Today I went to a concert of one hunderd odd eleven year old kids who will be entering band in grade 6 next month.  Before Monday most of them had never played a musical instument other than a recorder.  I was brought nearly to tears of joy and just being totally impressed.  First by all the music teachers from public schools, universities, bands and other backgrounds to teach these amazing kids to play.  Second and most of all by how great the kids sounded after only 4 three hour lessons. 

The group had been split up into two bands.  My son was in the first group and each instuments played the first bit of Clair de lune.  Then they played the opening bars of Beetoven's fifth and a well known section of Beetoven's ninth.  They also played a piece that the conductor had written himself.  The kids played all together and there weren't any glaring mistakes.  I was just completely floored by how well they did.

I wish that every child had access to the amazing music progams that are offered through the Dartmouth schools and Dartmouth Music Centre.  My son is entering into his third year of violin, his second year on the All City Boys Choir and his first year of band (trombone)  He was in his school choir last year but is dropping it this year because he is taking up band and it would just be too much.  In Dartmouth band starts in grade 6 in the children's schools.  Strings are offered through the schools or the Music Centre from grade 4.  The schools offer choir and there are All City Choirs that the children must audition for.  Last year the senior orchestra and band played in New York and the year before they competed in Geneva. 

One of the central ideas at the Music Centre is that money will never stand between a child and music and if a child cannot afford to rent an instument the money or an instument will be found somehow.  My son's first year violin rental was sponsored half by his school and half by the Music Centre.  The staff there is just so dedicated that one can't help but get excited about music just being around them.

Like I said, I wish that every child could have access to the same kinds of music progams.  What kind of music programs are offered at the schools in your area?