From student to professional: recent conservatoire graduates’ experiences of instrumental teaching

This research, carried out across 2017– 2018, investigated Royal Birmingham Conservatoire graduates’ experiences of working as instrumental teachers. 31 participants (who graduated across 2012–16 and studied an optional ‘Further Pedagogy’ module in their final year) responded to a questionnaire, and two were observed whilst teaching, and subsequently interviewed (2018). Results indicate that RBC students who chose to extend their pedagogical training beyond the core provision offered in the third year proved highly employable as instrumental teachers. Graduates considered teaching to be both fulfilling and challenging and were able to use insights gained ‘on the job’ to advise others. Whilst the sample was clearly limited, these findings contribute to an improved understanding of how instrumental teacher education in conservatoires might be further developed to effectively prepare students for the profession