Now this is REALLY good news...

vasselmeyer

Electric guitar overtakes violin in a list of most popular musical instruments for children to play:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-29117849

Welcome the next generation of GAS sufferers!

xSkarloey

...but the bad news is that the recorder remains widely taught. 

Phil_aka_Pip

Skarloey said:

...but the bad news is that the recorder remains widely taught. 

There's nothing wrong with recorders when they're played properly

Rox

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Skarloey said:

...but the bad news is that the recorder remains widely taught. 

There's nothing wrong with recorders when they're played properly

To date, no one has released a Patrick Troughton 2nd Doctor signature recorder, but the screechy bloke from The Darkness got a signature Gibson.

No justice in the world.

gubble

I was subjected to a 31 year old finding her old school recorder yesterday and giving me a rendition of everything she could remember. It was torture.

I don't hate the recorder - it's just she has no musical talent at all.

xSkarloey

Phil_aka_Pip said:

Skarloey said:

...but the bad news is that the recorder remains widely taught. 

There's nothing wrong with recorders when they're played properly...

..which let's face it they rarely are in schools. 

I know kids have got to start somewhere. 

I know recorders can sound fine when played well. I'm not disputing that for a second. 

I know it's a cheap instrument that a lot of schools have used for time immemorial to give kids access to music. 

But when too many schools use it as a cheat to say they're offering music when they really can't get their finances or arses in gear to offer a wider variety of instruments, and where the recorder is taught badly then THAT'S what I've got a big problem with. 

Roland

On the Channel 4 programme last week there was a school offering plastic margarine tubs as musical instruments

gubble

Roland said:

On the Channel 4 programme last week there was a school offering plastic margarine tubs as musical instruments

Cue the 'plays like butter' jokes

stimpsonslostson

This may be in part due to loads of schools having moved from teaching Recorder to teaching Ukelele- it's still relatively simple and allows the children to sing and play simultaneously. (It's also a great gateway drug for guitar).

My next door neighbour is a violin teacher... if I never hear another wobbly scale being sawn out on a violin it'll be too soon. 

(That said, hearing her practice her parts for the orchestra she plays with is astonishing).

frankus

I've still to be convinced it's a good thing - apart from selling on gear to people where's the benefit?

Guitarists aren't brothers or if they are they're brothers with a high degree of sibling rivalry.

I sometimes wonder if there should be a forum for bands to talk on ... how much cooler would it be to find a bass player and drummer on your wavelength than 3 other guitarists?

EricTheWeary

:-B