‘If I play my sax my parents are nice to me’: opportunity and motivation in musical instrument and singing tuition

Little consideration has been given to the factors which motivate children to take up music tuition, or their reasons for giving up. In part, this is a reflection of the limited extent to which children have been consulted directly in relation to issues exclusively affecting them. This study considered opportunity and motivation for young people taking up music tuition, and the most influential factors in their decisions to discontinue. Young people aged 13–14 were surveyed by means of questionnaires to 33 schools in one English local authority. The findings highlight key issues in relation to equality of access and gender differences in take up and discontinuation. Analysis confirms a sharp increase in discontinuation rates on transition to secondary school. The most commonly cited reasons for discontinuation are considered, together with the relative importance of family and peer support amongst this age group.