Let the music begin

Just wanted to post up about the great standard of music teaching at primary school level here in Adelaide.

Spent Sunday afternoon at a concert organised by the Primary School "Instrumental Music Service", featuring various musical groups: the Primary Schools String Orchestra, the Primary Schools Wind Ensemble, the Primary Schools Guitar Ensemble, and a group called the Fleurieu Flutes. Had to keep reminding myself that all these kids are no older than about 13 - most younger than that! They were absolutely fantastic, the concert was a sell-out, and it was a pleasure to watch and listen to.

DS has guitar lessons once a week at his state primary school - this costs us the huge sum of $50 a year, and that covers the loan of a guitar too! The school also has a choir, which DD was a member of when she there, and every year in September the various state primary school choirs from across Adelaide get together for a massed performance at the Adelaide Festival Theatre. Again, the standards are so high - especially considering they only get to rehearse altogether maybe once or twice before the concert - and it's quite a sight, seeing all these kids up on stage in their bright-coloured t-shirts, choreographed and in time.

As a totally non-musical type myself, I am in total admiration of what can be achieved with, and by these kids. Long may it flourish!