Professional Mentorship

Application deadline

24 March 2023
Course duration

1 year
Course fee

€2,150 (individual) / €3,060 (chamber group)
Course fee (non-EU/EEA)

€5,250 (individual) / €6,350 (chamber group)

Course Introduction

Eligible Instruments

Orchestral instrument: violin, viola, cello, bass, harp, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, trombone, French horn, tuba or percussion
Pre-formed chamber group: From duo to quintet

Overview

The transition from full-time study to professional can be challenging, with musicians frequently in entirely new situations: looking for freelance work, auditioning for jobs, undertaking orchestral trials, making professional proposals for chamber music and solo concerts.

Professional Mentorship allows new professionals to work through these situations under the guidance of a teacher with expertise in these areas.

The programme bridges this gap with an adaptable course of lessons and clear professional aims. Mentorship is focused on attaining the musician’s professional goals, without course credits, exams or RIAM Performing Group obligations.

Professional Mentorship offers students continued guidance and tuition as they make the transition from full-time study to full-time professional.

Photo: Colm Hogan

Course Outline

30 hours of lessons/coaching with flexibility for longer lessons every other week, or intensive lessons/coaching sessions leading up to an audition or performance.
Practical mentorship with your principal study teacher on working in the music profession. Professional development activities will be tailored specifically to each student/chamber group, but examples include:
- Building up freelance work – improving CV, approaching fixers or booking agents, sharing contacts, and building a professional profile.
- Orchestral audition preparation – preparation of excerpts and concertos, practical audition training advice, mental preparation.
- Practical advice on diary management (balancing work-load), how to liaise with fixers, booking agents, concert promoters.
- Developing and focusing long term career goals.
Overall flexibility of work options for use of lesson/coaching time – whether this be individual (solo or excerpts), mentorship advice, or chamber music coaching sessions.

Entry Requirements

Requirements: Completion of a music degree, successful audition and interview; or significant professional profile.

Applicants without significant professional profile will be called for audition. These applicants will be required to perform, at audition, a balanced and stylistically contrasting programme of 15 minutes music, consisting of not less than two works.