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?

Oh I couldn't agree LESS mp, really really... being able to play my instrument has provided me with so much in my life, even though it's not my career, just a hobby. Being in bands as a teenager gave me independence and self-esteem at a vital time. I've met countless friends in bands too - and my DP. I haven't even stopped now - I'm in a cheesy soul covers band and it is fab to have that - creative fun, friends, nights out.

Plus, playing an instrument could lead to a career.

Of course a child shouldn't have to do it if they have no natural interest in it and loathe it. But there IS a point.

I agree with kerrymum - wish (I had kept it up. Piano wasn't "cool" for a boy, that was one problem - if only someone had pointed out that I use it to play keyboards in a synth-pop band or something... And the other problem was that I just didn't enjoy all the practising. I realise now I'd have got more out of it if I had practised more - but I had a real "why should I? attitude about it. My mother had decided playing the piano was Good For Me and it was, as far as I was concerned, something she wanted me to do, never something I wanted to do.

My Ds is dyslexic and had piano lessons through primary. Although I didn't let him have the lessons for that reason, I think there is some evidence that playing the piano helps with the left/right brain coordination and has helped his dyslexia.
I played the flute and recorder at school and for me it was just a way of relaxing, just like any other hobby it might be a useless skill but it is an enjoyable skill,although not necessarily for those around us when we are practising

My dad has started funding dd aged 6 to learn the piano. I've never learned an instrument and it's all a bit alien to me, so we decided to learn together.

It's great actually, really enjoying it, we can play duets of christmas carols - dd is not very confident generally, and she's got a real aptitude for this, the teacher really bigs her up, tells her that's she's got a real talent, she's overtaking me rapidly, she loves practicing, she loves getting a tune right, she'll take on the harder tunes because she likes the sound of it and gets real pleasure from playing.

You could say the same about art, if we only do USEFUL things then life would be dull, and things that are done for pleasure and just the joy of it, like painting and making music, have nothing to do with snaring a husband and everything to do with enjoying life, being creative and spending time doing things that make us happy.

I take it your child will be on a boiler maintenance course? Animal husbandry? Agronomy for beginners? Pah.

Yes, I think that Good For You attitude is horrid. Having said which I am struggling with persuading DD1 to stick with the piano just long enough (I'm talking a term here!) to decide whether she does actually enjoy it or not.

I really, really like a spot of uselessness in life.

I know how to play the guitar, drums ,piano

I have not done any of these since my GCSE's

YANBU

unless your child enjoys doing these things

Incidentally I am irredeemably middle class but wouldn't say I had masses of time on my hands, dammit.

yes yabvu

if we have to reduce our lives to what is "essential" for living, employment or snaring a husband (where's the rolleyes smiley when you really need it?) then we may as well top ourselves now. what a joyless op (although i suspect you are playing devils advocaat :P)

Being able to sing has also been really important for my own mental health and self esteem. I gave up for 10 years and then last year set my self a challenge to find a teacher, start having lessons again, and perform a solo recital.

Just taking time out for myself to do something which I loved gave me the most incredible sense of well-being. I had forgotten the huge physical and emotional high which comes when things start to click into place and your voice soars over phrases which seemed out of reach previously.

I get paid for playing music. Very useful IMO.

But I'm glad that being in bands snared me a husband - as well as so many friends. For one thing, it helped me find a like-minded partner who shares my passions and lifestyle.

YANBMerelyU, YAStarkRavingBonkers.

Pretty much everyone I know who doesn't play an instrument wishes they could.

If children enjoy playing music and have some amount of talent at it, why not? If it's just because mummy thinks it's what nice children ought to do, or regrets not having done it herself, then that's different.

DS started violin lessons at 7, and is planning to be a professional musician as a career. If I'd never thought to send him to music lessons, that door would not have been open for him.

i am only good at supposedly useless things

Come back and face the music mp

the devils advocaat eh puppy ? it is the devil's drink I think....

I guess I have just wasted thousands then!

However, my oldest spends evry day after school in some sort of orchestra while his mates are drinking and smoking and hanging around doing nothing - i now which I would prefer.

DD and DS3 can stand infront of hundreds of people and play solo. They have confidence and poise.

Useless?

Well, I have recently dusted off my painfully rusty piano skills and learned a few Les Dawson-style carols to play at Christmas. The dc's now think I am Liberace. I'm also hoping it will help keep my brain active in an Alzheimer-preventing kind of way. Ds1 is learning piano and dd the violin which they both enjoy. I'm prepared for them to want to give up at some point, but I am glad they are learning to read music, to enjoy it and to respect the effort that good musicians put into becoming great ones. As for the idea that I have too much time on my hands.... hahahahahahahahahahahaha.

I could, of course, just be a competitive pushy mummy wanting her kids to be brainiacs - see here.

My oldest can now earn money as a session play at gigs and he is only 14

Gosh. We still get a nice little cheque every few months for royalties from DH's stint in a punk band many years ago. Would never have occurred to me that someone would think learning a musical instrument was useless......or indeed confined to the middle classes.

Learning an instrument is a wonderful skill and also very enjoyable once you can play a tune on the instrument in question.

It is true that instrumental lessons such as piano lessons are expensive so sadly some families may not be able to afford them.

Still anyone can afford a recorder and most primary schools do recorder lessons. It is also free to sing so hopefully everyone has the chance to enjoy participating in music at some point in their lives.

Surely it is better to meet one's husband while playing in an orchestra or participating in sport rather than when drunk in the Pub or through speed dating!

Actually giving my kids the oppourtunity to love of music and an ability to play well is one of the things I am proudest of. They show through their commitment a genuine love of music - always playing something.