Council out of tune on music services

Sir, – I am writing in response to news that Perth and Kinross Council (PKC) has voted to reintroduce fees for ensembles and to review instrumental music services, resulting in staffing cuts.

I work throughout the UK in music education and am a parent of a child who loves playing in PKC ensembles.

Regularly, I see how music fills young people with confidence and joy.

For many, it is only in music lessons or groups that they are able to express themselves and find likeminded people to connect with.

For a few it will be the only place that they feel safe, listened to and that their contribution means something.

Daily, we hear of children and teenagers’ current struggles with mental health.

By limiting the opportunities young people have to find joy and to be creative, are our politicians not further contributing to these struggles, rather than helping fix them?

We know that early intervention and preventative measures are the best medicine for wellbeing.

The Scottish Government only recently committed to making music tuition free, as it had become inaccessible to many. This is a back door exit from responsibilities by PKC.

I urge councillors to see how important music is in the lives of young people.

I am a lead tutor for the Benedetti Foundation working with young musicians in many local authority areas across the UK.

In May, we are working with string players from PKC instrumental services.

I know this day will be fantastic as this is a music service to be proud of.

It is so sad that something so good is to be devastated.

To be clear, the valuable work done by the Benedetti Foundation complements but cannot replace the sustained weekly work of the music service.

We are living in challenging times and our young people are still living through the aftermath of Covid. Let’s not take away the very things that can bring them joy in learning and life.

Joelle Broad. Dunning.