Jude

Have you seen what kids these days are studying in math and science classes? It's stuff I never saw until college, grad school in some cases. In high school I majored in day-dreaming and goofing off and omnivorous reading - the kids I know now seem to work a lot harder than I ever did and be ever so much more focused than I ever was.

That's why I figured there was a good chance that musical skills had improved overall. Not the best - they always were and will be good, but the 2nd and 3rd chairs, who play through the exercise the required number of times and then forget about it until the next day.

Looks like I was wrong. Anyway, I'm enjoying the bells and whistles of these flashy new programs, even if the kids aren't impressed with them.

omelet

Don't underestimate the distortion of memory. It may seem that 'it's not all that it was', etc, but 'how it was' is only your perception of a small sample of how it actually was, not to mention some potential bias you might have.

Not saying it isn't true ;)

nplotts1

I am glad I am not the only model builder in the forum. Granted I had to give up that hobby when I came to college. As for those "snap-tites" they never looked as real and weren't as fun to put together. The model car industry almost led me into the full size deal rather than music, i just never had experience with real cars, i did have experience with music.

Anyway, back to the OP. I don't think its the technology which has lead kids into being lazy and fat and undisciplined little brats; its the parents. The generation is not the ADHD generation, its the get whatever you ask for never get in trouble generation. I know so many people in my generation (I am 20) get away with so many things that I never would have dreamed of. How many times do you walk into a store and hear a kid ask their mom for something, mom says no, kid throws a fit, mom gives in. If it were me, mom would have stood her ground, if I kept up, we went to the next isle with no one in it and I got my a** whooped. If I were to cry about that the ever popular line, If you don't stop that crying I'll give you something to cry about, would come into play.

Also, children now-a-days think that they deserve to have a toy bought for them any and everytime you step out of the house. My nephew (5) loves Lego Bionicles, they look like robots for those who dont know. Every time anyone says they went to the store he asks if you got him one of the Lego sets he doesnt have. If you say no, he wants to know why. I wish I could say it was just him, but its not, it is nearly every child out there.

And then there is the aspect of actually going outside to play. When I was younger, I got one hour, two if I had been exceptionally well behaved, to play on my NES (the original Nintendo) or Sega. After that I had to go out side and play, or watch tv; I couldn't save my game, I had to start from the beginning every time, and hope that I could get through the level faster the next time. Now, Kids are allowed to sit in front of TV or computer for hours upon hours, eating chips that they ordered their mom to bring them because they can't fathom the idea of pausing a game, or telling their friends on Xbox live they will be back in all of 2 seconds time. Parents just don't care anymore it seems. It brings to mind the old adage "out of sight, out of mind." If they don't have to deal with their unbehaved children, then why should they?

Don't even get me started on how laws will soon make it impossible to even raise your voice at your kid without risking jail time, because that is where it seems this world is going.

__________________
Georgia Southern University Music Ed. Major

Equipment
- Getzen 300 Series Bb
- ZeuS Guarnarius Polished Copper Bb - Wick 3C, GP
- 1918 Conn New Wonder Cornet Bb/A
- NYTC Stage 1 California C Silver

Pete Anderson

That's the best analogy I've read in a long time So true.

Eeviac

Just you are correct about kids out here in "flyover" country. They are learning advanced stuff. It's no coincidence that Science Fair national winners are coming out of little podunk towns.

However, as for the cities, which more and more people are living in.... I grew up in an area "blessed with diversity" which means the schooling and society SUCKED ASS. I had to pay my own money to learn, on my own, stuff that is covered in the upper end of grade school in "flyover" country. Passing the GED was considered a real feat where I was. School was a holding pen to keep the wonderful "diverse" kids from robbing each others' houses while the adults were at work.

I could go on and on.....

But yeah, this area I'm living in now.... non-"diverse" to the extreme, everyone's so NICE it's like I died and went to Mormon Heaven. Kids are learning plate tectonics, getting guided into college (something that never happened to the melanin-deficient where I grew up) and just doing great.

They'll come charging up at you at stoplights to.... tell you a taillight bulb is burned out on your car. They'll tell the same jokes their grandparents told to each other, in McDonald's, and laugh just as hard. Every Goth wearing black with a chain-y belt is like as not accompanied by his two best friends, one all cowboy'ed out and the other dressed at the gas-station attendant he'll be in a couple of years, and all of 'em laffin' it up.

No mistake most of our good scientists have come off of the farm, or from not far from it. No mistake some of the nicest and most earnest brass players on here are from middle of nowhere midwest.

Again, I could go on and on..... you know the score.

__________________
Conn Pan Am made in 1950 silver + Bach 7C
King American Standard cornet made in 1940 + Olds 3C
Striving for a Touchy Tone, rather than obnoquious

Eeviac

Best thing parents can do now is restrict TV highly, play lots of classical music, learn an instrument themselves and teach the kids, etc.

__________________
Conn Pan Am made in 1950 silver + Bach 7C
King American Standard cornet made in 1940 + Olds 3C
Striving for a Touchy Tone, rather than obnoquious

BlackWhite

Wellas we move towards globalisation,you can get things from around the world in a matter of a couple of days when it used to take months previously.

Plus,when a coutry develops,people's standard of living also increases.
It's the same with other things,not just accessories and instruments.