Thousands sign petition over plan to reduce music tuition in capital schools

NEARLY 2,000 people have signed a petition against plans to cut music tuition in Edinburgh schools.

Instrument tuition is currently free in schools in the capital, but the City of Edinburgh Council plans to cut £500,000 from teaching musical instruments.

The council will this week debate how the savings should be achieved, which could mean charging or reducing the range of instruments available to children.

A number of local authorities in Scotland have in recent months considered cutting musical tuition provision in schools, with some already charging for the service.

In November, Dumfries and Galloway Council unveiled plans to axe musical instrument tuition for pupils. The move came less than a year after Midlothian Council was forced to drop similar proposals after a public outcry.

Campaigners say cuts to music tuition would take opportunities away from young people in the city.

Caroline Sewell, regional officer for Scotland for the Musicians Union, who launched the petition, said: “It’s not right and it’s not fair.

“Cutting Edinburgh’s instrumental music service means taking opportunity away from Edinburgh’s children and young people.

“Over 40 per cent of those from low-income families say music lessons are beyond their household budgets.

“Musicians’ Union research shows that families with a total household income of less than £28,000 are half as likely to have a child learning an instrument as more affluent peers with a family income of £48,000 or more, despite similar levels of interest from both groups of children.

“Music should be available and attainable for all, whether they are the next Lewis Capaldi, Nicola

Benedetti or Primal Scream, or they just want to try something new.”

Alastair Orr, who teaches brass instruments in schools in Stirling, grew up in Edinburgh and attended Portobello High School.

He said: “My parents would not have been able to afford to pay for lessons of an instrument and without free tuition I would not be a musician today.

“I feel strongly that the council’s current enlightened policy of free tuition to all must continue.”

Two years ago, Education Secretary John Swinney said he was “concerned” by decisions to reduce access to instrumental music tuition.

A spokesman for the City of Edinburgh Council said: “We fully recognise the benefits for young people of playing a musical instrument.

“As part of our consultation later in the year we will make sure that pupils from most disadvantaged backgrounds and those studying Scottish Qualifications Authority music will continue to receive tuition.

“The consultation is key to shaping our future plans for the service while recognising the need to make savings.”