Key into music and you’ll learn life skills (From Maldon and Burnham Standard)

Key into music and you’ll learn life skills

10:50pm Tuesday 29th September 2009

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WITH a growing emphasis on youngsters learning life skills, one subject promises to teach them all – music.

No one in Colchester is more vocal or passionate about music than the founder of the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra, Nigel Hildreth.

Established 27 years ago, it performs in the UK and across Europe and currently has more than 50 members.

“Music puts together a number of skills,” said Mr Hildreth.

“Students learn self-discipline through practice, learn to listen to each other by playing in ensembles, maths and thinking skills.

“It’s been proven over that students who study music do better in other subjects than they would have done otherwise.”

“It’s the combination of practical and theoretical ideas together. It helps develop the brain patterns.”

Nigel, head of performing arts at Colchester Sixth Form College and also chief examiner in music, said music used to be a staple of every school.

But a law brought in in the Eighties allowing schools to charge fees to learn instruments saw the start of a steady decline in children learning to play music.

Although music is still on the national curriculum, there is not enough funding for specialist teachers.

Mr Hildreth revealed there are more students studying music to an advanced level in Colchester than any other town in England, outside of London.

He praised the opportunities available, such as the Colne Valley Youth Orchestra, Colchester Sixth Form College, Colchester Institute and some schools in the town, including the two grammar schools.

It is well known the town has produced a number of popular bands, with the most successful being Blur.

Whether it is down to society’s pop culture or not, Nigel said he had noticed more youngsters want to learn to play the guitar or drums, but he warned: “These instruments are no less demanding than others such as the violin or cello.”

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