Parliament Workbench

Petition · PE01694 · Session 5

Free Instrumental Music Services

Closed Submitted 8 May 2018 Education
Signatures
0
9,860 online signatures with a country
Comments
824
Considered
4 meetings
in the Official Report

What it asks

Calling on the Scottish Parliament to urge the Scottish Government to change the law to ensure that musical instrument tuition is available as of right to all children attending state schools in Scotland who wish it, free of charge.

What the petitioner did first

I have discussed matters with my local authority and understand that Instrumental Music Services are provided by local authorities at their discretion. In these times of reducing funding to local authorities, discretionary services are easy to cut, or charge for and so I must broach the topic with the Scottish Parliament. I have also had discussions with my MSP and MP.

Where it was considered

Official Report
  1. 13 Sep 2018
    Public Petitions Committee
    New Petitions
    1 mention
  2. 22 Nov 2018
    Public Petitions Committee
    Continued Petitions
    1 mention
  3. 23 Jan 2019
    Education and Skills Committee
    Public Petition
    1 mention
  4. 29 May 2019
    Education and Skills Committee
    Petitions
    1 mention

Signatures by country

9,860 online signatures
  1. Scotland8,120 82.4%
  2. United Kingdom1,348 13.7%
  3. England215 2.2%
  4. United States46 0.5%
  5. Wales11 0.1%
  6. Northern Ireland11 0.1%
  7. Germany10 0.1%
  8. France10 0.1%
  9. Canada10 0.1%
  10. Australia8 0.1%
  11. 33 other countries71 0.7%

