does anyone else help out with music stuff at primary school?

[lingle]

I am a keen amateur and am involved with
-mentoring some girls who were trying to teach themselves violin (no money for lessons)

• teaching piano to a troubled musical little boy (also no money for lessons)
• trying to help with the school orchestra.

and generally trying to bridge that huge wierd divide between musical people who want to have sheet music for everything and musical people who don't use sheet music at all!

is there anyone else out there? I would love to swap ideas.

Hi
I am a primary music specialist and work with lots of children whose parents can't pay for lessons. It sounds as though you are doing the right thing letting them explore music for themselves - they can be helped and progress well in school through informal learning with lots of encouragements and bits of support and being allowed time to try things out.

Remember that the vast majority of the world's musicians play by ear and don't read the dots, though it is useful to learn - the best professionals can do both. Unfortunately our musical teaching in school has been dots based for so long that there are far too many teachers who have never experienced an aural tradition and don't know where to start.

I am new to mumsnet but would be happy to help if your have more specific questions.