to buy DS#1 an electric guitar even though he didn't want it as a birthday or christmas present?

[OrmRenewed]

DH thinks I am. DS#1 was told the teacher would provide him with a guitar when he started lessons. Nothing has happened yet. It was an informal arrangment and I suspect DS#1 might have read too much into it. But because of this we didn't buy him one as a christmas or birthday present, and he had other things instead.

But now he is guitar-less and not able to practice out of school.

It's a biggish thing to provide I suppose and DH thinks he should wait until the teacher does provide it or until next Christmas. I don't. I think he needs it now.

You say he didn't want it as a birthday or xmas present which implies that he doesn't want anything to do with a guitar, but it seems that the reason he didn't get one was you were waiting for the teacher to give him one.

It hasn't happened, so if he is doing lessons and has a real interest then you should think about getting him one.
He should be practising outside of the lessons or he'll never progress and he may lose interest.

Either ask the teacher what's happeneing with the guitar or just get him one yourself, and don't wait til nexy christmas if you can afford to get him one sooner.

I think I would check and make sure the teacher will not be providing one before buying one myself.

To be fair if he wants to learn he really will need to practice out of school so I can absolutely see where you are coming from.

The teacher is still saying he will get one but he's been saying that since September DS#1 excuses him because his wife has just had a baby and 'he's very busy'. But meanwhile DS isn't progressing.

I think I will ask DS to broach the subject at his next lesson - along the lines of 'Mum wants to get me a guitar, what should I be looking for' and see what response that gets.

Good plan.

Either way then you should know if you need to buy one or not

How is your Dad btw?

He may be busy, but he still has a job to do and since I assume you are paying for the lessons (I pay for dd2's violin through the school) he should be doing what he's supposed to do.I can see if she

My s'chool hires the isnstruments out to the students and they take it home and can practise when they want.
I prefer that as then I can see if she likes it, is any good at it, is going to stick at it before having to get her one of her own.

What's the school policy on this? Is the teacher just doing it as a favour?

Sorry rubbish post, the cursor is jumping alll over the place.

Thanks gibbon, he's much much better now. Still not 100% but happier and looking less like a walking skeleton!

undometicated - he is doing it as a favour, the school has no policy to provide instruments apart from the ones in the music room for use in school.

Oh Orm, that is good to hear

I think this should be an adult to adult conversation. Not fair to ask your ds to do it IMHO.

Oh I see, but what does your ds use in the lessons? Is it a guitar that the teacher has provided?
If it is maybe the teacher thinks he has done what he said he'd do and provide a guitar for the lessons but doesn't want the guitar to be taken away and takes it back after the lesson has ended.

Sorry am a bit confused I think if the teacher is saying he'll get your ds a guitar to take home then can you go in and speak to theteacher or ring the school and find out how you can contact him?
Tell him that you think your ds needs a guitar and he said he'd get him one, what's happening?

I don't really go to the school and getting hold of anyone is very difficult. It's Yr 8 not primary which is much more accessible.

This was an arrangment made between the pupils and the head of music - he told them that he wanted as many children to sign up to music lessons as possible so he didn't want them to be put off by not having an instrument. There are plenty in school but they can't be taken away.

DS would be mortified if I muscled in and started asking the head of music about all this! It's got to be down to him to sort it out. He's 13 not 3.

That is what I am hoping for shiny. He has tried so many things and stuck at few but this is something he really wanted to do.

Didn't realise he was that old, you're right he does have to speak to the teacher himself.
If the guitar still doesn't appear, I'd just go ahead and buy him one - it doesn't have to be for an occaison I think it's good to encourage music, and after all it 's the teachers fault that he didn't one for his birthday or xmas!

And if he doesn't stick at it you can always sell it or take guitar lessons yourself

When my dd started learning her instrument I was reluctant to spend a lot of money on buying her one(in case she lost interest) so I asked on Freecycle and we were really lucky.

You might not get a really smart nice guitar that way, but it would probably tide him over until his Birthday.

Thanks shroeder. TBH I've been surprised how relatively inexpensive they seem to be. But I have told DS that he needs to look for a second hand one to start with. I will try freecycle though.

Well we found a second-hand one for £50 - from the local music shop who played it for us to how it was OK? The bag, strap, leads and tuner rounded it up to £90, and DS has arranged to get an amp from a friend for 20. So 110 all in which I think seems a good deal.

DS very pleased. Has already been round to a friend's house for a jamming session and hasn't been without it round his neck for the last 24hrs!

Oh shite!

HE'S JUST COLLECTED THE AMP.

Sorry for shouting.....