Why Do We Quit Music Lessons? Part 1

Everybody Speaks Music

In today's episode, we cover the first three chapters of our 13-chapter series, aiming to understand the reasons behind students quitting music lessons.
We also recommend a resource that inspired today's episode, offering a deeper dive into the subject.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272886402_Students_who_quit_music_lessons_recent_research_and_recommendations_for_teachers
Our goal is to inspire individuals to continue growing as musicians in a way that best suits their needs, tastes, and artistic desires.
Todays episode covers sections 1-3
1: Why Do Students Quit Music Lessons
2: The evidence
3:Benefits Of Music Lessons
Future episodes in this series will cover:
4: Teachers Point Of View
5: Students Point Of View
6: Motives and Motivation
7:Teacher Characteristics
8:Family Socioeconomic Status
9: Parental Support & Home Environment
10: Self-Efficacy, and Self-perception
11: Practicing and Achievement
12: Research Based Recommendations for Teachers
13: Additional Ways To Support A Positive Outcome For Music Students
1: Why Do Students Quit Music Lessons

• Music teachers recognize that most students will eventually stop taking music lessons.
• Reasons for stopping can include achieving primary goals or quitting prematurely.
• Premature dropouts can have financial implications for the teaching profession and prevent students from experiencing the full benefits of music learning.
  • Researchers have identified several factors that contribute to student dropouts, including:
  • Initial and continuing motivation
  • Practicing habits and strategies
  • Teacher and family characteristics
  • Parenting styles
  • Students' self-concept and expectations for success.
• The article aims to review research studies on why students quit music lessons prematurely and how teachers can identify at-risk students and prevent attrition in their studios.

2: The evidence

• Two large-scale studies conducted more than 20 years ago documented a clear trend in student dropouts as they grow older.
• One study conducted by Daniel Stino gathered information from hundreds of independent music teachers and reported a sharp drop in students taking private lessons as they grow older.
• Another study conducted by Music Teachers National Association in 1990 documented a large decline in studio enrollment between elementary and secondary school.
• While there are no recent large-scale studies on lesson dropout rates, anecdotal evidence suggests that this trend still exists today.
• It is important for music teachers to be aware of this trend and consider strategies to retain students as they grow older.

3: Benefits Of Music Lessons

• Prematurely dropping music lessons prevents students from reaping the benefits of music study, which have been researched and found to be numerous.
• Personal benefits of studying music include skill acquisition and development, personal growth, fulfilling a dream, and personal pleasure.
• Children and parents perceive benefits such as development of discipline, concentration, and self-esteem from music study.
• Studies have shown academic achievement, civic engagement, and personal benefits of music study for children and young people.
• Arts and music education in childhood predicts the rate of participation and attendance of cultural events in adulthood, making it a vital element in the sustainability of a healthy and diverse cultural ecosystem in the nation.