Letters: Musical Education

Sir: With regard to your articles on the lack of musical instrument teaching in primary schools (4 November), I thought you might be interested to know of the contrast in Welsh primary schools.

My grandson, aged 8, attends a very small village school in Ceredigion, where every child over 7 learns the recorder in school time and is given the opportunity to learn another instrument free of charge. He has chosen to learn the trumpet and his parents pay a mere pounds 15 a term for hire of the instrument. The children at his school sing superbly and have several good soloists.

This, of course, is Welsh culture and it would be very interesting to do a survey of the difference between English and Welsh opportunities for young musicians.

Here in Kent, our county music school has been in great financial difficulties and has had to suffer giant cutbacks. They can only offer instrument teaching at pounds 60 a term. As a consequence of this loss of opportunity children in our local primary school have lost interest and the motivation to make music on an instrument. Far easier to play on a computer.

JANET FRASER

Ashford, Kent