directing – following their own noses, choosing the direction they want to take, etc
  • Develop a sense of their own purpose – understanding their personal needs, what interests them, what they want, where are they going, etc.
  • Experience their own success – the reward of feedback, learning from their mistakes, etc.

Individuals who have become mentors in the past for other organisations have said that the mentoring role provides incredible satisfaction in being able to contribute to a young persons growth and it is also a wonderful opportunity to improve their own learning.

SWMS Mentor Job Description

Here are the main tasks that will need to be fulfilled by a Mentor

  • Attend SWMS mentoring training and induction (see schedule).
  • Lead on the creation of their mentees Individual Learning Plan (ILP).
  • Where appropriate liaise with mentees instrumental/vocal teacher, head of music, parents, etc.
  • Inform the SWMS Director of the ILP outcome so that the Director can create an individually tailored programme for their mentees.
  • Liaise with SWMS Director on a regular basis to ensure that the mentees ILP is being fulfilled.
  • Meet with their mentees to the programme schedule.
  • Set clear tasks and goals after each mentoring session.
  • Have interim contact with their mentees via email or telephone, if appropriate.
  • Complete SWMS mentoring reporting systems on mentees online file.
  • Involvement with the yearly evaluation and reporting processes.

SWMS Mentor Person Specification

Here are some of the key skills that a SWMS Mentor should possess:

  • Have a wide experience and/or knowledge of the performing music profession in any genre of music.
  • Have experience and/or knowledge of music education.
  • Have experience in working/communicating with young people aged 8 – 18.
  • Sound IT skills and have access to a computer and internet
  • Access to own transport.

Here are some of the key characteristics that a SWMS Mentor should possess:

  • Approachable – it is important that a Mentor is relaxed, friendly and responsive to the needs of the mentee.
  • A good listener – listening skills are seen as a crucial element in a successful mentoring relationship.
  • Realistic – Mentees goals should be broken down into small and achievable targets.
  • Flexible – the Mentor needs to be adaptable to the needs of the Mentee.
  • Reliable – Mentors should set the standard in the relationship by committing to the regular meetings and not letting their Mentee down.

2008/09 Mentoring Schedule

MONTH /

ACTIVITY

/

PAYMENT

August 08 / Training & Induction with SWMS Director / £100
7 Sept 08
Sept/Oct 08 / Initial meeting at Induction Day
Phoenix Arts Centre, Exeter, Devon
Individual meeting with Mentee / £125
2 Nov 08 / Mentoring Session at Residential
Wiltshire Music Centre, Bradford upon Avon
15 Nov 08
Nov 08 / Completion of ILP
Individual meeting with Mentee
Dec 08 / £125
January 08 / Individual meeting with Mentee
22 Feb 09 / Mentoring Session at Residential
Dartington Hall, Totnes, Devon
March 09
April 09 / Individual meeting with Mentee / £125
May 09
June 09 / Individual meeting with Mentee
27 July 09 / Mentoring Session at Residential,
Wells Cathedral School, Somerset
August 09 / Year Evaluation meeting with Mentee, SWMS Director and other interested parties (if appropriate) / £125

This programme will then roll out on an annual basis. Each individual mentoring session (except those at Residentials) will be booked between the Mentor and Mentee and should last, at least, one hour (for younger students more frequent shorter sessions (i.e. 30 minutes) maybe more appropriate).

FEES

There is a flat fee to each Mentor of £500 per Mentee plus a payment £100 towards your time to attend your training day.

You will also be able to claim mileage at 30p per mile to attend the Induction Day and residential mentoring sessions if they are not within 30miles of your base.

RECRUITMENT PROCESS

We are currently asking for Expression of Interest (EOI) from potential Mentors.

If you meet the criteria and are available for the set dates (Induction Days, Residentials) we would love to hear from you.

To log your EOI please send your CV or Biography with a covering letter to:

Lisa Tregale - Director

South West Music School

The Barn

Dartington Hall

Totnes

Devon

TQ9 6DE

Or via email on

We would also be grateful if you could include any days at the end of July and the whole of August that you would be available for you training and induction with the Director.

Lisa will be collating all the EOI’s and once we have had our auditions at the end of June 2008 and have selected the new students she will contact Mentors who match the students selected. This will be by genre of music, geographical location, etc).

If you would like to talk through anything further please do not hesitate to contact Lisa on 01803 847011 or

Deadline for full Expression of Interests is Friday 27 June 2008 @ 5.00pm

South West Music School

a partnership between Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Dartington Plus, Federation of Music Services SW, Wells Cathedral School and Wiltshire Music Centre.