Yamaha Music London, Yamaha’s flagship music store in Wardour Street, Soho London, has conducted its first ever survey of over 1,000 adults across the UK to discover their views on learning to play a musical instrument.
Some 60 per cent of adults say they want to learn and the start of the New Year is the perfect time to start but sadly the future doesn’t look so rosy for children who want to learn to play.
The findings reveal that despite 85 per cent of those polled agreeing that children benefit from playing a musical instrument, a staggering 77 per cent believe that there is a shocking lack of encouragement for children to learn to play.
Science has shown that students who have music lessons have an improved IQ, better memory and concentration skills. Much has been written about the health benefits and improved well-being that playing a musical instrument can bring to kids and adults but it seems that despite being surrounded by music 24-7 with sound at our fingertips from the moment we wake up, learning to play a musical instrument isn’t a priority for children.
Learning to play a musical instrument is in danger of becoming a lost art without encouragement and support from parents and schools. 50 per cent of those polled verified that school was traditionally the place to learn to play a musical instrument.
Yamaha Music London store manager Nigel Hill (pictured), explained: “We are recommending that you throw away apps, games and gizmos and pick up an instrument – it might just be the start of a life-long passion or career.”
The good news is that anyone can learn to play at any age, however the Yamaha Music London survey found that the optimum age to learn to play is between 6-10 years of age and that the best starter instruments are piano and guitar.
