Music teachers are "very worried" school orchestras could be on their way out due to a lack of interest from pupils, according to one head of department.
Mike Cosadinos, head of music at Hylands School, Chelmsford, explained that despite the subject being very popular at the school, he could only "scrape together two or three brass players and maybe half-a-dozen saxophonists" for musical performances.
"Music teachers, such as me, are very worried," he said.
"Interest in orchestral instruments has dropped severely over the years, particularly in mixed comprehensive schools like ours.
"When I started teaching 15 years ago we used to talk about oboe and bassoon players being a dying breed. The same can now be said for violinists and even trumpet players. We have to go to new lengths to encourage and persuade students to consider taking up these types of instruments."
Mr Cosadinos explained that his concern comes in the face of rising popularity for music at the Writtle Road school. "Only last night we had our annual Rock Concert with 18 bands performing. This is one of six annual concerts that we hold, not including performances in neighbouring primary schools and for events such as the recent Chelmsford Marathon.
"Everyone wants to play a guitar, drums or sing and the problem is the traditional way of teaching these instruments doesn't necessitate the study of staff notation.
"We cover these skills as part of our curriculum, but like any language, if you are not using it every day you lose it again very quickly."
Mr Cosadinos admitted that the cost of musical tuition to parents was certainly partly to blame for the demise of pupils playing instruments.
He said: "When I was at school, instrument lessons were free and, by charging for them, a large number of pupils are excluded on the basis of their parents' income.
"We could also put it down to the changing tastes of the nation, but unless something is done soon we will lose our orchestras.
"At Hylands School, music is thriving, but our next focus will be on how to open the eyes of our students to instruments other than the guitar and drums. I hope other schools will do the same before it's too late."
