How to Reduce Drop-out Rates in Music Schools?
Martina Kavčič, arhiv Glasbénium
Date of publication:
What factors contribute to music school drop-out, and which impact it most significantly? What creates an optimal supportive environment for a child to persist in music school? Researchers from the University of Ljubljana, Academy of Music: Dr. Ana Kavčič Pucihar, Dr. Katarina Habe, Dr. Branka Rotar Pance, and from the University of Maribor, Faculty of Education, Dr. Maruša Laure, addressed these topics in their paper "The key reasons for dropout in Slovenian music schools - a qualitative study," published in the Frontiers in Psychology (2024).
The Slovenian music education system is well organized, from preschool to university. Professional Slovenian musicians of various profiles who work in Slovenia or abroad attest to its quality. In addition to a small proportion of professional musicians, most music school pupils participate in various forms of amateur musical activity in adulthood. Thus, the sustainable development goals and the key cultural awareness and expression competency are implemented. Since music schools report an increasing drop-out rate among their pupils, this problem has been investigated in a multifaceted way.
The reasons for dropping out of music schools were examined from the perspectives of the pupils who dropped out, their parents, instrument and music theory/solfège teachers, and music school principals. The results show an interplay of internal and external factors. Among the internal factors, the key role is played by the pupil's perceived feelings of autonomy and competence and their involvement in decisions to continue or leave music education. Among the external factors, other competing extra-curricular activities, music theory and solfège lessons, and the teacher's teaching approach contribute most significantly to drop-out.
Since music education requires continuous work and long-term commitment, the most important factors are the relationship and learning climate between the pupil, the instrument and music theory/solfège teacher, parents, peers, and the school management. In addition to the material conditions and school policies, all these factors contribute to creating a supportive learning environment that can reduce the drop-out rate in music schools.
Link: Kavčič Pucihar, A., Habe, K., Rotar Pance, B., Laure, M. The key reasons for dropout in Slovenian music schools - a qualitative study. Frontiers in psychology. (2024) https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1385840/full