Music still doing well in the recession - or is it?

Posted at 9:14 PM on June 9, 2009 by Marianne Combs (1 Comments)
Filed under: Music

Earlier today MPR's Chris Roberts reported on how live music events are still selling out, despite the dour economic times. Apparently people are choosing to attend concerts instead of say, a more expensive weekend get-away.

But through MPR's Public Insight Network we're hearing stories about other areas in which music is suffering: namely, kids' music lessons.

Danielle Sells in Minneapolis writes that her spouse has fewer students to teach these days. Jaette Carpenter teaches at Camden Music School. She says students are lining up for "scholarships" - which sometimes amounts to teachers donating their time. And composer Randall Davidson says he's got his fingers crossed that parents will sign their kids up for the Junior Composers' Institute he runs each summer.

In addition to cutting back on music lessons, families are trying to trade in those instruments for cash, too. Musician Kevin Anthony says he's noticed a flood of instruments selling for cheap on craigslist.com.

MPR Photo/Chris Roberts

Comments (1)

Music events might still be attracting crowds, but unfortunately music lessons for the next generation of musicians are suffering budget cuts. My cousin's 12 year-old is lucky enough to receive private music lessons from Juilliard alumni through the Ten O'clock Classics non-profit organization in NYC. Founded by classical pianist Ronnie Segev, TOC provides low income youth free of charge private music lessons and free instruments.

Posted by Bill | July 2, 2009 3:08 PM

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