Fees end sound of music

Hundreds of children across Scotland have been forced to hand back musical instruments because of unaffordable tuition fees, MSPS have been told.

Holyrood’s public petitions committee heard in one instance a young girl had to give up her instrument in tears and was only able to rejoin lessons after her mother asked for help to raise funds at the last minute.

Campaigners are warning of an “unjust” divergence in musical tuition as a result of fees, with instruments passing from the hands of poorer children to those whose parents can afford it, as well as a “lost generation” of musical talent.

A petition lodged at Holyrood by musician Ralph Riddiough calling for a law change to make free musical instrument tuition a statutory right has attracted almost 10,000 signatures. “It’s not fair ... and it should be a matter of grave concern,” he said.