Parents Upset at Suggestion We STOP Recorder Lessons

A discussion on the TODAY Facebook page saw parents very unimpressed at the suggestion we stop teaching kids recorder.

The Facebook post read, “FINALLY! There’s a new push to stop kids learning the most-hated instrument of all time…the recorder! Parents across the country are rejoicing, but what do you think?”

Parents soon jumped on to voice their concerns at such a change.

One parent wrote, “OFFS! Sure teach them to play another bloody video game instead, we’re all seeing how that’s playing out in society.
Playing a recorder they learn maths, fine motor, memory, coordination, patience, teamwork etc etc the list is endless.
Get over it parents!! Let you child explore, set boundaries and support your child. When you have a child it’s no longer about you.”

Another said, “The world has gone mad!! I live opposite a school and even though sometimes the recorder lessons are like scratching a blackboard – music is SO important in education. Show me a school that can afford a few hundred flutes or clarinets and sure…lose the recorders. But they’re simple, easy and cheap and might just hook a pupil on a lifelong love of playing.”

Another shared, “It’s an affordable small instrument that introduces kids to making music. Don’t take it away. We need more music in education not less!”

“Music is such an important part of a kids education and when played well, the recorder sounds beautiful. This is a real shame! So many kids are going to miss out because their parents can’t afford to buy them an instrument”, wrote another.

“The recorder is a great starter instrument, quite often paves the way for learning other instruments such as flute, clarinet, saxophone…the list goes on. Teaches basic music reading, co-ordination, timing, team work…plus gets the brain working more than any other topic or subject. And for some students, the recorder is the only instrument they will have the chance to play, and possibly practice at home.”

Do you agree that it would be a bad decision to ditch the recorder?

They kids have a choice at our Primary school which is good for those that are keen to learn and those that really don’t want to.

Share your comments below

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17 Comments

- - mom93821 said
  - 18 Mar 2019
    7:19 am
A recorder is an easy first instrument to learn and it is a whole lot of fun too.

- - Ellen said
  - 13 Mar 2019
    7:59 am
Why would we stop teaching our kids recorder ? Many other instruments are just as noisy

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 13 Mar 2019
    1:02 am
Sometimes this is the only instrument a child will get to learn. I think that it is a good introduction to learning to play
- mom93821 replied
  
  19 Mar 2019 , 5:43 am
  It is a good introduction musical instrument and relatively inexpensive too compared to the cost of other musical instruments.
- - mom265671 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    10:43 pm
Omg hated this at school. Don’t see how it benefited me now as an adult

- - mom114371 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    8:59 pm
I don’t remember learning recorder as a child? So I didn’t know it was even still a thing.

- - mom74005 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    8:58 pm
I can do without hearing the loud expelling of air into the horrific musical tube named the recorder. Months of torture to the ears endured to maybe learn hot crossed buns, by the end… Gosh!
But they are a good introduction to music.

- - rnash02 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    8:28 pm
Yes parents don’t like it but the kids do, let kids be kids!
In saying that my kids haven’t learnt to play the recorder, this year my daughter started the saxophone.

- - BellaB said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    7:29 pm
I think most kids enjoy it.

- - ashna9 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    6:29 pm
Give the kids a choice. Learning the recorder is a rite of passage.

- - nealsq said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    5:36 pm
I was in recorder band in primary school, I loved it!

- - Mum2archer said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    3:43 pm
NOOO! I loved my recorder when I was younger! My 2 year old has one now (thanks grandma) and he loves playing with it too. I think its an easy instrument to learn for kids and helps get them interested in music, so I think lessons should stay

- - becstalou said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    3:12 pm
Learning music is important and if there are other affordable options great if not I guess it’s more recorder.

- - mom160421 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    2:55 pm
Learning to play the recorder at school is a tradition – let’s not lose another tradition.

- - mom90758 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    2:51 pm
My daughter started playing the recorder in Year 1. She loved it and she became very good at it!

- - mom206279 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    11:51 am
When my mum bought my son a recorder I made her keep it at her place. I’d never want to ban it, I just don’t want to listen to it.

- - mom81879 said
  - 12 Mar 2019
    11:36 am
Let’s be honest here, a musical instrument in the hands of a child who’s learning to play it………….is a hated musical instrument! We all gotta learn, all gotta start somewhere!