No One Is going to Rock Up and tell you! How a
Hidden Blend of Family Capitals Facilitates Access
to and Success in Structured Instrumental Music
Education in Ireland
Posted 4 November, 2024
Unlike other European countries, Ireland does not have a Music School Law,nor does it have a country-wide system of state-supported music schools. Thus, access to pre-college level, structured, instrumental and vocal music lessons in Ireland is market based. This is problematic since performance counts for up to 50% of music as a subject for the Leaving Certificate which is a state sponsored examination. This article explores the hidden and taken for granted capital resources needed to access structured instrumental and vocal music lessons in Ireland, and raises the issue of intra-class differences which can and do impact on outcome when navigating this market in Ireland. The article offers a contribution to the broader, ongoing research of making hidden intra-class differences more visible, especially in education. The research contributes to extending knowledge on how social class, extra-curricular activities, cultural knowledge and the private education markets are deeply integrated in ways that are advantaging the already privileged.