Musicians stand up to rise in fees
1200-name petition presented to PKC
Young musicians joined together this week to take a stand against proposed hikes in music fees.
A petition signed by over 1200 people was handed in to Perth and Kinross Council by the group on Wednesday, August 29.
Perth Youth Orchestra’s (PYO) current leader Nicholas Baughan (17) and its very first leader Alister Allan officially handed in the petition to the council.
This comes after the local authority agreed at its budget in February to increase music fees by 60 per cent over the next three years, which includes fees for music tuition, orchestras and bands known as ‘central groups’ and music camps.
Nicholas Baughan, who has just left Kinross High School and is now looking forward to starting medicine at the University of Glasgow, said the council’s instrumental music service (IMS) is “incredibly important”.
He said: “I have been learning violin since I was six and the music service has given me lifelong skills such as perseverance and shows that commitment can achieve results.
“Central groups and music camps have allowed me to gain skills I will use for the rest of my life, and meet people from all over Perth and Kinross with a similar interest.
“Ultimately, it has given me an unparalleled love and appreciation of music which I will have for the rest of my life.
“Currently Perth Youth Orchestra is a really strong orchestra with a whole range of musical tuition in schools and the fear is, with these rises not as many people will be able to afford to play.
“Fewer people are going to be able to get the opportunity to learn a musical instrument in future.”
Alister Allan, who was at the helm of the very first Perth Youth Orchestra in the early 1960s, described the PYO as “the jewel in the crown of Perth and Kinross’ education service”.
He added: “When I was at school there was no instrumental tuition.
“When I started in PYO as leader in 1962 we had 20 players, and they were all taught privately.
“It was only when Eoin Bennett came to the region to be an advisor that it started in schools, and over the years, the orchestra has grown from that modest number to over 90.
“Instrumental tuition was rolled out to the city schools and then out to the county schools.
“By the time I was teaching at Blairgowrie High School in 1975 here was only a little tuition, but when I left there was a full coverage in the school.
“It is the right of every child to be given the opportunity to learn music.
The 1200-strong petition was addressed directly to Cllr Caroline Shiers, convener of lifelong learning, and Sheena Devlin, director of education and children’s services.
A spokesperson for Perth and Kinross Council said: “Additional funding to support this service was provided in the local authority’s budget on a non-recurring basis.
“This money is being used to help extend the reach of the service further than at present. Any savings or changes to charges for services are considered by elected members as part of the statutory budget setting process.
“The decision to increase the fees for the instrumental music service, after a five year period where there were no increases, was taken at Perth and Kinross Council’s full meeting in February.
“The local authority has already met with parent representatives to discuss this matter.”
Alister Allan (left) and Nicholas Baughan (right) with fellow musicians hand in the 1200-strong petition
It has given me an unparalleled love of music