<p>Actually, I passed level 12 testing with only 4 years of piano. I played for a year when I was 7-8 and I took lessons again when I was 12-15.</p>
<p>Now I self-learn and play more free-form piano such as jazz piano and melodic metal keyboarding.</p>
<p>Considering that a lot of people who play instruments self-learn or learn from the school band, I wouldn't say that the people with less money have a disadvantage.</p>
<p>
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And I don't know, but doesn't it seem a bit unfair. This is sort of an advantage to those who are financially able.
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Not really. They might help a bit, but those less financially able can still do it despite the disadvantage. Like SAT-prep courses. People who can't afford them still do fine.</p>
<p>@ Liist: Don't forget to consider the fact that some poorer schools don't even have bands and parents couldn't afford the instruments to begin with!</p>
<p>Anyway, the colleges most likely take it into account that if you come from a lower-income family, you'll simply have fewer ECs that are like that. It'll help the kids who have the opportunities, sure, but I don't think it'll hurt you if your ECs are more short-term.</p>
<p>I think it's a bit unfair, but not financially. Kids should pick EC's because they enjoy them. A EC shouldn't be something that a kid's parents forced on him at an early age even if that activity makes the kid look good.</p>
<p>But anyways, I have to disagree with you, Liist. People who are "less well off are less likely to enjoy playing piano."? I mean, I started playing when I was nine and then my mom stopped my lessons because she thought I disliked it (without even asking me).</p>
<p>I didn't really care though, I thought the piano was fun at first, but it did seem a bit boring afterwards.</p>
<p>When I hit 6th/7th grade though, I really did start to have a passion for it again, and so I just taught myself with what I knew beforehand. But I obviously can't say that I've taken any CM tests or completed what levels. It's just what I like and do as a hobby.</p>
<p>And believe or not, but I do know people who have completed many levels and disliked it.</p>
<p>It just makes me question sometimes for those that list 10 years if piano (level 10) and these lists of rewards whether they did do it as a passion or for college apps.</p>
<p>Yeahhh... I always thought it was kind of unfair that the majority of people in band or orchestra in school are only there because their parents got them started on an instrument at a young age. Very few kids pick up a violin at five and say, "I want to play this instrument for the rest of my academic career. Mommy and Daddy, please sign me up for lessons." True, some kids grow to be passionate about their instruments, and that's great! But should I be at a disadvantage as someone with no musical talent or passion to speak of, just because my parents didn't decide for me that I was going to play an instrument?</p>
<p>I've played piano for almost 12 years now and NEVER did my parents push me into it... although my mom is a piano teacher. I guess once she did offer to work with me on it, but I've pretty much taught myself and I can honestly say that I've moved faster and gotten better than way that many people who takes lessons. Obviously, that's not true for everyone, but it seems to me that people who take lessons are more likely to be the ones who have been pushed into doing the activity by their parents, therefore they're less likely to excel in that area. Just about a year ago, I hit a point where I couldn't find music hard enough for me at the music stores around where I live, so I decided to start up lessons again from somebody who has easy access to the more difficult pieces.</p>
<p>I wouldn't say that my family is especially "well-off" either. We happened to inherit a piano, so that's where we got ours. But for people who AREN'T going to come into possession of a piano, yet they have a kid who loves playing it, they could probably find a keyboard or something really cheap at a garage sale or something.
Sooo nah, I don't agree with the OP about it being "unfair"</p>
<p>Well, I guess than it really is just the people (including my friends) at my school then. I always hear them complain, like "I'm going to quit as soon as I finish this level so that my parents are satisfied." And they also make bets with their parents; if they pass a test, they get something. It just makes me mad, I guess, how they can be so ungrateful of something that not everyone has a privilege of doing.</p>
<p>My parents have never forced me to play an instrument. They supported me when I was able to take band in 4th grade, but that was my decision. Then they supported me when I wanted to start taking guitar lessons. Definately no forcing...</p>