766 reasons to take the study of Music seriously

Alistair Cook, England's Ashes hero, puts his success down to his musical childhood. In a Profile in last Sunday's Times we learn that he was a St. Paul's Cathedral Chorister and that his scholarship to Bedford School was in music. What a great gift to those of us struggling to convince school management, parents, reluctant pupils and the government of the value of music. The demanding regime and habits of a choristership and the patience, determination and concentration required to perform music to a high standard help to explain Cook's ability to bat for hours.

This is a tangible, relevant and real reason to learn music and shows that it is not just for the otherworldly, pretentious geeks who are often the public face of serious music.