AIBU to be annoyed my DS will be getting "Beatboxing" music lessons at primary school

[OhLori]

Had a letter from son's school today. Apparently they will be getting "beatboxing" lessons from a specialist "beatboxing" teacher coming into teach his class. DS is 10.

For the uninitiated, beatboxing is that sort of spitting into cupped hands over a microphone thing, found in some rap/hip hop.

I just don't want my son to learn this rubbish at school, it does my head in when he occasionally does it in the house so the last thing I want is for it to be encouraged further by a 'professional' at school.

I am amazed that the school is financing this, but we live in a London inner city area, so I guess its seen as "cool" to waste taxpayers money on this crap.

Would I be unreasonable to have other appointments on that day e.g. doctors, or be sick? I don't think there is much point in giving my opinion to the school. They are not interested in parents' opinions.

This is a genuine AIBU post, I don't know what to do.

dumb swearing clever (not) and not even funny, but if it makes you feel good to write turdish things no doubt AIBU is your true home.

oooh handbags OP

OP, I think you've been given a hard time over your misgivings, and personally insulted (the word snob has been thrown around a lot) which is very unfortunate.

However, as a couple of posters have already said, this beatbox workshop does have real value. I'm a classically trained musician, and one of the key skills you have to learn, perhaps the hardest one to really really understand internally, is rhythm. Anything percussive that focusses on this is a good thing, not because it's "relevant" or "street" or "multiculti", but because it actually shows, very clearly, rhythmic progression and variety. There is a direct link from beatbox to rap music, which uses the voice percussively and whatever you might think of rap music (and I really hate some of the misogynistic rap), it's a major influence in modern music and to not understand this is to be ignorant, just as some would prefer to be ignorant about "last centuries music".

OP, I understand your initial reluctance, but please keep an open mind about this stuff. What might seem rubbish-y could actually be a great opportunity to ignite an interest in music.