Music tuition is so important to school pupils

My column this week focuses on instrumental music tuition in schools and how important this is for children.

A report entitled‘A note of concern: The Future of instrumental music tuition in schools’was recently published by the education and skills committee at the Scottish Parliament, in which members unanimously agreed that music tuition should be provided free of charge in every local authority.

In my role as the shadow cabinet secretary for education and skills, I feel this is a matter that really needs to be addressed.

Instrumental music tuition plays a pivotal role in the development of hundreds of children across Scotland.

It gives them a fascinating hobby, while at the same time providing a useful interest they can pursue in the years ahead.

There were many recommendations raised by the education and skills committee in the abovementioned report.

One of the integral points it raised was that committee members recognised the many ways in which a music education can benefit young people as well as enriching both local and national culture and the economy.

The education committee acknowledged that the education delivered by the instrumental music tutors supports a core part of the curriculum, and recognised that tutors are vital to ensuring that pupils have access to a diverse range of instruments and a sufficient level of teaching time in order to present for Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) exams.

Another important point was the fact raised in the instrumental music tuition paper that the education committee is concerned that, without action, the journey of young talent from Scottish state schools into bands, orchestras, and to become teachers of the future will become more difficult.

I strongly agree with the committee’s view that instrumental music tuition should, where possible and where desired, be an uninterrupted feature of any pupil’s education from primary school onwards in order to provide those pupils interested in a career in music the best possible opportunity to succeed.

Another important point raised by the education committee was that they recommended that the Scottish Government should consider extending the Youth Music Initiative (YMI). Alternatively, the committee feels the Scottish Government should introduce a new initiative to provide support to local authorities which seek to extend support for young people to engage in instrumental music tuition following their initial YMI experience.

I feel that one of the key messages that came from the committee’s inquiry was the value of a music education both to individuals and to society as a whole.

The committee heard evidence from young people about how they had benefitted from the opportunity to take part in instrumental music lessons.

It was particularly salient to hear of the number of young people who referred primarily to the social impact of their learning rather than to their own proficiency.

The inquiry into music tuition in schools was very worthwhile.

The role of the education committee was to find out the extent to which charging for instrumental music tuition as part of the school curriculum acts as a barrier to participation for children, particularly pupils from low income households.

The Educational Institute of Scotland (EIS) has voiced its concerns that music education across Scotland is under threat due to budget cutbacks along with a decrease in the number of specialist instrumental music teachers employed in some local authority areas.

This is a crucial issue which needs to be addressed by the Scottish Government.