I read with dismay Neasa Bird's article on her horrific violin lessons as a child in a recent edition of Education & Living. My heart went out to her and to the many children who have been shoved on to musical instruments which didn't and don't suit them. What was particularly sad about Neasa's unfortunate experience was that in this modern age many alternatives are available. Music lessons never, and I really mean this, never have to be a penance.
"Don't run before you can walk" - this is a saying which I'm beginning to think should be applied to music. "Don't start playing before you can listen." It's so logical it's laughable and so this year we decided to formalise what many of our teachers have already being practising at the Academy with the introduction of our pre-instrumental course for children aged three to eight. The course, under the directorship of the delightful and charming 26-year-old Denise Coleman, aims to "open children's ears."
We don't learn to write before we can talk so it seems logical that we should develop our aural and singing senses before we sit at a piano, blow a trumpet or play a cello. In Denise's classes children develop their basic music skills in an enjoyable and stimulating, yet structured way through singing, rhythm games, percussion playing, movement and an introduction to the instruments of the orchestra, all in a manner suitable to their age.
Before long you have a class of children singing together, having fun and enjoying music making. It's then up to them and their parents whether they want to develop their musical education further.
Neasa's memory of her violin lessons may only be "fatter than a caterpillar, fatter than a caterpillar." If she had had the opportunity of pre-instrumental classes she would still be saying it and indeed many other similar rhymes but in addition she would have developed a love of music and a belief in her own ability. Who knows she may even have become a loud Louis Armstrong or a troublesome Nigel Kennedy. A further headache for her long-suffering parents but undoubtedly a real pleasure for her and what an experience!
AS for older students I should add a personal note. My younger son, Keith, played piano for three years, hated it and decided to try the violin. After 18 months his violin teacher in the Academy told us, in the nicest possible way, that he was "seriously untalented." (We were secretly relieved as listening to his excruciating scratching set all our teeth on edge).
I offered him a choice on what he would like next. He decided on the trumpet - Lord, it's so LOUD! Since he started six years ago he has had endless fun, joined many orchestras and made an enormous circle of friends. So if a teenager is bored with piano lessons let him try something else. The Academy orchestras badly need trombones, bassoons and double-basses. Any names?
