According to a report in 'The Telegraph' newspaper on the weekend, the days of a production line of tuba players ready to fill positions in orchestras could be coming to an end as interest from youngsters to play the instrument has dwindled.

Crucial

The article by education journalist Camilla Turner quoted Lucy Noble, the Royal Albert Hall's artistic and commercial director, as saying encouraging the next generation of players of the 'big beasts of the orchestra' such as the oboe, bassoon, French horn and tuba is, "crucial to their survival".

She added: "If more is not done to promote the playing of these instruments we risk seeing them disappear from schools, stages, studios and screen.

The future of any instrument is only as strong as the next generation of people willing to learn it. It would be a huge shame if any of these fantastic instruments were to become extinct."

Not in survey

However, although the article reports on research that indicated that less than 1% of a poll of 1,000 children identified the oboe, French horn, English horn, bassoon or contrabassoon as instruments that they either play or would like to play, no further evidence was given to state that the tuba was also regarded in such a manner.

At the recent National Children's Band of Great Britain seven players — the youngest aged just 9 years of age, were playing either EEb or BBb tuba.

The future of any instrument is only as strong as the next generation of people willing to learn it. It would be a huge shame if any of these fantastic instruments were to become extinctLucy Noble, artistic and commercial director, Royal Albert Hall

Response

In response to the article, a Department for Education spokesperson said: "High quality arts subjects are an important part of every child's education and the proportion of pupils taking arts subjects at GCSE has remained largely stable since 2010.

"Music remains a compulsory subject from age 5 to 14 and we are investing nearly £500 million up to 2020 in a range of music and arts education programmes designed to improve arts provision for all children.

This includes 120 music education hubs set up across the country to give every child the opportunity to play an instrument."

To read the article:

To read the full article go to: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2018/07/28/big-beasts-orchestra-could-become-extinct-arts-chief-warns-youtube/