Looking through roughly 100 of the same comment in this thread, I think the singlemindedness of the concept of "music" was a problem for many.
Theory and composition don't require performance ability. Transcription or mixing are other choices for people who have great ears and technical ability but perhaps poor biomechanics or dexterity. The playing of music by oneself is only one pillar of many in the vast field of music, and yet the way we do it is such an unappealing gauntlet of private "use it or lose it" that what child wouldn't rather be elsewhere with friends?
Put another way, I think capable, broad-minded teachers are the greatest barrier to producing capable musicians.
Theory and composition don't require performance ability. Transcription or mixing are other choices for people who have great ears and technical ability but perhaps poor biomechanics or dexterity. The playing of music by oneself is only one pillar of many in the vast field of music, and yet the way we do it is such an unappealing gauntlet of private "use it or lose it" that what child wouldn't rather be elsewhere with friends?
Put another way, I think capable, broad-minded teachers are the greatest barrier to producing capable musicians.