“The study provides frank knowledge reflecting the pursuit of academic careers given by music students themselves, and gives a clear inside perspective informing readers of particular aspects influencing academic preference. As students operating within the realms of an academic institution, and with the tools of personal experience, and raw, honest accounts of the journeys of peers and past students into their academic careers as students of music, we hope to offer a distinctive perspective on the motivating factors influencing scholars when choosing fields of specialisation.” —- Taryn Arnott and Louise Saunders (eds)