Search Blog for "abrsm-report-on-most-popular-instruments"

Uke been framed

Who'd have thought that the small and humble ukulele could become so hugely popular?

In the last couple of years, the ukulele has shot to fame as the instrument of choice for adults and children alike. You'll be familiar with this tiny yet wonderful instrument without even knowing it - if you've heard Hawaiian music, or the hit songs of singer songwriter Jack Johnson, then you've heard the ukulele.

The uke, as it's commonly and affectionately known amongst its fan, is like a m... Read More »

Debunking Myths On Learning To Play An Instrument Later In Life

Learning to play an instrument decreases THE RISK OF AGE-RELATED MENTAL DECLINE as well as hearing loss, according to a number of studies. In fact, many people into their 50's and 60's report positive changes on both their mental and physical states, as well as their overall well-being. There are many misconceptions about LEA... Read More »

Music year launched with mass lesson

On 10th September 2009, leading musicians including Jamie Cullum and Killa Kela led an interactive nationwide music lesson to kick-start 'Music Year'. This is a new government initiative to get over two million schoolchildren playing a musical instrument by 2011. There is to be an investment of £330 million between 2008 and 2011 to encourage schools to push music on their curriculum, but the... Read More »

Don't Fret: Learn Some Chords! Why You Should Have Guitar Lessons

The guitar is the instrument of modern music, the spirit animal of youth. It is synonymous with cool independence and fresh creativity. Whether it be a battered acoustic or a thrash metal axe, it is imbued with the same core romanticism: revolution, newness and change.

Because of this, playing the guitar is a deeply rewarding activity. It has social benefits that no other instrument can provide, and an immediacy of use that isn't possible with practically every other common instrument... Read More »

Will we ever 'run out' of new Music?

Music evolution, after centuries of being localized and linear, exploded in a bloom of diversity as globalization brought cultures, traditions and sounds smashing together. 150 or so years later, we're left with thousands and thousands of genres, sub-genres, categories and scenes. Fads rise and fall, new sounds are developed (for example when electronic music-making became possible), and music's evolution branches ever outwards.

... Read More »

Relax! Learn to play a musical instrument

"Music speaks what cannot be expressed, soothes the mind and gives it rest, heals the heart and makes it whole, flows from heaven to the soul."

Private musical tuition is probably the best method of learning to play a musical instrument. Music is an important aspect of our lives and learning to play is a wonderful feeling of self achievement.

Musical education has formed an important role in all school cu... Read More »

The best age to start learning the piano

Those of us who teach piano will often be asked by parents at what age their children should start taking lessons. I tend to think that age seven is about right - partly because younger children's hands are very tiny and a child could struggle to reach all the notes! However, it's undeniable that many of the world's great pianists started honing their craft at an even earlier age. Mozart was famo... Read More »

Debate of the week: If music be the food of education

The provision of music tuition in schools has decreased in recent years. Whether that's individual instrument lessons or group singing lessons, it seems that music just isn't on the menu when it comes to many pupils' educational diets.

It seems as though this is a trend that we need to reverse. According to a recent study by the University of the Arts, Lond... Read More »

Play Me, I'm Yours. The Street Piano Project

British artist, Luke Jerram has taken the globe by storm with his 'Play Me, I'm Yours' project. Over 1,300 piano's have been set up in cities across the world, inviting musicians to play them. The idea, was initially set up to encourage new musicians to unleash their hidden musical talents.

The project launched in 2008, with a singular pi... Read More »