Figure 1.-- Most school orchestras are put tgether in secondary scools. This English primary school, I think in 1950 put tgether a basic orchestra. Note the younger children in the back have recrders. This was the Elbow Lane School. Click on the image to see the ret of the orchestra.

Many of the boys and youth orchestras that we have noted are secondary school orchestras. There are other types of orchestras, but quite a number are school orchestras. Another factor here is that primary schools are generally smaller than secondary schools, thus affecting the size of the orchestra that can be supported. Not only are primary schools small, but the younger children were not yet considered ready to participate in an orchestra. Some primary schools form basic orchestras. Note the orchestra at an English primary school here in 1950 (figure 1). Note the younger children with the recorders. Opinios vary as to the age children should begin to play an instrument, but even children that have begun to master an instrument might not yet be ready to participate in an orchestra.Some schools such as full term colleges (in the sence of combined primary and secondary school) often have orcestras. A factor to consider here is that except in America, access to secondary education was generally extremely limited until after World War II.Thus mos European children ended their education with primary school at about age 13-14 years. Secondary school was for the most part for children from well off families or the more academically capable children.

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Created: May 26, 2004
Last updated: May 26, 2004