Dropout in music conservatories: analysis of causes and possible solutions from teachers’ perspectives

Abstract

Dropping out of studies in conservatories in Spain presents worrying figures. For this reason, recently it has begun to attract the interest of the educational and scientific community. However, this phenomenon has been addressed by few authors who have already analyzed the causes and possible solutions of this dropout in different regions. The need to carry out a national study is identified through a questionnaire aimed at teachers of Elementary and Professional Music Education. A sample of 284 is given out of an estimated population of 11,607 teachers. The results obtained show that the main causes of dropout are excess teaching load, lack of motivation of the students and the study plan. Among the best-rated possible solutions are: encouraging collective activities and groups in conservatories, integrating Higher Artistic Education in the university and opening conservatories to society. In the discussion, the results obtained are contrasted with the previous studies presented in the theoretical framework. Finally, the urgency of taking action is highlighted, especially by educational administrations, conservatories and teachers, to stop the leak of thousands of students who leave music conservatories every year.