musical instrument

[trulli]

Hi,

My six year old son bought a letter home a few weeks ago about learning to play an instrument. There was a choice of five and he picked the cello. He has now bought home another letter saying it will cost �50 to learn for the year with lessons during school. This seems a lot?I wouldn't mind paying if it was after school but surely music lessons in school are part of the curriculum. Or am I really out of touch?

[Pippa68]

I have a feeling that although music lessons are part of the school curriculum, learning an instrument is probably not..the school usually has to bring in a private tutor for the instrument lessons which of course cost money not available to the school.

As it is going to cost you �50 for the year, this may have been subsidised as it does seem quite cheap! my son has guitar lessons with the school & they are �12 per week ~ so I think the cello lessons are a bargain ;o)

[JulieEve]

I too think this is pretty cheap - we pay �44 a term for our daughter's clarinet lessons. Thankfully she enjoys it so we consider it money well spent.

Prior to this she took recorder lessons which were part of the music curriculum. The woodwind teacher, however, only comes to the school on Friday mornings to teach a small group - so I guess her fees have to come from somewhere.

[Lore]

This is about right, these lessons take place during school hours but not always during what would be considered their music lesson time. A peripatetic teacher will visit the school and teach your child this instrument. If you are entitled to any benefits then you will be able to have a percentage of the costs paid or depending on your circumstances - have it paid in full.

My daughter has Piano and Violin lessons, she's about to start saxophone lessons too... I know these things can cost quite a considerable amount of money and once they start wanting instruments of their own - not on loan from the education, it can mount up but I look at it like this....My daughter plays piano, violin, saxophone, electric and acoustic guitar, (she's even started to learn MY mandolin - keep her grubby paws off it! ) She has a natural ability to play music and will always be able to find work in the music industry in the future as well as letting her talents blossom.

[trulli]

ok I am out of touch then. I will pay for the lessons. I don't thinnk I want to know how much a cello costs if he starts wanting his own.I was thinkinglearning an instument might help him calm down a bit. He's very exciteable to say the least!

[WendyS]

The cost seems very reasonable to me but does he really want a CELLO? If he develops a talent for it, it's going to be an enormous instrument to lug around to concerts and venues, especially if he later needs to transport it on buses and trains. A clarinet, flute or other wind instrument might be more practical and when he gets to his teens, a wind instrument which can be played in a jazz of pop group might be a more motivational way to persuading him to keep his music up rather than dropping it. Also, I can't imagine a tiny six year old coping comfortably with such a large instrument.

[trulli]

Very true, but he tried them all the instuments avialable out and chose that one.I think the size is what appeals to him!