Comments

824 comments, oldest first
824 comments · showing 1–50
  1. Denise hogg 8 May 2018
    Both my children had free instrument lessons. My father also taught brass instruments in various schools. Don't think should only be available to those who can afford it or are fortunate enough to have musician on family
  2. Jacqueline Grimley 8 May 2018
    In West Lothian we are fighting for fairness in school music tuition. It will be disastrous for our children's education today and in the future to stop music tuition in schools. Our local council thinks no one will notice if they do this bit by bit but they are so wrong ! Our children deserve fairness in education and should be given the opportunity to be all they can be, instead of having the amazing gift of music taken from them, denying the future of their untapped as yet talents. I urge everyone to support this petition for the sake of this countries future generations. My children are having their aspirations destroyed today because of shortsighted ignorant local councillors who were elected as representatives of the people but who now appear to care little for the people.
  3. Emma Cairns 8 May 2018
    I benefited from free musical tuition as a child and the fees for my children have just doubled to 100% recovery whatever that means. This will be the death of music education in my area and will likely set the precedent across Scotland. This must stop now!
  4. John Leitch 8 May 2018
    Charging for Instrumental instruction was tried before in South Ayrshire and was an unmitigated disaster. The scheme cost as much to administer as it raised and despite the lessons from history the present administration is headed blindly down the same path, driven by political dogma!
  5. Ellen Smith 8 May 2018
    The arts are just as important in the curriculum as any other subject group and in my experience (having taught music in various ways in schools) instrumental tuition in particular is vital to developing a multitude of skills in young people. If Scotland has ambitions to have one of the best education systems in the world this should be an option. Qualifying equality cannot exist without investment.
  6. Ann Ness 8 May 2018
    Both myself and my son received free instrumental lessons and we both continue to play and perform. Music inspires teambuilding and creativity and enhances intellectual ability and confidence.
  7. Caroline Wilson 8 May 2018
    As a parent in Clackmannanshire, I have 2 children currently receiving music tuition and they have been for years. The increase to £524 puts our family in a very difficult position, do we stop both children attending, to we allow the one who has studied longest to continue, do we stop them attending another activity (which will make little impact as Boys Brigade is £1.50 per week and Scouts is £3 versus £17.54 for a music lesson of 30 mins shared with other students). As a volunteer for a youth orchestra I have witnessed music turn around the life of students, I have seen them growing in confidence, working with and appreciating others and also improving in other academic areas. Scotland should be blazing a trail in Education, we should be settling trends, we should be equipping our young people with skills to out-think machines, be creative, artistic, and mentally & emotionally superior
    - music has the power to help with education on all those fronts. Rather than rapidly axing music & the arts from across our nation, we should be turning around education by using music.
  8. Moira Ross 8 May 2018
    Retrograde step in charging for music and disgraceful cutting back on Instrumental Music Lessons in school.
  9. Tracey Lloyd 8 May 2018
    I am appalled to read that the cost of group, mixed lessons in Clackmannanshire is the highest in the country. I am a professional musician and trumpet teacher at the Royal Northern college of music raised in Clackmannanshire and my career would not have been possible without free instrumental lessons. Music should be for everyone, not just the privileged who can afford to pay.
  10. Jim Prime 8 May 2018
    Current research indicates that playing music assists understanding of mathematics and physics. I am a member of Deacon Blue (keys) and UWS lecturer. I made my point as guest of BBC Scotland Grant Stott. Short minded and arrogance from councils given the green card by Scottish Government to do what they want. What is the point of YMI if you then ask folk to pay once they are hooked on playing. That's like giving kids a drug then making them pay for it!!!!
  11. Miriam Kacmarska 8 May 2018
    Keep music tuition affordable in Clackmannanshire!
  12. Morag Shaw 8 May 2018
    My son left school last year in Dunfermline to continue studying music. He had the opportunity to study cello from Primary 5. We paid fees up until 4th year. We struggled to pay the fees and pay for the supplemental orchestras he then went in to play with. We made the effort as he had an aptitude for music and on the whole wasn't very academic. If funding is withdrawn or increased there are pupils who may excel in music who will miss out. Not all pupils are suited to traditional academia and will not get a chance to find the thing that may be their forte.
  13. Susan Burns Elins 8 May 2018
    Research has shown the benefits of musical tuition in terms of brain growth and development. Should this opportunity be restricted to those who can afford to pay for it? Clackmannanshire has significant areas of deprivation and children who live here are now to be further disadvantaged.
  14. Jo Hadoke 8 May 2018
    Music education is a must, a sign of a civilised society. Please ensure access for all continues, the benefits are lifelong.
  15. Emma Mathieson 8 May 2018
    I learnt clarinet at school and found the lessons invaluable. I played in the school band increasing my confidence and social skills. I would like all children to be afforded this opportunity.
  16. Margaret Robb 8 May 2018
    Children should be encouraged and supported to play musical instruments
  17. Susan Cowan 8 May 2018
    As someone who benefited from music tuition, I feel that it is very important. Music is a release for me and is proven to help children concentrate on other subjects. Also, not all children are academic. Music is proven to be important to well being.
  18. Kenneth Brown 8 May 2018
    Thanks to having Free tuition when I was at school I was given the opportunity to learn a brass instrument. From here I have gone on to have a career as a professional musician as a performer and educator.
  19. Claire Wilson 8 May 2018
    Creativity is the key to future adaptability. Discipline and dedication is key to skills for life and skills for work. Music tuition provides both. Free music tuition provides this for all, inclusion for all to gain the skills to develop and foster their creativity, dedication, discipline and mental wellbeing.
