We had recorders, but they weren't given to us, they belonged to the school. I don't remember anything about how to play one.
We had to buy ours. They were like $1.50 when I got mine. The next year, my younger brother needed one too as he was now old enough to be in whatever grade that was when they made you play it. The price went to $2.00 and my mom bitched at what a fucking ripoff that was. $2.00 was about the minimum hourly wage back then and my dad was probably making more than $100k per year at that point. I knew we weren't poor so was trying to calm my mom down over fifty fucking cents and offered to pay her for it. She came from a time when money was tight and everyone had to fight for every penny. She is still the same way today.
I don't remember any fees for school things when I was a kid, so I can understand the complaint.
We were super poor and I begged to learn an instrument but my parents said no. My mother worked as a hotel maid for 50 cents an hour.
That is like $1,000 / year. I can completely understand why they would say no.
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