EIS warns against cuts to instrumental music tuition

There is a warning that instrumental music could become confined to those who can afford to pay - as multiple councils consider making changes on how lessons are offered.

North Lanarkshire and East Ayrshire are among those who may choose to change delivery of these lessons to try and bridge budget gaps.

The EIS is demanding the tuition continues to be publicly funded - while North Lanarkshire Council looks to bridge a £13.4m black hole.

East Ayrshire Council may outsource the lessons to an arm's length trust.

Commenting, EIS General Secretary Andrea Bradley said: “Music is an essential part of the school curriculum, and one that offers a vast array of opportunities to young people.

"The opportunity to develop their musical talents, either through instrument or through voice, is something that many young people in our schools absolutely cherish.

"In addition to developing their talent, learning music also builds young people’s confidence and can have a strong positive impact on achievement, including attainment.

"It is, therefore, a matter of deep concern that instrumental music provision continues to be under budget-driven threat in some parts of the country.”

Ms Bradley continued, “A large number of people will enjoy the benefits of school instrumental music provision over the festive season.

"Many professional musicians, playing in bands, orchestras and shows will have started out by developing their talents through school instrumental music tuition.

"Young school musicians make many contributions to festive events, both within schools and also further afield in the wider community.

"Many Christmas concerts and carol-singing sessions would be impossible to deliver without the talents developed within our schools.

"Hogmanay celebrations would often not be the same without the presence of a piper – a large number of whom will have first picked up the chanter, and then the pipes, through school instrumental music provision.”

Ms Bradley added: “It is, therefore, a matter of deep concern that instrumental music continues to be seen as a soft target for councils looking to make funding cuts. Music is not an add-on, or an extra-curricular activity, it is a core element of the school curriculum.

"The EIS strongly opposes any cuts to instrumental music provision, such as the proposals that are currently being pursued in East Ayrshire, which would remove Instrumental Music from the education service and farm it out to an arm’s length trust.

"This would have serious implications for schools, for Instrumental Music Teachers and, most importantly, for young people who deserve equal opportunity to learn instrumental music.

"It is simply unacceptable to have a ‘pay to play’ culture around music education in Scotland.

"As the philosopher Arthur Schopenhauer famously said, music is food for the soul – but local authorities are risking starving our collective soul with ill-thought-out cuts to instrumental music provision in our schools.”

A spokesperson for North Lanarkshire Council said: “The council budget for 2025/26 will be discussed at a full meeting of the council in February.

"The council has a budget gap of £13.4m for 2025/26 and councillors will consider how to bridge this gap, and levels of council tax, as part of the budget-setting process.”

A Cosla spokesman said: “Scottish councils thank and congratulate all pupils and school staff for the great job they do playing music at concerts and in ensembles, not just during the festive season but throughout the year.”

The spokesman said the most recent results of an annual survey of instrumental music tuition provision had found that 61,715 school pupils were learning music, almost 9% of all pupils.

This “record high” shows the “continued value that young people see in taking part in instrumental music services”.

“This high level of uptake also reflects the huge amount of work that local authorities have put into promoting their services and taking steps to remove barriers to participation for all pupils.

“All councils greatly value the provision of free instrumental music tuition within their schools.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said: “The Scottish Government has transformed instrumental music tuition in Scotland’s schools by funding councils to eradicate unfair music tuition charges.

“This year we are providing £12m to local authorities to support the continued delivery of free instrumental music tuition in schools.

“It is the statutory responsibility of local councils to ensure that its provision of school education is in line with relevant legislation.”

Hear the latest news on Clyde 1 on FM, DAB, smart speaker or the Rayo app.