No instrument teachers - implications for secondary orchestras

33 replies

DressedForWarmth · 02/11/2023 12:08

DS(8) is desperate to learn how to play the trumpet, and has been for a number of years now.

He's quite a shy boy and not very sporty, so we thought this would be a good thing for him to learn, thinking that as he reached secondary school it would allow him to join bands and orchestras, so that he could make friends with people who are similarly interested in music.

However, we're really struggling to find a teacher for him. It seems that the few private music teachers we have in our area only each piano, guitar, or drums. There don't seem to be any teachers that cover strings, brass, or wind instruments. I've even looked further afield, but the closest one is at least an hour's drive away on a good day, meaning a 2.5+ hour round trip each week for a lesson. School isn't an option as they only teach piano, guitar or drums too.

What I'm now wondering is that if there aren't any music teachers locally, does this mean that as no children are learning these instruments that there are no longer school (or local) orchestras any more?

Where should I be looking for a teacher, or is this just how things are these days if you don't live in a big city?

Thanks

OP posts:

boredfuckinsenseless · 02/11/2023 12:20

Check out local brass bands, particularly youth bands. One local to me teaches from complete beginners and has instruments to loan until kids know they want to continue longer term.

hellsbells99 · 02/11/2023 12:19

Contact your local high schools. They normally use peripatetic music teachers to teach instruments within school - and some of these will probably offer private lessons out of school hours

Octavia64 · 02/11/2023 12:18

My whole family plays brass instruments.

In some areas of the country teachers can be hard to come by.

Is there a local brass band? They might know of more local teachers who don't necessarily advertise.

Some brass bands also run youth bands or training bands and will offer tuition.

Coruisk · 02/11/2023 12:15

That's a shame no music centre. I think you can sometimes use neighbouring counties, but that may not help either! Mumsnet has lots of knowledgeable people though if you can say roughly where you are?

BarnacleBeasley · 02/11/2023 12:14

It obviously will depend on your area, but often it is the county council music service that will organise lessons and ensembles for children. 8 is on the young side to start brass tuition though (I think because of teeth and lung capacity) so it might be that more opportunities open up at secondary school.

shockeditellyou · 02/11/2023 12:13

It’s a nightmare. Round here only the private schools have decent music provision - you’re on your own if you need to rely on the council services. Our LA provision is probably ok but it’s not offered in the smaller schools, and increasingly it’s only for the common instruments - so piano, guitar and violin. Can you find a Saturday workshop near you? Some are run via Council/LA music hubs.

Original poster

DressedForWarmth · 02/11/2023 12:13

Good suggestion @Coruisk. I've had a look and from what I can see our council doesn't have a music centre. There used to be a local music academy, but these days it's only a venue for performances and doesn't run any classes for beginners or do teaching.

OP posts:

Coruisk · 02/11/2023 12:11

Have you looked at your council run music centre? Or if you could give a rough idea where you are, people may be able to help?

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