Search Blog for "top-ten-musical-instruments"

Music Tuition – Why It Matters In Difficult Times

March 22nd, 2013 by Ged Brockie

Now more than ever with the difficult financial climate that many people find themselves in, families are restricting their expenditure to the absolute bare minimum. As part of a cost-cutting exercise, it will come as no surprise that music tuition is often viewed as a "luxury" that a family budget can do without. The question that needs to be asked, however, is why is instrumental tuition viewed so readily as an expendable extra?

The answer to this can surely be found within the educ... Read More »

Learn to play classical music

May 6th, 2010 by Emily

Classical music is experiencing something of a comeback. The style has always been fairly popular, but in recent years classical music has moved into the spotlight.

Of course, the definition of classical music is very broad: the term is generally used to describe most music produced between 1550 and 1900, although purists would say that the true Classical Period refers to the years 1750-1820: Mozart's heyday. Whichever definition you choose to adopt, however, the scope of classical mu... Read More »

Which Exam Board Do I Choose For My Child’s Guitar Exams? 

September 6th, 2020 by Cassie Steele

45% of CHILDREN WHO WANT TO LEARN AN INSTRUMENT choose the guitar. It is such a versatile instrument and lends itself well to any style of music from rock to classical. You can purchase an acoustic or basic electric guitar relatively cheaply, and it is of course, unlike the piano, a portable instrument, which is great for practising anywhere. Many guitar tutors encou... Read More »

Learning The Ukulele - A Stepping Stone to Reading Music

July 24th, 2019 by Cassidy Welling

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, British primary schools focused music teaching on singing, percussion and the one instrument that parents dreaded hearing - the descant recorder. They were cheap to buy and practically indestructible. Although the sound of London's Burning being played on a recorder was an acquired taste, the instrument... Read More »

Debate of the week: If music be the food of education

February 1st, 2010 by Emily

The provision of music tuition in schools has decreased in recent years. Whether that's individual instrument lessons or group singing lessons, it seems that music just isn't on the menu when it comes to many pupils' educational diets.

It seems as though this is a trend that we need to reverse. According to a recent study by the University of the Arts, Lond... Read More »

Play Me, I'm Yours. The Street Piano Project

January 19th, 2015 by Sarah Adams

British artist, Luke Jerram has taken the globe by storm with his 'Play Me, I'm Yours' project. Over 1,300 piano's have been set up in cities across the world, inviting musicians to play them. The idea, was initially set up to encourage new musicians to unleash their hidden musical talents.

The project launched in 2008, with a singular pi... Read More »

Debunking Myths On Learning To Play An Instrument Later In Life

August 9th, 2019 by Cassidy Welling

Learning to play an instrument decreases THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED MENTAL DECLINE as well as hearing loss, according to a number of studies. In fact, many people into their 50's and 60's report positive changes on both their mental and physical states, as well as their overall well-being. There are many misconceptions about LEA... Read More »

Young Musician Award 2015

January 13th, 2015 by Sarah Adams

The young musician awards programme is now accepting applications for 2015.

The Awards For Young Musicians fund talent across the whole UK solely relying on annual grants. The charity help musically talented young people from lower-income families overcome the barriers they face to progress in their music-making and fulfilling their potential.

In 2014, TAFYM granted £100,000 to 125 successful young musicians, assisti... Read More »

The best age to start learning the piano

July 28th, 2009 by Emily

Those of us who teach piano will often be asked by parents at what age their children should start taking lessons. I tend to think that age seven is about right - partly because younger children's hands are very tiny and a child could struggle to reach all the notes! However, it's undeniable that many of the world's great pianists started honing their craft at an even earlier age. Mozart was famo... Read More »