As part of the SMA’s continued commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion, we are proud to launch a new mentoring scheme.

Call for applications

The SMA is launching a pilot scheme for individual and group mentoring for Early-Career scholars pursuing a career in academic music analysis and/or music theory. We particularly encourage applications from women due to a perceived drop in recent years in conference presentations by female scholars in the field of music theory and analysis.

To this end, the scheme consists of two routes: 1) group conference proposal workshops; 2) 1-2-1 mentoring relationships.

Mentoring Routes

  1. Conference proposal workshops. The SMA will offer such workshops at key times of the year, with a senior music theorist or analyst providing insight into successful conference proposal writing in the field. Participants will be requested to submit their draft proposals in advance of the workshop and comment on each other’s drafts. The mentor takes no responsibility or accountability for the success of following conference applications by the mentees.
  2. 1-2-1 mentoring. In this route, mentees are matched with a senior music theorist or analyst who will provide advice on general career development in HE. The mentor will not proofread or comment on writing by the mentee, such as article drafts, conference papers, or book manuscripts. The scheme consists of three meetings over the course of a maximum of one year.

Application process and timing

The SMA mentoring scheme runs on an annual cycle.

  • To apply, please click SMA Mentoring scheme 2026-2027 – Fill in form
  • The extended deadline for receipt of applications in 2026 was 12 June 2026, and the scheme is now closed until the next call in early 2027.
  • Applicants are informed of decisions and set up with 1-2-1 mentors where applicable in July. Date and time for workshops will be communicated to the group in advance.

Each cycle runs for one year, with conference writing workshops happening at key points in the year and individual mentoring meetings to be agreed individually between mentee and mentor.

Eligibility

Mentees should normally be at least one of the following:

  • At the end of a PhD programme in a field of music analysis and/or music theory (if a candidate is still receiving doctoral supervision at their institution, they need to provide a written endorsement from their supervisor);
  • An early-career researcher in music analysis and/or music theory without a permanent appointment in higher education.

Successful applicants will need to become SMA members (see discounted rates where applicable).

Mentors and mentees need to sign the below mentor-mentee agreement and send it to the steering group member who set up their mentoring.

Documents

Steering Group

Esther Cavett (SMA Trustee)
Rebekah Donn (SMA Trustee)
Annika Forkert (SMA Trustee)
Christopher Tarrant (SMA President)