The myth of the violin loses its luster
The British Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music has published a comprehensive study on the next generation of musicians. More children than ever are learning an instrument. The violin has lost its former leading position.
According to the study entitled "Making Music", 76% of children aged between 5 and 14 in the UK today say they play an instrument. In 1999, the proportion was 41 percent. Today, 36 percent of children who play an instrument have music lessons.
However, the traditional instruments violin, flute and so on are losing ground. The violin has been overtaken by the electric guitar as the most popular instrument. More popular today than wind instruments or classical percussion are drums, bass guitar and keyboards, i.e. the typical instruments of pop and rock music.
