Is there a point in continuing with music lessons if your child doesn't not practice

What level has she reached in 2 years? I would say my dd, same age and on clarinet for 1.5 years is middling in terms of practice, usually 20-30 minutes 3-4 times a week and has just taken her Grade 2.

There is no suitable ensemble at her school either, unlike almost every other instrument, strings, brass and flutes have groups but she is at an LEA wind and brass group beginners section. It has made a huge impact in her enjoyment of playing.

I would agree, timetable in a slot for practice, if time in the morning as then it isn't affected by any other after school activities. Perhaps in the morning once they are completely ready whilst you are making lunches or sorting yourself out etc

I think she finds it boring because she doesn't practise and therefore there is no progress
^this
Or, nothing's fun until you're good at it.

OP, can you not sit in on the practice sessions? This will help her. Remember she's only 9 - I think it's a little unreasonable to expect a young child to be wholly responsible for this. You can help her create a disciplined framework by sitting, listening and encouraging her to concentrate and repeat difficult sections of music.

Also, get a routine going - so for instance, do 15 minutes before school after teeth brushing, or 15 minutes before dinner. Everyday is actually easier than negotiating three days a week.

Good luck!

For reasonably able musicians there is probably an initial period during which progress can be made dispite minimal practice, but there is a limit beyond which progress becomes impossible without playing regularly.

I pulled the plug on my DD's music lessons when she was about your DD's age. She was technically quite able but didn't have any obvious talent or interest.

A couple of years later she picked up a guitar and has never looked back (it's rare for her to play less than 15 mins a day and she will sometimes play for several hours). She later took up piano from scratch and was playing grade 6/7 pieces within a year. She also sings and composes. Somehow stopping music and then starting again on her own terms has brought out a musical talent that we had no idea she had!

I stopped the lessons on the second instrument when DS didn't get it out of the case between lessons. He was warned first but it was a waste of my money and his teachers time.

Our local music partnership run Saturday morning ensembles for all abilities, is there anything like that near you? Playing with others is fun and it gives you an incentive to improve.

Perhaps you can look around for community or LEA ensembles - there may well be some that even beginner clarinets can participate in, and that might increase her enthusiasm, even if there's nothing at school. Or if there is a violin group, could they add clarinets or other instruments to make an orchestra, if there's a teacher who could write out a suitable part? Maybe duets with other clarinettists or violinists or pianists. Local festivals could be another way of increasing enthusiasm/practice - some are very competitive, but others are much more friendly, and it might be a chance for her to play for other people, enjoy practising as she has something to look forward to, etc. You could also look for CD accompaniments to her pieces, or to other pieces that she'd quite like to play, backing-track style, and she might enjoy just playing around and figuring things out if she is keen on learning something in particular.

I never practised but I still love music. Wish I was better at playing the trumpet! And I sing with a relatively prestigious amateur choral society.

If she is bored now maybe leave it and potentially start up again when she gets to secondary. Chances are they will have a wind band or orchestra that will make it more fun to play with if she decides to take it up again.

I would also suggest if you are choosing another instrument to look into private lessons rather than school lessons, from talking to other parents it seems to me that school group lessons are a waste of money and there is very little progress.

I think she finds it boring because she doesn't practice therefore there is no progress, or minimal progress. Piano is also a solitary instrument, hard to learn to read two two staves of music at the same time and only if she is really enthusiastic about it she'll practice and see progress therefore enjoy it.

No instrument will bring progress without practice and I think you need to make that clear to her.

Zero point. (been there)

No point having lessons. There was a thread about this recently. The consensus was MINIMUM 10 mins a day. We've dropped the tenor horn for the same reason. Piano practise never seems to be a problem in our house.