Instrumental Music Teacher: Autonomy, Identity and the Portfolio Career in Music

The lack of regulation and curriculum in instrumental teaching in the UK allows individuals to teach with no training or qualification. This study explores the complex working lives of instrumental teachers and highlights the need to revise existing notions of the professional musician to acknowledge contemporary careers in music. It can inform and enhance existing approaches to careers in music and contribute to career preparation in undergraduate music students.

Format: Hardback
Length: 132 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2020
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

In the United Kingdom, instrumental teaching is characterized by a lack of regulation and curriculum, allowing individuals to teach without formal training or qualifications. Kerry Boyle delves into the strategies employed by individuals who embark on teaching careers in music, despite lacking formal training. Existing research indicates that these individuals possess intricate understandings of their professional identity, often preferring to identify as musicians or performers rather than teachers, even though a significant portion of their income is derived from teaching. Boyle conducts an in-depth exploration of the working lives of instrumental teachers in the UK, encompassing various routes into instrumental teaching and the specific meanings associated with the role and identity of the professional musician for individuals engaged in portfolio careers in music. By examining the lived experiences of instrumental teachers, this study underscores the necessity of revising prevailing notions of the professional musician to encompass contemporary careers in music. The insights derived from this study can be utilized to inform and enhance existing approaches to careers in music and contribute to career preparation among undergraduate music students.

In the United Kingdom, instrumental teaching is characterized by a lack of regulation and curriculum, allowing individuals to teach without formal training or qualifications. Kerry Boyle delves into the strategies employed by individuals who embark on teaching careers in music, despite lacking formal training. Existing research indicates that these individuals possess intricate understandings of their professional identity, often preferring to identify as musicians or performers rather than teachers, even though a significant portion of their income is derived from teaching. Boyle conducts an in-depth exploration of the working lives of instrumental teachers in the UK, encompassing various routes into instrumental teaching and the specific meanings associated with the role and identity of the professional musician for individuals engaged in portfolio careers in music. By examining the lived experiences of instrumental teachers, this study underscores the necessity of revising prevailing notions of the professional musician to encompass contemporary careers in music. The insights derived from this study can be utilized to inform and enhance existing approaches to careers in music and contribute to career preparation among undergraduate music students.

Weight: 358g
Dimension: 162 x 241 x 15 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367476946