EPTA Peer Support Scheme – Connect, Support, Inspire
We are very excited to introduce you to our new Peer Support Scheme.
About the scheme:
Whether you’re just starting your journey as a piano teacher or have years of experience to share, all are welcome to sign up to the scheme.
All members are welcome to sign up as a mentor, mentee, or even both. We’ll match participants based on shared interests, expertise, and career goals. This is a fantastic way to build connections within our community—whether it’s an experienced teacher guiding someone new to the field, or a younger member bringing fresh ideas to inspire a long-time practitioner.
This pilot initiative aims to support piano teachers and music practitioners at various stages of their careers and foster a culture of learning, reflection, and professional development.
Examples:
- A retired teacher mentoring a recent music graduate
- A young teacher connecting with an experienced mentor for career advice
- Members with specific skills (e.g., teaching students with SEN, exam prep, online teaching) sharing expertise
- An experienced teacher wanting to learn about the newest teaching technology or how to build a social media marketing strategy from a tech-savvy younger member
This is more than a scheme—it’s a chance to grow together. Get involved and help shape the future of piano teaching!
Sign up for the scheme by filling in this form: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=AEwh36KcZ0yvRLzLQKSb2cpEyzeeOntOrWXa1EwcmJFUNFFPUEtDWDJJMjczMTMyTlQ4RUJUWDJJMi4u
How does the scheme work?
- Duration: Initially one year, with a flexible start date throughout the academic year.
- Standard number of meetings: Three one-hour meetings (mentors may offer more at their discretion).
- Meeting requests: Mentees should request meetings within a reasonable timeframe and provide a detailed agenda, including goals and questions, ahead of each session.
- Format: Meetings can be held virtually or in person, if both parties agree. Please note that no travel allowance will be provided.
Both mentors and mentees are required to complete a brief session note after each meeting. Mentees are also encouraged to write a short reflection on what they gained from the scheme. Selected reflections may be featured in Piano Professional magazine.
Mentoring Session Notes
For evaluation purposes, we are asking mentors and mentees to record some brief reflective notes following each mentoring session by completing an online form. This will help us track the progress being made throughout the year and enable us to evaluate the programme. We also hope it will provide a useful tool for mentors and mentees to reflect and keep track in between sessions.
Brief, quick answers are fine. We only expect you to spend a few minutes on this after each session. The information you provide will only be used for evaluation purposes. Everything will be kept confidential, and any content used for evaluation reports will be anonymised. Please let us know if you have any questions about this.
FAQ’s for Scheme Participants
How are mentors and mentees paired?
Pairings will be thoughtfully arranged by EPTA, considering factors such as individual goals, experience levels, and career trajectories. The aim is to ensure the pairing benefits both the mentor and mentee. If any issues arise during the mentoring relationship, EPTA will be on hand to offer guidance and support.
Can the mentoring relationship continue after the official programme ends?
Absolutely! If both mentor and mentee find the relationship meaningful and wish to continue, they are welcome to do so. The programme is designed to initiate a partnership that we hope will grow into a valuable long-term connection.
Do mentor and mentee need to be in the same location?
Not at all. Geographic location is not a barrier—what matters most is a meaningful match. If you’re not nearby, online meetings are a great alternative.
Are sessions required to be in person, or can they be online? That’s entirely up to you. Sessions can take place in person or online—whatever suits your schedules and preferences best.
What if my assigned mentee doesn’t respond?
If you’ve been matched and communication is not progressing, please reach out to EPTA. We’re here to help and ensure the mentoring experience runs smoothly.
What if no mentee reaches out to me?
Please don’t be discouraged. Your willingness to mentor is incredibly appreciated by both EPTA and potential mentees. If you aren’t matched right away, it’s simply because we’re committed to making the best possible pairings. Should you decide to withdraw from the programme at any time, just let us know.
Do mentors get paid? This is a voluntary scheme. We encourage as many members as possible to get involved with this scheme however, this is no financial gain by becoming a mentor. Mentors will be acting on a voluntary basis only.
Mentoring Milestones – 3 session plans
We suggest setting milestones for your mentoring programme to give you a framework for preparing and managing your sessions to get the most out of your mentoring experience. But please do feel free to adapt and amend them to cover areas that you would really like to explore.
Session 1: Introductions & Goal-Setting Purpose: Establish a connection, set expectations, and define goals.
Discussion Points:
- Share your background, experiences, and motivations for joining the programme.
- Discuss current roles, study or career paths, interests, and any relevant challenges.
- Establish preferred modes of communication (email, video calls, messaging).
- Set a date/time for your next session.
Goal Setting:
- What do you each hope to gain from the mentoring relationship?
- Decide on the focus: Is it academic support, career planning, confidence building, work-life balance, or something else?
- Create a list of 2–3 key goals or areas you want to work on together.
Session 2: Themed Discussion & Mutual Support Purpose: Deepen the relationship and focus on a topic that emerged in Session 1.
Discussion Points:
- Choose a theme based on shared goals or challenges from Session 1. Examples:
- Navigating coursework or research
- Career planning and CV development
- Time management and stress
- Pedagogy
- Confidence building or public speaking
- Developing creative projects
- Share resources, advice, and personal experiences.
- Identify any progress or changes since Session 1.
- Offer encouragement and feedback.
Next Steps:
- Reflect on what was most useful or surprising.
- Set small actionable steps to be completed before Session 3.
- Schedule the final session.
Session 3: Reflection, Feedback, and Next Steps Purpose: Reflect on progress, celebrate successes, and explore continuing support.
Discussion Points:
- Review your goals: What has been achieved? What’s ongoing?
- Reflect on the mentoring experience—what worked well, and what could be improved?
- Offer feedback to one another.
- Share resources or opportunities for further development.
- Discuss whether you’d like to continue the relationship informally beyond the structured sessions.
Wrap-Up Ideas:
- Share one takeaway or key insight from the experience.
- If relevant, write a short summary or reflection for programme records (optional).
- Celebrate your progress!
For more details, see below PDF.