With the start of Term 1 just around the corner we are putting together a series of buying guides to help families learn a little bit more about the various instruments and their buying options.
Many Western Australian children are offered the chance to learn music through their school. It is a fantastic opportunity that can benefit the child in many ways. There are numerous studies that show that children who study music consistently score higher in their year 12 exams than students who do not learn music. Music engages both sides of the brain, and gives students a constructive and creative social circle through school bands and orchestras. Then there is also the core reason that music is fantastic in itself! (We won’t lie, we may be biased on this topic, but then again, it’s hard to deny how great music is).
Most school music programs start in primary school, where potential students are selected based on a variety of factors, including interest and aptitude for music. Students can be involved in their school orchestra or ensemble in primary school and are encouraged to continue the instrument into high school.
Many schools offer the chance to hire the student’s chosen instrument for a year to determine whether the instrument is the right choice for the student. After this hire-year though, if the student finds that they would like to continue with the instrument, parents face the unenviable choice of navigating the sea of options when it comes to purchasing an instrument. For many parents, this can be a nightmare, especially if the parent comes from a non-musical background.
We’ll be kicking off the instrument buying guides over the next few days, but first a few general pointers that apply equally to all instruments:
