Tuesday 4 March 2008

These young people should be headline news

I've copied the title for this blog from Random Mum. I spent a large chunk of yesterday at the same event and was blown away by the talent, energy and commitment of the young people and their instrumental tutors etc.

There were several highlights:

As a proud dad watching Dolly D playing with two orchestras, and winning the string orchestra competition against the local rival school - for the gazillionth year in a row!

Hearing Perth Youth Orchestra playing to near professional standards - you should see them if you get the chance. I would have paid proper money to hear them. (Yesterday cost me £4.00 for over 4 hours of entertainment!)

Perth Academy Swing Band - playing the music that my dad loves, but more importantly and impressively the group is led and directed by one of the pupils. Amazing - he plays sax with the swing band and is the lead clarinetist with PYO!

A fantastic, uplifting day thanks to a huge number (literally hundreds) of young people, who we can rightly be proud of.

4 comments:

That Hideous Man said...

Sounds great... what I'm wondering, as the parent of much younger children.. is, what age should they start to learn an instrument? How to get them started? Which instrument to chose? Who to ask?

Fish Wife's Tales said...

We started Dolly D with piano lessons at age 10 which gave her a very good grounding in reading music. Piano lessons are sometimes available in school but there are plenty of good teachers around outwith school. Just ask if you want some names.

We found for Dolly D (and me) that a second instrument is then much easier to pick up. There should be opportunities through school and it would be worth asking there first.

I'm biased when it comes to choice of instrument. Stringed instruments come in small sizes so you can start early - from about age 8 or 9. But Dolly D and I both think that Boris would be more suited to a brass instrument!

Les (Endlessly Restless) said...

Naturally I agree with everything that the fish wife says!!

Have you thought about bagpipes? Indoor practice is very soothing for parents and siblings. (Actually I understand that playing bagpipes is good for asthma sufferers.)

Anonymous said...

Certainly not! Are you mad?