To say no to buying a violin for my DC?

[NoInstrument]

DC is 9, Year 5.

School told us on Friday that we have to supply a violin for our DC to play in music. The school do not have any to lend out, it’s either we provide one or DC can’t take part in music lessons this year.

The cheapest one I can find that will arrive by tomorrow (lesson is on Tuesday) is £65.

I cannot afford £65. I’ve just spent £200 on uniform for DC as they’d completely wrecked everything else. And even if I did have £65 to burn on a violin we have nowhere to practise, I live in an upstairs flat and theres limits in our tenancy to what can be done when, instruments are not allowed after 5pm (DC is in ASC until 4.45pm everyday).

There is no second hand sale at school as the Year 5s last year played a different instrument.

I’m a single parent, DC is on FSM but school don’t use it for this sort of thing, they use it for the Year 6 residential and an individual subscription to 2 homework apps (everyone else has to pay I think £5 a year)

AIBU? And what will happen to DC if they’re the only one without a violin (which is likely as its happened before with trips, DC has been the only one not going on none compulsory trips when I couldn’t afford it)

Try ebay, Facebook marketplace?
Can he practice in the morning before school?

@Whataretheodds We're at breakfast club everyday from 7.45 so not easily, not sure my neighbours would appreciate it earlier than that.

YANBU. That sounds ridiculous.

Do you have a town or neighbourhood facebook group, put on there you need to borrow a student violin 3/4 size will probably be the right size unless your dc is tall. I lend my DD's old ones out free

What about the rental schemes? Many music shops and school music services use them.

I would send an email and say that for the reasons stated, you won’t be purchasing a violin but if there were any other instrument that was cheaper then you’re happy for him to partake in the music lessons otherwise he will have to sit out of them. I presume if he doesn’t do music, there’s an alternative lesson planned???

Schools often have a discretionary type fund for things like this. Might be worth checking with a guidance/inclusion staff member to see what can be done.

Yanbu at all, it is ridiculous to stipulate an instrument to learn as part of basic lessons. These should be provided by the school.

Are they at a private school?
What do you you are entitled to free school meals but don't use it for that purpose

@Yogazmum The letter says those without will be sent to a younger year group for the 45 minutes a week, they have a visiting teacher in doing the lessons.

I got a beautiful violin for my granddaughter through Freecycle.
I just asked nicely and a local lady gave me hers. All I had to get was a bow.

Do check the size. It's no good getting a full size one for a child.

If you are in the UK, schools cannot ask you to provide instruments for music as part of the curriculum. Only additional music tuition is chargeable. Unless you are at an independent school, of course.

@misssunshine4040 Not private, it's a VA CofE.

From what I can tell they can use the Pupil Premium funding however they choose and it doesn't have to benefit directly the child on it. They only have less than 1% of the school population on FSM so I doubt it'd cover a violin.

@Redebs Not indi/private. VA cofe

I agree it’s ridiculous buy you will be able to get one on marketplace for not that much (£20ish) and if you can’t then try posting a wanted ad on Facebook. Loads of people have no longer played violins lying around. I’ve got 3 myself.

Where in the COI try are you? I have. 1/4 and a 1/2 going spare. Nice ones - not stentors!

School being totally unreasonable. Violin isn’t a cheap instrument and if DC has any talent for it, a good violin down the line will be a LOT more than £65. Also not easy instrument to learn

This is why schools used to teach recorder. Or more recently ukelele . Cheap and accessible regardless of income.

How does your DC feel? If they aren’t bothered I’d find out more about the option of joining younger year for music lessons.

if they really want to learn then look at eBay or Facebook marketplace. You might pick up something v cheap on there

@Daffidale DC wants to learn but I think thats more because they want to be with their friends, school offer private paid for lesson (periatic maybe?) and DC has never shown an interest in learning before.

If this is a whole class lesson as part of their national curriculum provision for music then schools cannot expect parents to provide for it. In our area, schools borrow a class set of instruments from the local music service as part of the provision. I would query this with the headteacher if that is what the class teacher is telling you.

I think music lessons are really important so I'd probably try and locate one for free on gumtree etc. Is there a decent ppg, we'd put out a mesage on that and people would donate sad, unused instruments that are languishing in cupboards.
There is a local trad group close to me that do a free lesson/ practice session for p.5 upwards once a week. Also the school will let them practice in gym at breaks if necessary.
I'd give it my best shot but if it's really impossible then it is what it is.

What mad school is going to teach an entire yr group the violin , it’s ridiculous . I would imagine there will be lots of kids who won’t have one .

It sounds bonkers. But you can usually pick then up for about £20 off ebay etc.

Search for child's violin on Amazon. There's one for £45.

And a plastic one for £22 that would do the job.

And one for £30 on gumtree

My Ds’s class did the recorder.

unless things have changed .. the school have to publish a report how the child is benefiting from Pp.

Then school has to provide learning materials, ie musical instruments.