Dd is 12 and has been playing the flute for a few years. She had a slow start due to repeated changes of peripertetic teacher changes but now she has private lessons out of school and has made excellent progress (grades 1 and 2 within a short space of time both with merit). She's hoping to do Grade 3 this summer.
Her school is excellent for music and has something for all levels - flute group, wind band, concert band and orchestra. However dd is very reluctant to do any ensemble playing. She tried flute group once last year and it was full of very experienced players which knocked her confidence a bit. But now with Grade 2 under her belt, wind band is the right level for her (goes up to Grade 3) and the music teacher has said they actually need more flautists. But dd is not keen to go! She has a close knit group of friends and she wants to be with them at lunchtimes, even though it would only be one lunchtime a week.
I know I can't force her, or would want to, but does anyone have any ideas for encouraging her? I played the clarinet at school and when I started wind band I was terrified and barely played a note! But I eventually really enjoyed it, both the music and the social side.