Jazz teaching is cool for cats

I originally suggested incorporating jazz into the AB syllabus in 1989 on the basis of long personal experience.

Most of us are musically average and by no means blessed with genius. My unfinished struggle to become a half-decent jazz musician was handicapped by mentors' ignorance and discouragement.

By contrast, my three sons lapped up all the jazz "education" I could feed them. Result: confidence, direction and a far greater ability than I could ever have dreamt of at the same age. And they are just about as alike as red, white and blue.

Wake up to a bit of helpful reality, sourpusses.

Michael Garrick Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire