to think that Learning An Instrument is a bit of a useless skill?

[morningpaper]

.... ?

It seems to be something that cheery middle-class mummies with too much time on their hands foist upon their (mainly female) children.

What is the point of it REALLY in this day and age? They don't need to trill something tuneful on the piano to snare a husband - is it REALLY worth the time and money for some very specific and probably fairly useless skills?

Learning an instrument and/or learning a language has apparently been shown to activate parts of the brain that otherwise would not have been activated. Once activated, it used for other things, such as maths, etc.

And the enjoyment part is huge. I really wish I had kept up my piano playing.

Obviously if a child hates it, it shouldn't be pushed. However, learning even a little bit about music is part and parcel of getting a well-rounded education and/or taking part in extra-curricular activities. I learned the piano and guitar as a child. I don't play anymore but then I expect lots of children who played sports or were in guides/scouts don't do that anymore either!

I'm glad this has been raised. At my kids' school, everyone (I am not joking) apart from my 3 learns an instrument from reception up. I personally think anything below 7 is too young unless the child shows a real interest.

I gave in to peer pressure and signed my two oldest up for piano lessons but the practice on top of homework became a terrible burden. Life is SO much better now that I dont have to nag them to practice. My oldest has just taken up the drums at 9 and loves it and there's no comparison between that and boring on at him to practice somthing he's just not that interested in.

The best time of my life was spent with friends who all played music together in a bras sband. It was the social side - being in a group and having a hobby. Ds (10) is learning to play trumpet in a brass band now and it's the highlight of his week when he has music lessons.

Good reasons to learn an instrument:

• the pleasure of playing some beautiful music.

• learning the discipline of practise and the pleasure of getting something right.

• the social aspect - joining orchestra/band etc. I met my dh because I'm a musician - I went to the Proms and met him there - roundabout, I know - but still - it snagged me a husband!

• it opens up the world of music to the child.

• they may be really good at it, and be the next Vanessa-Mae or Bryn Terfel or James Galway, and get a huge international career out of it - or it could just be a fun hobby and a good way to meet people.

Of course - as others have said, this does have to be the child's choice - both to do it and what instrument to choose.

sunnygirl.

YABU

It can bring enjoyment, fulfilment, a sense of pride and achievement.

Why do any seemingly "useless" hobby? Why should every activity have a point (or lead to some amazing "husband-snaring skill" ) Whats wrong with doing stuff just for fun?

If it works, they really enjoy it and actually learn something, then I think it is an excellent transferable skill.

Not only will it give them a hobby that can easily be shared with other people; it is fun being in a choir or a band. They will also get the ability to understand and enjoy music they hear on a totally different level (you listen in a completely different way once you can play). Also, understanding music is closely related to such skills as maths.

I have now given up nagging ds to practise and started playing with him instead- me on the recorder, him on the French horn. It is a lovely thing to share together.

I grew up in a house that was full of music and it was lovely. If annoying at times- my db had a very carrying concert violin.

My nephew is already composing his own music. It may not help him to snare a wife, though. Bet my db didn't think of that...

MP - my ability to play the piano and sing has been instrumental (hee hee) in getting me at least 2 jobs.

I'm a primary teacher, and I know that the fact that I can play the piano (albeit badly!) for assemblies etc. has given me the edge over other applicants.

I also use my singing skills every day in the classroom as a way of developing children's speaking and listening, self esteem and class cohesion.

I run choirs for older children in the school which is helping to support relationships with parents. The school was a failing school and is now working very hard to re-build relationships. The choir gives us an opportunity to reach out to the parents and local community and in turn, draw them in to school life.

So no, I don't think that learning an instrument is at all useless, even though I hated practising the piano when I was younger.

Oh - and I forgot:

• the thrill of performing in public - nerves beforehand and then the applause afterwards when it's over.

Completely disagree with OP. To be able to master an instrument and learn to read music is a superb skill - and a great pleasure. I wish I had kept it up (got into my teens and found smoking fags and snogging boys more interesting!).

I will definitely encourage my little boy to learn an instrument when he is old enough.

I remember seeing your ds on you tube kerrymum..playing his own composition...ds is joining a singing group after school and has been having singing lessons at school - I encouraged it but it seems to be something he is enjoying..

I was forced to play the piano and consequently hated and resented it.

Playing an instrument teaches a lot of very useful transferrable skils - concentration; communication; confidence and social skills to name but a few. Reading music is also very useful, otherwise how on earth would you be able to learn all those tunes to High School Musical as demanded by your DDs?!?

And as others have said, it's fun (or should be), and of course enables you to go on youth orchestra tours aged 14 and get very drunk in foreign cities . In some ways it's a bit like learning a language - yes, it might come in useful in itself, but if it doesn't then the discipline of learning it will still have been useful.

And of course when the oil runs out and the lights go out, we'll all have to go back to amusing ourselves around the fire in the evenings with nothing but a comb and a harmonica!

not sure my skill is entirely useless

"I wish I had kept it up (got into my teens and found smoking fags and snogging boys more interesting!)."

ahh you see some of us managed both

Oooh yes Sunnygirl - I'm with you on the husband-snaring! Well, boyfriend snaring at least. Many of my teenage boyfriends were snared whilst on residential music courses.

All that late night group bonding, sneaking down down to the boys' corridor, illicit wine, smuggled guitars and teenage hormones

I played the violin from age 7 to 15 years and got upto grade 7. I played 1st violin in the county orchestra and met lots of new and different people. I travvelled all over to different concerts, I enjoyed it, it made me proud and improved my self confidence.

I went to the local sink comp on a council estate, not at all middle class. It kept me away from hanging out on street corners with the local knob heads.

I quit at 15 cause I no longer thought it was cool

It is my one regret actually that I did not keep it up.

My DW and her family have always been very musical (all classical stuff) - we have 4 DS', #1 was not really interested in music. DS2 a couple of years ago asked to play flute and he took it up and school and did very well at it - he's just started playing orchestra at secondary school - says all the other flute players are girls - but we think its a nice way to mix and have something in common. We've just deceided to get a piano and used an inheritance to pay most of it - could have replaced a car but we thought this would help to possibly get others interested. Have not pushed any of them to do / be musical if they want to do it we will support them, its certainly cheaper if they don't!!! You never know one day we may be going to a gig / concert to see them and for now its rather nice to hear a flute playing and in a few weeks our shiny black Yamaha arrives .

I'm with motherinferior, echoing Oscar Wilde. "All art is quite useless." Yep, that's what we like about it.

It so happens that dd1 (5) is harassing me to let SIL teach her a few tunes on the piano, so why not? If it spares me the second phrase of 'Twinkle Twinkle' over and over again on her ELC keyboard, then this can only be a Very Good Thing.

Dh was showing her how to take apart and fix a washing machine yesterday, so we need a bit of balance from relentless Useful Skills here.

oh the piano isn't dull - I loved playing duets, and accompanying (finally convinced my piano teacher to let me do my Grade 6 and STOP doing the bloody exams and let me ONLY do accompanying - the school I was at I had just about every instrument imaginable to play with )