Every primary school pupil in Scotland has been promised the opportunity to have free music tuition. The Scottish Executive is providing an extra £17.5m over the next three years to enable all local authorities to remove charges for at least one year for children to learn a musical instrument.
Scottish Arts Council will now work with local authorities and music organisations to develop a strategy for improving the availability of musical instruments, widen the spread of instruments and musical styles for children to participate in, and maximise the role of the voluntary and informal education sector. The announcement of the new funding was made by First Minister Jack McConnell, who also welcomed the publication of ?What?s going on?: an audit of youth music provision? conducted by the Scottish Arts Council, Youth Music and the Musician's Union. The audit found that children's experience and opportunities vary according to where they live, and the report estimates that 60,000 children and young people currently participate regularly in music making, but that number would increase to around 100,000 if they had the opportunity. It also identifies the barriers to participation caused by local authorities charging tuition fees, the limited availability of instruments, tutors and other facilities. These barriers were found to be hardest on those children who are most in need and who could gain much from participation in music. The research report is available on the SAC website at http://www.scottisharts.org.uk/publications/publications.htm#research, or from the SAC help desk t: 0845 603 6000.
Published: 10-03-2003