Concern over music lessons
A Livingston mum has hit out at being billed full price for her children’s music lessons when all they can learn is theory, with no practice, because of the Covid rules.
Hazel Ross is full of praise for the efforts music teachers are putting in to try to deliver the courses for her daughter, Isla (11), who is at Williamston Primary and her son who is at James Young High School.
“The teacher is working in her own time. She’s going over and beyond what as a parent I’d expect,” said Mrs Ross.
But she said the costs should be looked at- especially in the run up to Christmas.
Hazel has been asked for £ 52 by the Instrumental Music Service (IMS) to cover tuition costs for her two children.
She said: “I feel like I’m forced to pay this excessive charge in the run up to Christmas during a pandemic when many families are going through difficult times both mentally and financially but trying to hold it together for their kids. The charge is full price for a reduced service. The council are demanding I pay £52.10 a month for music theory lessons in school time. How can that be fair?
“I’m trying to keep things as normal as possible for my kids during this difficult time but now the council is demanding I pay up or hand their instruments back to the school.
“It’s so frustrating, why do they need to charge full prices for theory lessons? I would be willing to contribute towards theory lessons, maybe some wouldn’t, but I would. Let’s agree a fair price. I think the teacher is doing everything she can within the constraints she has got.”
In an email to the mum, the IMS explained: “Many wind and brass instructors are also offering out of school hours on line drop in sessions through Teams. These are offered at the times when there would normally have been a school band/ensemble rehearsal and allow the instructor to see and hear the student play their instrument from home. These sessions do not replace the weekly in school lesson but offer some additional support if necessary. Your child will be informed if this option is available to them.”
Hazel added: “Whilst the above is welcome the reality is that the Teams sessions are literally weeks apart as the teacher slots everyone in. In no way does a home recording compensate for the loss of an actual Instrumental lesson in school time. My biggest fear is that the IMS is going to put itself out of business. A lot of parents will be put off paying the prices just for theory lessons and it means the prices will go up for the parents who are left.”
The mum has raised the issue with her local councillor, Moira Shemilt. And SNP education spokesman Councillor Andrew Miller tried to raise an urgent motion to the last meeting of the full council. That was rejected.
Councillor Miller said: “Due to covid restrictions, practical lessons for many instruments are not permitted in schools. We do not support tuition fees in schools on principle, but to charge parents for tuition their children aren’t even receiving is beyond ridiculous.”
A West Lothian Council spokesperson said: “High- quality instrumental music tuition continues to be provided for both secondary and primary pupils across West Lothian. No charges were made for online instrumental music tuition during lockdown, with charges reintroduced this school session from October.
“New students started to pay in December following their free trial period. Strings, percussion and bagpipes (through the use of electronic chanters) instruction is taking place face- to- face in schools, following the implementation of control measures to ensure their safe delivery in line with Scottish Government guidelines. Wind and brass students are currently unable to play their instruments in school during lesson time with their instructor, in line with Scottish Government guidelines. However, students are attending their regular weekly lessons and are being encouraged to submit a recording of their practice which allows the instructor to hear and analyse the performance and to advise the student on how to continue to improve where required.”