Starting to Learn to Play a Musical Instrument: A Study of Boys’ and Girls’ Motivational Criteria

The paper describes a research project undertaken recently in four primary schools. The study involved an investigation of those factors which motivated the members of a study group of 48 pupils to start learning to play a musical instrument. The findings of the research identify the importance of interest factors and the encouragement of the teacher as determinants of pupils' decisions. There is some indication of differences in the criteria used by girls and boys, particularly with regard to the socialisation aspect of instrumental learning.