ABSTRACT
This chapter presents data from an interview study in which 'A' level music students and first-year undergraduates were asked to reflect on their perceptions of themselves as musicians, and the way in which these affected their experience of school and their expectations of university education. The study is first set in context, drawing on research into general student experience and specific musical transitions, before data are reported and discussed, and some recommendations for practitioners and researchers offered. The concepts of musicianship and musical identity revealed in the data have been explored fully elsewhere. The chapter focuses on the implications for music practitioners in secondary and higher education. The research report illustrates the need for closer links between schools and universities, to assist students in bridging that gap by fostering understanding and common purpose between institutions. There is much potential for replication and extension, using more participants, and including other categories of students.
