Music career guidance services. Comparative analysis

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Music conservatories in Spain are currently lacking guidance departments and professional career counsellors. Career guidance is one of the multiple functions that teacher-tutors must carry out without external aids. It would be advisable in these institutions to design career guidance services inspired by those in conservatories abroad. Career guidance services offered by prestigious music education institutions outside Spain are analyzed and compared in this article: the Royal College of Music in the United Kingdom, as well as several institutions in the United States (The Juilliard School, Manhattan School of Music, New England Conservatory, Berklee College of Music, Eastman School of Music). We consider various categories in which to classify the guidance strategies implemented: existence of professional guidance counsellors, offering of courses concerning music careers guidance, holding of conferences and seminars concerned with career guidance, information resources about the music business and job opportunities databases. The implementation of similar strategies in Spanish music conservatories would contribute to the development of a necessary creativity in students when taking professional decisions and managing a career in music.