Music is a must

I refer to Ian Swanson’s article in The Scotsman on 26 September “Schools and Music are in budget firing line”. This is of grave concern to all parents and teachers, especially those involved in music and the arts.

The debate regarding free instrumental tuition in schools continues. There is no doubt that this service benefits many children, and I was a grateful recipient in secondary school. However, of even greater concern for the majority is the loss of general music classes in our schools.

When I was at primary school in the 50s we had a visiting music teacher each week and two wonderful radio programmes (“Singing Together” and “Rhythm with Melody”). There was also lots of spontaneous music and dancing, as most primary school teachers at that time played the piano.

I was truly shocked, therefore, when my first grandchild

started school in 2016, to find that there would be no music classes whatsoever until P4 – and that even thereafter it would not be a regular part of the timetable.

This threat of further cuts comes at a time when many

people, including well-known celebrities, are campaigning for the expansion and relocation of St Marys Music School. It also comes less than a year after the threat of closure, and subsequent reprieve, of the specialist music units at Floer

ra Stevenson and Broughton schools in Edinburgh.

Of course we must encourage excellence and, in some cases, specialism – but we must also ensure that every child, in every school, will experience the joy of music. The well-documented social, educational and psychological benefits speak for themselves.

MAUREEN MORRISON York Place, Edinburgh