Dropping out of primary music schools – parents’ perspective

Abstract

The decrease in the number of children enrolled in primary general and music schools alike and the fact that a significant number of students who start specialized music education drop out raises the question of the sustainability of music education in Croatia. The aim of the study is to determine parents’ opinions regarding the factors that lead to dropping out of primary music schools in Croatia and the ways to help students graduate from primary music school. Similar to the previous research by Nikolić et al. (2023), which conducted a survey among music school teachers in Croatia, parents (N = 425) identified four contexts for students dropping out of music school: student, educational context, parents and communication. In addition, they singled out the teacher as a possible reason for dropping out of primary music school. Parents agreed that the most important reasons for dropping out of primary music school were the students’ inadequate interest and motivation in learning music, but also the extracurricular overload since compulsory general primary school takes priority in their education, as well as difficulties in coordinating schedules between schools, extracurricular activities and independent learning and practicing of the instrument at home. As significant factors for dropping out of music school, parents recognize students’ insufficient effort and insufficient practicing of the instrument, as well as parents’ failure to provide their child with the necessary support when they want to give up because of a crisis, and parents’ failure to encourage the child to practice the instrument regularly. Parents suggested how stakeholders in the music education process could offer better support to music school students.