Individuals' Journeys Through Music-based Mentoring: Donna's story of Peer Mentoring

We asked individuals involved in Music-based mentoring to tell us a bit about their experience. Donna is a mentor...

This page is part of a resource pack on Music-based mentoring.

I attended the community music course for music facilitators in 1996 in Hull at Time Based Arts. The course was accredited by Hull University and delivered by Phil Mullen, Goldsmith’s London.

Previous to this I had been working as a professional musician and a community development worker. From 2001 until 2011 I travelled the world and learnt many songs and rhythms from tribes in various cultures. I also worked for the Hilton hotel, Dahab, Sinai, Egypt for five years as a professional vocalist and rhythm guitarist.

Throughout the Goldsmith’s training my understanding of ‘what community music is’ developed, I began to feel very passionate about the subject and determined to work in the field of community music. From the beginning of my initial training until now I continue to develop my skills by attending all the training possible. Certain music leaders have really inspired me and provided the tools, styles of delivery and techniques I now use in my own working practice. I have travelled to Africa twice since I became a music mentor to learn rhythms, songs, stories and dance, and to work in schools on a voluntary basis delivering workshops. These skills I have used in my role as a music mentor. My musical studies in Africa will continue. Being a music mentor has given me the opportunity to build my musical resources, therefore I can deliver a wide variety of workshops; to the music mentors and other community music projects I facilitate.

I practice techniques of emotional intelligence, concentrating particularly on my weak points. Training has raised my awareness and increased personal knowledge of myself, working practice and how I interact and communicate with young people in a mentoring situation, as a workshop leader and as a person.  My listening skills, through studying the listening process, have improved, also my questioning framework.

I’m about to deliver mentoring training. Slightly nervous but I will be well-prepared and well read and can refer to my training booklets. I will continue to study and work on my emotional intelligence, psychology and techniques, to become the best music mentor, trainer, workshop leader and person I can be.

[NB Names have been changed to protect the anonymity of this person]