Comprehensive study on music learning
In a four-year research project, the Swiss Association of Music Schools and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts, in collaboration with 37 professional associations and music education institutions, investigated the extracurricular music learning landscape in Switzerland.
Today, music schools are mainly attended by children (47%) and young people (29%). In contrast, self-employed music teachers mainly teach people over the age of 20 (63%). Adults are also the largest group in (wind) orchestras (71%) and choirs (70%). In the latter, the high proportion of senior citizens (30 percent) is striking.
According to the study, music learning programs are mainly financed by course fees and membership fees from learners (42 percent on average) and annual contributions from the public sector (27 percent on average).
In addition to this type of funding, the small-scale nature of the sector and a high proportion of multiple part-time jobs are among its special characteristics. For example, two-fifths of the survey participants work both as music teachers at a music school and as freelance musicians. 72 percent of music schools state that they work closely with an elementary school.