  20. Susan Pugh 8 May 2018
    I wish my granddaughter to be able to continue to play the saxophone and improve her musical skills.
  21. John Hinckley 8 May 2018
    Without any reference to Arts and Crafts we breed a desolate nation. Another catastrophe in the offing driven by pathetic thoughts from politicians who should know better.
  22. David Dickson 8 May 2018
    Music tuition for all regardless of ability to pay should be viewed as a right not a privilege.
  23. Phillip Lamb 8 May 2018
    Learning a musical instrument should be available to all children of all ages regardless of means or background.
  24. Alistair McGregor 8 May 2018
    Children benefit so much from music and it is totally inclusive for everyone regardless of physical ability. Hopefully the Scottish Government sees the benefits and behaves like a socially just Government.
  25. Sheila Clarke 8 May 2018
    Music tuition is a very important service provided by councils. It gives children and young people the opportunity to engage in the Arts and promotes creativity. It encourages self discipline and provides enjoyment and a means of relaxation. Music is a way of closing the gap as it does not discriminate between those who have and those who have not. My own son benefited from this service and as a result still plays violin as part of an orchestra.
  26. Sheena Jardine 8 May 2018
    Music is vital to society and for a child, it has been shown time and time again how music education lifts a child's academic results and also boosts self esteem, confidence and life skills. With a little research it would become clear that learning a musical instrument or singing should be a vital part of education, another vital subject alongside maths.
  27. James Cruickshank 8 May 2018
    Instrumental tuition directly benefited my ability to progress in the field of engineering. Problem solving, focus, ability to identify patterns, teamwork etc. are all everyday skills improved by music tuition.
  28. Sarah Houston 8 May 2018
    Sounds great! Take the lead, Scotland!!!
  29. Sandra Bamber 8 May 2018
    I sincerely believe that learning music in schools is as important physical education. Scotland has a rich history of mur and singers, who wouldn't have become successful or discovered their talent for music, had they not received the opportunity to learn music or to play an instrument of sing, at school. Young people have enough stresses in their lives today and music is a wonderful medium to alleviate anxiety and stress. I therefore think stopping teaching them to play an instrument will be detremental.
  30. Petrea Cooney 8 May 2018
    The benefits to free instrumental tuition need no justification
  31. Anne MacAskill 9 May 2018
    I am sure this has been petitioned for before, but it is imperative that children are encouraged to make music and that it is available for all, regardless of their background.
  32. Katie Cameron 9 May 2018
    Music is a fantastic way for children to express themselves!
  33. Neil Smith 9 May 2018
    Ex Professional trumpet player in many orchestras , London west end , Jools Holland etc ... started at primary school in east Ayrshire... this is so important please make this happen
  34. Irene Kenny 9 May 2018
    A cultural necessity
  35. Ann Lindsay 9 May 2018
    My son is 12 and has missed out on this opportunity because of the cost. It breaks my heart, he so desperately wished to learn any instrument.
  36. Kirstin sharp 9 May 2018
    Music is such an important lesson and should not just be for those that can afford. So much research shows it helps attainment in other areas by playing an instrument
  37. Linda Dallas 9 May 2018
    Music has been proved to raise attainment. As closing the attainment gap is one of the government's priorities it is not logical for instrumental services to be drastically cut as every region has seen!
  38. Gayle McCutcheon 9 May 2018
    We pure and simply CANNOT discriminate in this manner. ALL children should be able to have music lessons without their parents or guardians having the worry of how to pay for them.
  39. Kat Neill 9 May 2018
    Please keep music instructors in schools
  40. Alison Murphy 9 May 2018
    "When words fail, music speaks." Hans Christian Anderson
  41. Carol Ann Hedley 9 May 2018
    Music can change lives as playing an instrument helps the education of a child never mind a hobby for life that allows sharing and playing together. Therefore the mental well being of the child into adulthood helped. Many of the pupils go on to have wonderful careers and enrich their families, communities, nationally and internationally with wonderful music.
  42. Steven Mead 9 May 2018
    Think of all the wonderful musicians who benefited from music education in Scotland. Think about what you are losing, for a couple of generations. So sad, please think again
  43. David fraser 9 May 2018
    Music tuition and playing an instrument provides huge opportunities for children, it helps build confidence, learn about discipline and structure, children get the opportunity to meet people they would not normally do. Losing music tuition in schools would be a tragedy, and to the detriment of society
  44. Andrew McGarva 9 May 2018
    Musical education is a right for everyone
  45. Pauline Kean 9 May 2018
    A member of my family currently is receiving lessons at a school in Paisley and I hope this continues.
  46. Rona Chisholm 9 May 2018
    Instrumental tuition at school enriched my life. How can paying for this help close the attainment gap? As with most sports, instrumental tuition must be free at all state schools in Scotland.
  47. Philippa Chandler 9 May 2018
    Access to the arts at an early age should be accessable to all, despite family income.
  48. Danny Alderslowe 9 May 2018
    With rising austerity there is rising poverty for many and rising wealth for a few. In rural parts of Scotland we are witnessing some affording private tuition,or receiving a wide choice at their boarding schools, part sponsored by us. With the rise of mental health reflecting varying pressures on any families,learning music is a therapeutic art that gives many young people, a skill,focus, distraction even from things going on round about them.Please make this available to the many.
  49. Lesley Steven 9 May 2018
    Music is a vital part of child development and should not be restricted to those who can afford to pay for it.
  50. Margaret Trusdale 9 May 2018
    We must allow ALL children free music tuition
    - should not just be for the financially better off! Surely that goes against what the SNP stands for???