Doc, ya know I love ya (in a purely hetero way), but I have to disagree. The recorder fills a role in music education that other instruments can't, by providing a cheap and convenient way for all kids to learn about notes and scales, melody, rhythm, notation, etc. I've been wracking my brain for at least a minute, and can't think of any other instrument which they could use to do that. Piano? Nope... Not everyone has a piano or electronic keyboard. "Bell set" (miniature xylophone)? Nope... Several hundred dollars a pop. Computer-based solution? Very expensive.

I suppose the piano or the bell set could be used, if the curriculum standards would require in-school practice time only in order to get an A in music ed. The many-decades-long ongoing use of the recorder has happened because the recorder is an inexpensive way to teach a wide variety of fundamentals in music education. So, far from preventing kids from enjoying the thrill of playing music, it provides every kid the opportunity to learn a little about it. Those who have the desire and motivation to continue and learn a real instrument or two, will.

I do, however, lament the fact that there is such little attention paid to teaching students about musical styles and the classic music literature. How many kids in 11th grade have ever even heard the words "Holst, The Planets", or "Stravinsky, The Rite of Spring", or "Beethoven, Appassionata", or "Vivaldi, The Four Seasons", or "Copeland, Appalachian Spring", or "Shostikovich, Festive Overture", or Duke Ellington, Count Basie, John Coltrane, George Gershwin, or pretty much anything other than Rap Daddy Rap or the music needed to win at the next regional competition?



Last Edited By: Dave Luepke Mar 12 09 10:36 AM. Edited 1 times.