What did YOU get out of learning a musical instrument at school?

[erebus]

Curious about how you feel about it now.

This isn't 'Why are you 'encouraging' your DC to learn an instrument?'- that's a different question.

I am just wondering how many of us feel the experience was worth the possible blood, sweat and tears that may have been caused by it in our own childhoods?

Fwiw, I learned recorder in primary; violin in Y7-8, classical guitar Y8-10. I can now play the recorder well as DS2 plays and I have had to help him; I couldn't make a sound out of the violin (possibly not a bad thing ) and I can't read the classical guitar music at all any more despite once being able to play to Grade 4! Bear in mind I had to beg my parents to be allowed to learn these instruments whereas DS1 was coerced into piano (and quit after getting a Distinction in Grade 1) and DS2's recorder- well, I just re-enrol him every year, but he has 'outgrown' it in that he is the only Y5 boy left in the group!

However, for myself, I'm glad I got the 'feel' for how music works, which is partly why I got the DSs to learn something at least.

How many of us have kept playing a musical instrument up since childhood?

"Learning an instrument involves lots of teamwork and listening skills which just don't feature when learning the piano alone."

so you don't listen when you're playing the piano?

You can also play the piano for the pleasure of other people

Teamwork - easily - Our organists both play the piano, and when we have choir practice, they play accompaniment to the music (which would normally be on the organ in church, or just for learning a new piece)
that's teamwork - I know this from experience, because I'm a piano beginner, and if I want to play something for my Junior Choir to learn, it's very hard - I can only play the treble line (which is fine for them to learn the tune!), which means I can't play the whole thing, so they can't hear what their part sounds like against everyone else.

Playing the piano is definitely one of the most useful instruments you can learn to play, and it fulfils your criteria for being a muscian.

I lived in Leicester for a couple of years (dad's work),and I was in the school Steel Band,and we were on TV!

A great deal of enjoyment.

An ear for music that I can apply to any instrument (like the electric guitar tha I didn't touch until 2 years ago, but can now bang a few chords out on)

But musical ability and inclination can grow throughout late adolescence. I was the only musical person in my family until my brother, aged 15, daigned to touch my keyboard and actually it turns out he is now an excellent ear pianist. My sister then stole his untouched guitar and now has a regular gig at a local pub - unpaid, but great fun! the ring me for chord names - they play them to me and ask me to name them so they can explain it to other people - but actually they are both more talented than I ever was, and I had tuition. They should have been pushed to learn a bit of theory so they could back up their inate knowledge!

I think the idea is like lots of thingd at school - you start of with learning a broad range of skills and gradually focus on thopse you enjoy and/or are good at.

But am wondering how it will go with our three year old DD..... I would like her to enjoy what I have enjoyed, particularly understanding music when you liosten to it, playing with others etc but also want her to play sports so she is fit and healthy whilst enjoying it.

3 out of my 7 played piano. They started quite late. I had an arrangement with a local family - I did their ironing and cleaning and their 16 year old son taught mine piano. He put all 3 through their exams and put them into Maidenhead, Slough Festivals of Music. They did very well with marks in the 80s and 90s and silver medals.
Got a piano keyboard in the house now and they sometimes play when they come to visit.
I played violin as a child in care. The only thing I got out of that was one of the nuns deliberately shut my left hand in the hinge of the door and nearly took the tip of my middle finger off because I played a wrong note when the local bigwigs came to gawk at us orphans:)

I enjoyed the performing side of learning an instrument.

My DH is a musician and we have music in the house all the time. Both DCs are interested in music, DS plays drums and keyboard and DD is too young currently but picks up the guitar and sings Rock and Roll. I can still play a few chords on the guitar, ukelele and can play flute and read music. I used to earn money in the church choir from weddings so got plenty of sweets out of it and earning money at the age of 9 was great. The important thing for me is performance, just doing exams is too disciplined to keep the interest up. When I say my DD singing in the theatre group or DS playing with his school, it is great and they get a lot from this.

I too got lots of friends (and boys) from playing musical instruments although I did not keep them up as my life became more work and family orientated (as I did not become a musician). But I wouldn't change anything - I encouraged my own children to get involved with the orchestras when they were good enough and they have both enjoyed the events and tours - just as I did. I help out with the music centres now (as a volunteer). Its been great.

I mean the instruments.

A career sideline playing piano in assembly, choir and orchestra, in addition to doing recorder lessons, which means I do 4 times as many clubs as anyone else, and have to organise school concerts.
I don't actually like playing the piano - never have, and I'm not remotely musical. It's a bit like doing maths to me - good sight reader, but never get any better. Just refused to budge when my mum said I could stop (I'm like that! ). Finally gave in at 17!

I am a professional violinist and teach as well. I think,despite various aural test etc, it is impossible to see if a child is "musical" unless they have tried learning for a while. I am lucky enough to teach some fab young musicians and some not so gifted. in a sense this doesn't matter if they get something out of it. There is a lot of reasearch that proves learning an instrument helps many cognitive areas of a childs development. Is this pupil an able violinist because they're bright or is learning an instrument helping their brains to develop. My 2 DSs play piano and are doing well academically and I am certain this is because of the piano study. The amount of concentration required is enormous.

I learned how to lie convincingly, when whilst carrying a double bass from one school building to another with a friend, we took a corner a bit too tightly, bashed the instrument against the wall, and broke the bridge off it. Naturally we just put it where it went, and later denied all knowledge of it.

The only good thing having music lessons for me was that it got me out of my German lessons.

I don't regret not learning to play an instrument at all.

Yet I love music, I like being surrounded by it, I love live music. I just don't want to play it myself.

in short...i got a lot out of it. I was academically able and bored to tears. The only lesson that was a challenge was my violin lesson. Was the high point of the week. I am a violinist now

I started playing piano at age of 6 and play and teach to this day, I pretty much sucked at everything else (maths, science etc) playing was my salvation.
what did I get from it, well as nojustifictionneeded said, it exempt me to a degree from my " bad subjects"
I was able to shine trough my music.
Oh and yes I help DS with his piano studies.
DD is not interested to say at least in piano, but wants to learn cello.

the knowledge that music was definatly not my thing

DH.... we met when playing at a local orchestra in our twenties
we're both string players, he is a pro (well by qualification at least) and does part time playing and musicology. I play in both amateur and professional events, when I have the time!!
So far only one of the three dc has started to play, and unsurprisingly it's a half-size violin. Two are about to join the local pro orchestra's junior choir, one of whom is pitch perfect and the other couldn't carry a tune in a bucket I want to do it for my children if I possibly can - I got so much out of my musical education, social stuff because I'm a string player, and thirty-odd years on I'm still loving it.