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Original poster

Music lessons are a waste of time for most kids

332 replies

Baldrick23 · 17/09/2024 19:15

I don't mean this too horribly but when I hear that Jonny is a brilliant musician and has grade 7 aged 14 and might go to music school I die a bit inside.

So Im shaped by personal experience here. I did all the grades on the cello by 12 and was a decent cellist and a music scholar. But what parents need to understand is a couple of things. Unless you have grade eight at about 8 (or very soon after starting if later) then you aren't going to be a concert soloist. Even if you do you probably aren't going to be a concert soloist. I wouldn't even have probably made it to be a decent cellist in an orchestra earning 30k for a tricky life touring and barely able to afford anything. So everyone should remenber music is just for fun. None of the kids are going to make it. Just find out how talented you need to be "just" to be a music teacher at a school.

I cant say this out loud at the school gate so I'm saying it here!

Oh and if they love sport get them private 1 to 1 coaching even if they arent the next messi. Just as worthwhile. Forcing talentless musicians to scrape their way humourlessly to grade 2 is awful for everyone involved

OP posts:
Gazelda · 17/09/2024 19:22

My experience is different to yours.

Music brings my DD joy. She learns social skills at music lessons. She learns patience, determination, resilience, exam skills, the importance of practice.

Most of all, she enjoys it. She teaches herself the tunes she loves. She experiments. She plays with friends.

She takes pride on her achievements.

Im sure I've read somewhere that music lessons are beneficial in other learning arenas such as maths.

She may not be a concert pianist. She may not teach. But perhaps she will. I'm not one to deter anyone from striving to achieve their dreams.

mynameiscalypso · 17/09/2024 19:21

Surely the vast majority of people learn an instrument for enjoyment rather than anything else. My DH and his sister both got up to grade 8 on two instruments each when they were in their teens. My SIL still plays for fun, DH doesn't do anything much. But music lessons and the hours of practice they put in were because they wanted to, not because they were going to become musicians.

Original poster
Baldrick23 · 17/09/2024 19:20

Classical musicians? Define make a living. I suspect they feel grossly underpaid and valued for their talent

But sure some people start late and do well (I did actually make that caveat if you read it!)

OP posts:
Frozenberries · 17/09/2024 19:20

Is it a waste if they enjoy them though? Does it matter if they don’t make a living from it?

TeenToTwenties · 17/09/2024 19:20

I think learning to read music is a helpful skill.

CrouchingTigerHiddenChocolate · 17/09/2024 19:18

That's the biggest pile of crap I've read in a long time.

I know lots of people who make a living from music, and many didn't start until later on in life.

GoodVibesHere · 17/09/2024 19:16

What a load of bollocks!!

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