I actually read in the paper a few weeks back that recorders put kids off learning music. My response to this would be... Yeah, right! I learnt recorder when I was about 7. I don't play it now but I enjoyed it then. I also learnt cello from 9 to 14, getting up to Grade 3, keyboard in Year 10 and 11 (14 - 16 years old), and I've played bodhran seriously for the last 6 years.

I've also done loads of singing in public, with Keith Donnelly dragging me up on stage at Crewe and Nantwich Festival 1996, and a short solo in this year's performance by the Youth Music Workshop at Warwick Festival.

Shonagh, you're right about the singing and your "real" voice only coming out when you're older. I didn't get my full range for singing (about 2 1/2 - 3 octaves) until I was about 14 (I'm 18 now) and even now I still worry I might lose it. I heard some of the littlies singing a bit back and even though I thought "Aaah!", I saw the parents forcing them and I started worrying cos if you use your voice loads at a really early age, you run more risking of overworking it and losing it when you're older. What about Charlotte Church!?