Investigation into the Reasons for Music Teacher Attrition

Attrition is a major concern among music educators. The purpose of this study was to gather opinions from music teachers as to the causes of high attrition and define common themes so that recommendations for changes and further study could be declared. Fifteen music educators from Southwest Missouri and Southeast Oklahoma were surveyed about their teaching experiences and their thoughts on music teacher attrition. Data were collected using a researcher-designed survey made up of qualitative and quantitative questions, then analyzed by finding the averages and modes of responses and common themes. Results indicated that nearly all the subjects felt that poor administration, salary and facilities all contributed greatly to attrition. The results also indicated serious concerns among itinerant teachers and the proficiency of current music students