I would have thought keyboards would have been a strong competitor though. And I agree that there are many great instruments, and that it is just a good thing to encourage people to learn whatever they want to. It is also great to learn to read music, which is of course largely transportable from instrument to instrument. And it should be borne in mind that many people do manage to move from instrument to instrument until they settle on one that suits them or simply enjoy being a multi-instrumentalist.

It seems to me that the govt is happy to spend money on instruments, but not on developing new programmes that address contemporary needs. This is most likely why they prefer classical and band instruments, because that’s what the music programmes are geared towards teaching. Alternatively or additionally, it could be the desire to force an appreciation of high-art on the masses.

I wish I had learned to read music at school, and I wish I had learned to play any instrument well. I now play guitars and bass guitars (badly), and used to play the drums (reasonably). I am trying to learn the sax at the moment, and would like to get a synth (to play with). I also own a keyboard, digital piano, flute, and uke, but can’t play any of them (ha ha).

Of the classical instruments, I love the sound of the cello, but it’s not that portable for school kids, especially girls to lug around. The guitar is about as big as you’d want to have to lug, IMO.

I also find it interesting how the govt is happy to foster an interest in many expensive and high-maintenance instruments. For instance, a good woodwind is still expensive, easily mishandled into not working, and unhygienic to share. A decent quality and highly playable guitar on the other hand is now available inexpensively, is more robust, and easier to learn to maintain reasonably well. It of course is a C instrument, like the piano, and therefore has the widest range of music available for it.

Yes, it sure seems to me that whoever is in charge of music education doesn’t really understand music or the nature of musical instruments, and is probably a music snob as well.

Anyone who is dedicated and willing to learn can learn to play songs by the likes of Jimi Hendrix et al - the real skill is writing music !
I can play Oasis songs with my feet but try writing something like Live Forever !

Cheers
Rod

We would have dearly loved to have played the ceremonial Japanese drums…. but that was only last week Suppose we must have been a school’s basic nightmare, witches without any noticable talent for anything musical. Can it be brought out in a youngster? Our guess is that schools will never have the resources to teach either individuals or small groups for longer than 15mins a week and parents pay. So given the choice today, we would opt for guitar and be better at it than you … please note the competitive edge…

WoE

It’s never too late to learn to dance - give it a go - you could end up on the new programme I am touting to Simon Cowell …

Strictly Come X Factor in the Jungle

The winner likely being a girl who does the tango in a bikini whilst eating worms !
Happy Hoofing
Rod
[edited due to 500 typos, I will now cease the experiment of dictating to my trained monkey typist - he shall resume his duties as my butler]

Not really bothered about learning an instrument, but would love to have learnt to sing and dance

FF
xx