Features

Keeping beginner instrumentalists motivated

How do we sustain the enthusiasm of beginner players so that they make progress and reap the rewards? Author and teacher Kay Charlton considers the practicalities and benefits of being a reflective practitioner
Adobe Stock / Nina

For most of us, teaching beginners is inevitable and, if we're honest, can be difficult or frustrating. However, it is also a privilege and, if we get it right, it can give children a love of music that can last a lifetime or even lead to a career in music. After all, we were all beginners once.

Music in schools is going through a challenging time, and this applies to instrumental as much as classroom lessons. Ofsted's music subject report (2023) found that many schools had reduced subsidies for instrumental music lessons, leading to a divide between opportunities for children whose families can afford to pay and children whose families can't.

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