To stir the pot a bit more - for the past 20 years or so we've bred a generation that demands to be entertained, and are unwilling or perhaps too darn lazy to entertain themselves. "I'm bored!" is the moan, and they won't or can't do anything about it. OK, they'll acquire basic computer skills such as surfing, emailing use chatrooms but won't work at anything like learning to play a musical instrument whether it be a violin, piano or GA keyboard - after all you have to maintain regular practice sessions to be even reasonably competent.

Perhaps the type of tuneless music they like doesn't lend itself to being played on a keyboard..

I don't think the price of instruments is much of a deterrent - the price of used keyboards is within the reach of most parents, and I can re-call a time when many less well off parents would buy an ancient acoustic piano and pay for lessons in the hope of producing a prodigy.

Peter