Unstable child, note, joining band (9)

I believe the answer is:

tottering

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'unstable' is the definition.
(similar in meaning)

'child note joining band' is the wordplay.
'child' becomes 'tot' (term for a young child).
'note' becomes 'te' (musical note).
'joining band' becomes 'ring' (I can't explain this - if you can you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'tot'+'te'+'ring'='TOTTERING'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for tottering that I've seen before include "Moving unsteadily" , "making unsteady progress" , "Wobbly" .)

I've seen this clue in The Daily Express.

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