Any more sense up here?

[Oakleaf51]

http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/Society-and-Cul ture/Question490877.html
How's a kid supposed to earn a living?
not much help from society and kulcher!
Any real people on this categry?

[warpig3]

Morning Oakleaf, can I ask what other subjects your son is learning and how much time is spent on the african drum lessons as its difficult to have an 'opinion' unless it is put into perspective.

[Oakleaf51]

Not a lot of time on the drum, but he could do with it better spent on what emplyers want couldnt he?

[123everton]

Does he enjoy it? I'd imagine he got taught this in his music lesson, so where's the beef? I assume he does maths and English also, as well as other subjects of which this is just 1.
If you have a trade try and teach him that, if you work on computers, try and teach him that. It's up to you his parent to try and light a fire under him, get him hooked or interested in something positive.
A childs schooling does not end at the school gate, our culture will benefit when we remember that.

[warpig3]

I am not so sure there is an easy answer to this one Oakleaf. I am assuming (perhaps wrongly) that an Arts College has a slightly different focus than an normal college or school. I would look for the positive in this, it may help with his confidence and expression, give him a more diversified outlook and approach, these are things that would definitely benefit him in the eyes of an employer and could be considered 'another string to his bow', sorry very bad pun I know.

How does your son feel about learning this instrument, does he feel the same as you? If so then perhaps a change of school/college should be considered.

I do understand your concerns but as long as he is getting tuition in other more 'academic' areas I personally don't see the problem.

As an aside, the school I attended taught me Latin and Greek for 2 years, and to this day I have never used them to an 'employment' benefit, comes in handy in pub quizzes though. I, like many of my peers, thought it a waste of time and very unenjoyable and would rather have had african drum lessons in their place.

[Coobeastie]

Prehaps you could booster his schooling with some home tuition if you're not happy with what he is being taught.