Prep schools employ a specialist to teach Music and classes have 2 lessons per week; primary schools are rarely able to have a specialist and have only one lesson per week. tha latest venture, with big money from the government, is for whole classes of 30 children to learn an instrument: imagine 30 children with a violin or cello, none of them can read music or rhythm, they all learn in one room with only 2 string teachers present for half an hour per week. And, this is the best bit, the instruments do not go home as other classes need them for their lesson during the week. It shows a total lack of understanding what learning an instrument is all about and any talented youngster has not got a prayer. It would take me about 20 minutes to tune the violins alone. I don't know who was responsible for this stupid scheme but it is an obscene waste of money, time, potential talent. Good schemes such as Colourstrings, Sheila Nelson's legacy to name but two could have provided real knowledge.

Iona Zuiderwijk, Bedford,

It's well known that music has positive effects on all sorts of mental activity. Academic standards are notoriously high in specialist music schools.

More, real music does seem to have an ethical effect. It's not magic (Beethoven was a swindler, Wagner a racist, Mozart foulmouthed) but on the whole classical musicians seem to appear in the courts less than you'd expect, especially for violent crimes. Quite apart of course from the value of the music as music.

In view of this, why is it unreasonable to insist that at least some primary teachers have musical competence? When a school is full of teachers who think that a disco bump-bomp, bump-bomp is music, how can the children possibly learn?

If we rightly insist on competence in English and Maths, why not in a subject which, obscurely and indirectly, does seem to support achievement across the board as well as socialisation and ethical behaviour?

Michael Bruce, Selby, Yorkshire

This is why prescriptive curricula are such a nonsense. The ability to play a musical instrument is a huge asset to a primary school teacher, but it would be unreasonable to insist upon it as a condition of employment.

Malcolm McLean, Bradford, UK