Life after Graduate School: The Importance of a Mentor

This excerpt from “Life after graduate school: The importance of a Mentor” is written by Kristin Yost (soon to be featured in a series of ComposeCreate posts on finances). Kristin is the founder and executive director of Centre for Musical Minds. The entire article can be found in the current edition of Clavier Companion.

Listening, not imitation, is the sincerest form of flattery

~ Dr. Joyce Brothers

You did it. You graduated! For the past six to seven years of your life you dedicated your time to studying, earning good grades, and establishing professional and personal relationships to last a lifetime. You practiced countless hours, probably took hundreds of tests in one form or another, learned your craft, and had a lot of fun. Now you are ready to move forward with your life. Your goal over these years in school has been to become “better.”

You can hypothesize, reflect, theorize, and live life in the academic bubble all you want, but it is a bit more challenging that you thought. There are no textbook explanations for how you will make a living. You need to teach on an instrument like you used to practice on at the university, but nobody taught you how to acquire the money to purchase it. None of your classes covered how to handle the parent that hasn’t yet paid you, though each week contains a promise to bring the checkbook next time. And, what do you practice now that you are no longer preparing for a jury or recital?

For those of us who went into the private, independent teaching sector, there are many complex financial and human problems that, rest assured, will arise. The best thing you can do for yourself after graduation is to find and establish a relationship with a person to whom you look up to and respect.

Are you in need of a role model or inspiration in your professional independent music teacher life? To find out where to find these mentors and what you are REALLY learning, be sure to read “Life after graduate school: The importance of a Mentor” to be seen in the March/April issue of Clavier Companion!