More cash for instruments

SCHOOLS WILL be given an extra £1 million to buy musical instruments for pupils.

The Scottish Government, which announced the cash injection, will also set up a group to look at music tuition fees, which can vary across councils.

Minister for Learning, Alasdair Allan, said every child should have the opportunity to learn an instrument.

“Currently, there are too many children being put off taking up music because of the cost of the instrument,” he said.

“I have asked for two clear courses of action to be taken to fix this.

“Firstly, the Scottish Government will provide Scottish schools with an extra £1 million to buy musical instruments.

“The belief that any young person who wants to learn music can is shared across the political parties and with local government.

“So secondly, I have asked that people come together in a new Instrumental Music Group to look at how we deliver music tuition.

“The group’s work will also examine how we ensure local musical traditions are catered for as well as studying what role the wider musical community can play in supporting our ambitions for our children.”

The group will have an independent chairman and will include representatives of parents and teachers. It will start next month and report back in summer.

In September, Education Secretary Michael Russell told a Holyrood committee that charging fees for musical instrument tuition in schools is undesirable but difficult to avoid during a squeeze on public finances.

Some pupils have been put off learning an instrument.