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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think I should not pay to join an orchestra?

104 replies

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 09:26

DD 7 was desperate to join the school orchestra. Yesterday I approached her primary school music teacher and was shocked because apparently you have to pay good money to join in. I have several DC who had attended state schools, private schools and one grammar school and I had never paid for the school orchestra. AIBU to think it should be free and accessible to all children?

OP posts:

PeterBlue · 14/09/2017 09:32

Back in the day, before austerity and budget cuts when education authorities took music seriously, then yes. These days, music is very much an optional extra and payment is required. Having ng said that, if he's any good, pay!

PeterBlue · 14/09/2017 09:34

Sorry, just seen you have a DD should have said if she's any good, obviously.

existentialmoment · 14/09/2017 09:34

Who is going to pay for it if not you?

allegretto · 14/09/2017 09:35

I don't expect they have the money to run it without parental contributions. I wish I didn't have to pay for a lot of things at school but I have seen their budget at the funds just aren't there.

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 09:36

I never paid for it before. That's why I am so confused. I thought the school wanted to encourage chidden to join an orchestra. You get a scholarship if you are good at music and play in an orchestra in private schools.

OP posts:

VivienneWestwoodsKnickers · 14/09/2017 09:36

How much are they asking for?

Back in the 90's my double bass lessons were free, as was the orchestra but they paid all sorts for the weekends, the extra tuition, the trips, the master classes etc....

May50 · 14/09/2017 09:37

True, in the past you wouldn't pay, I didn't when at school. But my kids do music through the county and I pay. Most various after school clubs I pay for (as outside agencies run so staff need to earn). I wouldn't mind paying now personally for an orchestra and would expect to if they brought in an outside music person to run it (probably not if it was a teacher from the school).

LoniceraJaponica · 14/09/2017 09:38

Two phrases:
Budget cuts
Underfunding

Unless you have been living under a rock you must realise that schools can't afford anything other than the bare bones for educating our children.

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 09:39

May50, it's a very amateur orchestra, hey just meet up during the break once a week and have one performance in the end of the year in the school yard. Not much tuition is going on in there.

OP posts:

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 09:41

Lionicera, so why a grammar school can still afford a very high class orchestra with an excellent teacher and this primary school can't?

OP posts:

cestlavielife · 14/09/2017 09:41

Someone has to pay for the music copyright printing etc and the time of the conductor
Nothing is free.

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 09:42

PS sorry for the typos.

OP posts:

elevenclips · 14/09/2017 09:46

The grammar school might already employ the conductor as a music teacher (like music classes as a subject, not individual)

The primary may have to get someone to come in

Either way budgets have been cut at all schools, massively, including "run of the mill"private schools. There is no money for anything except bare Essentials. If you can afford it, pay it. If you can't afford it, you could ask whether there are a couple of places in the group for those who cannot afford the fee.

LoniceraJaponica · 14/09/2017 09:46

How is the grammar school orchestra being funded? Are the parents contributing?

Maybe the funding formula for the grammar school is higher than it is for the primary school.

All state schools are struggling financially. DD's school has even been on the TV because it is in the lowest 5 funded schools in the country.

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 09:48

Eleven clips, the school's music teacher is running this club. I can't afford it really as we already spend so much on music lessons.

OP posts:

AHedgehogCanNeverBeBuggered · 14/09/2017 09:49

The grammar is a secondary, which means it will need a music budget to be able to follow the curriculum. It's not comparable to a primary school.

SmilingButClueless · 14/09/2017 09:59

How much are they asking for? I don't think it's unreasonable if they're asking for money to cover the cost of hiring music etc - primary schools are unlikely to have the budget for this.

In terms of affordability, could you cut out a couple of the formal music lessons to fund the orchestra? I know that I always found orchestral playing at least as valuable as a couple of 1-1 lessons.

BeepBeepMOVE · 14/09/2017 10:02

Who do you want to pay for it? The kids doing netball.

It's an extra thing, it's not part of the curriculum so if you want it you have to pay for it.

You could fundraise and make the whole orchestra free if you are that bothered.

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 10:03

Smiling I don't want to name the amount not to out myself. I don't think this orchestra will be as valuable as 1 on 1 music lessons. DD is 7 and getting ready for a grade 4 exam on one instrument and close to grade 3 on other 2 instruments. I thought she would be an asset to any orchestra, not a liability that I have to pay extra for.

OP posts:

unfortunateevents · 14/09/2017 10:08

What does "good money" mean? How much are we talking about here? Of course, in an ideal world you wouldn't have to pay for joining the orchestra but school budgets have never been so hammered. The music teacher may well be part-time and school have to pay her extra or drop one of her other school activities in order to fund orchestra. My best friend is a primary music teacher, she is paid poorly for approx three days per week and if she ran a school orchestra on one of her days it would mean having to cut another activity. It may also be only half an hour activity but will consume more of her planning time sourcing music, arranging it etc so again the choir or Christmas show or leavers show or whole-school assemblies or something else is going to have to suffer.

AnnieAnoniMouse · 14/09/2017 10:09

I don't know any schools that charge for a primary school lunchtime orchestra. It's like any of the other 'clubs' that the teachers run at lunchtimes as part of their jobs (poor things!). It's nothing like a 1:1 music lesson which you'd expect to pay for.

Original poster

Orchestramum · 14/09/2017 10:12

Annie, exactly! I was surprised because all my kids used to participate in school orchestras and we never paid for it.

OP posts:

Pizzaexpressreview · 14/09/2017 10:15

Wow she's doing so well!! At our school they just start having lessons at 7!

Our orchestra is a fairly new thing and to be honest sounds "interesting" as you'd imagine a group of beginners to be but it's great they have a chance.

Pizzaexpressreview · 14/09/2017 10:15

Primary orchestras are quite unusual here.

LoniceraJaponica · 14/09/2017 10:18

"I was surprised because all my kids used to participate in school orchestras and we never paid for it."

The key words are "used to". Funding is even tighter now. I expect that the money just isn't there now.

Instead of complaining on here why don't you complain to the school?

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