STUDENTS FACE SOARING COSTS OF MUSIC TUITION FEES

With the costs of music tuition within schools ever-increasing or being removed from the curriculum altogether, the idea of children learning this extra skill from a young age is becoming a distant hope as families are being priced out of the opportunity. 

23 councils charge parents for music tuition making it cheaper in some areas to take private lessons than group lessons within schools. Fees which were once free are now ranging from £117-£500 not including instrument costs on top, making it out of reach for many with fears not only for the jobs of those teaching (which have halved nationwide over the past decade) but for the lack of music groups which serve as a necessary escape for some children, made a feat only possible for those well off. 

Alice relays constituents’ views from #WLmusic campaign: on how they find it unfair that when it comes to budget cuts, music and art get ‘thrown away’ first. Music opens doors for us. Music makes you smart. 🤓🎼🎧🎹🎻@AliceMSYP pic.twitter.com/apXwElvEs8

— SYP (@OfficialSYP) November 7, 2018

Claiming it “unfair” Catherine Mackie from the Scottish Youth Parliament told ministers at Holyrood yesterday that: “The benefits are there - mental health improves, you end up with more friends if you join a band or an orchestra, even grades can improve ... it seems like quite a clear solution to keep music free for everyone.”

According to the Scottish Brass Band Association, of the 133 brass bands they identify to be

based in Scotland, 63 of these are youth brass groups, that’s almost half. For an industry that controls so much of the touristic enrichment the country has to offer it’s a wonder music is being deemed a privilege, far out of reach for the next generation to get into.

A COSLA Spokesperson said: “Local Government budgets are facing significant pressures. Since 2011/12 our core funding has been reduced, in real terms, by £1.6bn.  At the same time, demands on the essential services provided by local authorities have continued to grow meaning that difficult decisions have to be made about the funding of services, including charging to ensure a service can continue.

Decisions to introduce charging for any service are not taken lightly and are the result of both careful consideration and local consultation taking account of the context and circumstances in each local authority area.

However, COSLA is keenly aware of the contribution music tuition makes to the lives of our children and young people. That is why we are working in conjunction with the Scottish Government and the Music Education in Partnership Group to examine pragmatic ways to address these concerns.”

Creative Scotland is however administering the Youth Music Initiative which aims throughout this year and next to make funding opportunities more readily available to students, assisting them through picking up their first instrument and developing that skill as they grow up.