When I was at Primary school until 1960, it was usual for all children in the schools in our area to learn country dances and occasionally perform them in the summer evenings.

At secondary school, there was no more dancing and yet it had been good exercise, good fun and enabled all of us to appreciate music and gave some of us a sense of timing.

It would be an excellent idea if dance were made a core subject in a national curriculum throughout all school years and then we’d have adults who can enjoy social functions more in the future.

Queen Elizabeth I brought country dances into the court and is supposed to have chosen diplomats from the best dancers as she considered those who knew the most intricate steps must be bright enough to act in the best interests of her realm.

Don’t leave dancing until you are too old for anything “except tea and quadrille” as I seem to recall from Jane Austin’s “Emma”.

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but if everyone were to go into ‘real’ work, there’d be too many doctors, lawyers, nurses etc, and not enough jobs to go round! It’s an economical balance. And besides, if those negative words spoken above were said to frank sinatra, michael jackson etc, some of the greatest performers that ever lived (that I’m sure entertained yourself at some stage) would have become just another ‘suit’ driving to their offices in their audi’s, lexus’s and BMW’s! People always complain about kids being on the streets causing terror etc, yet whenever an opportunity arises for them to engage themselves positively with, and keeps them safe, and gets them to express themselves (reducing the pent up hate inside that leads to gun and knife crime) people still complain! With regards to the physics teachers, I know a lot of people with 2.1 and 1st degrees who didn’t even get onto the PGCE course! That’s for all subjects as well. Can they really be that short to turn away good, high standard candidates? If you put a fine piece of skilled grafitti on a canvas, you would class it as art and upper class members of society would go and see these pieces, carrying around the gallerya a glass of fine red wine with them! Also, despite the youth’s music not being of your taste as it isn’t mine either, remember when you were young and your parents couldn’t stand your music?! It’s the same thing. We were all young once.

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Following up on the lack of Physics teachers, and it being “uncool” to study maths, physics etc (Peter #2),

As a:

“Frustrated Musician”, and professionally qualified engineer with a 2:1 honours degree in Electrical/Electronic/communication and Computing – I can see both sides of the argument.

When I was at secondary school, in the early 60′s, when rock n’roll, Cliff Richard, the Shadows (and how many guitarists did Hank MArvin inspire?), countless bands, and of course Elvis were in the height of early popularity –
I really dreamt of being “one of them” – and the fact is …. I could have been given the right encouragement.

But … in one famous music lesson which I’ll never forget, when I attempted to play the piano (before any one came into the music room) – I got thouroughly told off by the music teacher, and given detention.

THAT was the end of my music aspirations, EVEN though at that time I could play the guitar to a reasonable level, and play piano quite well with left hand chords, and right hand melody “by ear”

But of course… THAT didn’t fit in with the “Strict” classical music regime of the day. If it wasn’t Mozart, Beethoven, Purcell etc… then it wasn’t music …. and .. IF you got a good grade in “ear tests” .. you were immediately signed up to violin lessons … so I deliberately “failed” that test .. even though I knew I could pass it with ease.
(e.g Could you “hear and describe” a major/minor third / perfect 4th /fifth major 6th interval?)

Years later, I took piano lessons, at the age of 38, and easily got to Grade 6, before I just felt it was all too much.
I also got 99% in grade 5 theory … and ..in my late 50′s and early 60′s …. also now play, and sing in my own band …. and the gnawing thought is …. IF I’d had the encouragment these kids get today then …. maybe …. just maybe.

And, in closing , although I love engineering, maths, science, electronics, and computing with a passion, the sad fact is, I’m afraid the public perception of these VERY HARD WON skills, is nowhere as high as it should be, compared to other professions such as Accountancy, Law, Medicine, etc which are in some cases a lot easier to become skilled in than engineering.

And finally … the reason why I scored so high in musical theory is becuase a lot of the theory “maps” directly to maths, physics and science (Scales, chords, intervals, harmonics time signatures, muscial notation etc)

So there you are – I think actually an interest in music or maths physics can easily “morph” either way. So the time spent on either is probably never wasted. In fact.. success in a subject, whatever it is, could just trigger that inner “will” to go on and succeed …..

Just try driving any modern music production software such as Cubase …. and see how you get on!

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