Ms Kerry Boyle

Kerry Boyle is a singing teacher, choral director and music examiner currently pursuing doctoral studies at Canterbury Christ Church University. She studied Music and English at the University of Keele and Voice at Trinity College of Music. As a singer, Kerry has a broad performance experience from Opera and Oratorio to chamber recital which she draws on in her work as a singing teacher and vocal coach with individuals and groups of every age and ability in schools, colleges, universities and arts organisations. Specialising in vocal technique for the stage, her students include actors, voice over artists, musical theatre specialists, opera singers and jazz singers.

Project title

Understanding the Development of Professional Identity in Instrumental Music Teachers.

Research outline

A study of routes into instrumental teaching in the UK and the extent to which cultural practices specific to instrumental music education inform the development of professional identity in individuals as teachers.

Instrumental musicians can progress from the role of student to teacher without formal training or regulation, perpetuating techniques acquired whilst studying in an apprenticeship model of tuition. The development of professional identity in instrumental teachers therefore reflects specific cultural assumptions concerning professional knowledge and professional roles. This study adopts a social constructionist perspective in exploring the influence of the culture of instrumental music education on the transition from student to teacher, and of training on professional identity. The research adopts a mixed methods approach, featuring an explanatory sequential design to combine data from a national survey of instrumental teachers working in the UK (distributed through existing teaching networks including the Musicians’ Union, Universities and Conservatoires) with 15 individual case study interviews and two separate focus groups of instrumental teachers.

The research focuses on the experience of instrumental teachers working in the UK and aims to elaborate on existing understandings of the professional lives and identities of those involved in instrumental music education.

Through an exploration of routes into instrumental teaching and the perceived effectiveness of any training received in preparing individuals for the professional life of an instrumental teacher, the study aims to enhance approaches to career preparation in the education of instrumental students. Existing studies suggest a complex situation with regard to professional identity in instrumental teachers, where the hierarchy of professional roles and the related notion of the failed performer as teacher influence individual perception of instrumental teaching as a profession and a significant proportion of teachers identify themselves as performers or musicians despite confirming teaching as their main professional occupation. This study examines the development of role identity in instrumental teachers including the complex relationship between notions of self and professional identity.

Supervisory team

• Dr Lynn Revell (first supervisor)
• Dr Maria Varvarigou (second supervisor)
• Dr Robert Rawson (chair)

Kerry is the Director of Canterbury Vocals – an independent company providing a range of singing opportunities in the Canterbury area from tuition, workshops and community singing activities to choirs including Canterbury Girls’ Choir, Canterbury Voices and Canterbury Ladies Choir. She has also established partnerships and twinning projects with regional arts organisations, practitioners, choirs and ensembles in France, Italy, Germany, Hungary and Greece and currently coordinates International collaboration projects involving musicians, artists and arts organisations from the UK, France, Holland and Belgium.

Kerry is a teacher consultant on the ‘Art of Teaching’ project for the Musician’s Union and MusicTeacher.co.uk. Research interests include communication in instrumental teaching, tacit knowledge and the instrumental teacher and professional identity in portfolio musicians.