For all children, the ability to play a musical instrument is just as important as the ability to read and write.’ How far do you agree with this suggestion? How important is it for a child to learn to play a musical instrument, in your view?

The question of which skills to prioritise for a child’s early education is important for all parents and educators, and

music

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can certainly claim to be a key possibility when deciding which abilities to teach.

However

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, I feel that playing

music

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is actually less important than basic

literacy

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, and I will explain the reasons here.

Firstly

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, it seems simplistic to say that

music

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is paramount ‘for all children.’ Certainly, there are some children who are highly talented or have great interest in

music

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, and when we think of childhood prodigies

such

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as Beethoven or Yehudi Menuhin we see how

this

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talent can be brought out.

However

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,

such

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talents are rare, and even the enjoyment and cultural values to be gained from learning

music

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cannot genuinely be compared to the benefits of becoming literate.

Secondly

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, it is a fact that

literacy

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is a guarantee of academic progress and the absorption of information, while playing

music

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does not offer

this

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security.

For example

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, it would be unimaginable to transmit scientific or mathematical information to children via the medium of

music

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.

Finally

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, it is surely wiser to regard

music

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as one of a wide range of secondary skills, ranking below

literacy

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and sitting alongside sports, hobbies, foreign languages and other important but less essential activities. Of course, those who say that highly talented

children

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child

must be allowed to develop their talents are quite correct; it is equally true, though, that few children seem to possess

musical ability

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the musical ability

a musical ability

to the extent that it should be prioritised so highly for all pupils. In conclusion, I would not wish to underestimate the potential benefits of learning to play

music

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for a minority of children, and it should certainly be available as an option.

However

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, if we think of all children in a given community,

literacy

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appears to be a far stronger pathway to progress and independence.