MADNESS TO CUT MUSIC

Wendy Alexander hits out at plans to cut instrument tuition in Renfrewshire

Wendy Alexander said:
“The Council’s plans to cut musical instrument lessons from once a week to fortnightly. This would be a huge step backwards.

Any music teacher will tell you “practice makes perfect” and practice means regular lessons.

Look at the musical talent that has come from Renfrewshire schools. Paolo Nutini is one of the better known products of music tuition in Renfrewshire. He was a regular at school concerts. Renfrewshire school bands and orchestras have been recognised in UK wide competitions over the years.

Almost 30 years ago I played in the Park Mains School Band (a bad clarinettist) alongside percussionist Dougie Vipond who went on to be Deacon Blue’s drummer!

Click here to see emails received from parent/teachers/pupils who are furious over the cuts

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In a year when Paisley applied to host the Mod, Scotland’s Premier Gaelic Music Festival, and  is committed to turning Paisley into Scotland’s “Choir Town” these short-sighted, penny-pinching cuts are musical madness”.  This week on March 12th Paisley Town Hall hosts the Annual Renfrewshire Schools Concert. What message does it send to the Schools Orchestra, Brass Band and Concert Band that their lessons are to be halved?

Today more than 16 music teachers and instrument instructors support over 1700 Renfrewshire pupils learning an instrument. If these short sighted plans go ahead next year that number will drop to less than 10 (FTE) posts.

As one instrument instructor told me this week,

“The loss of 7 instructors would effectively decimate the service provided: one half hour’s lesson per fortnight, which parents are already paying for, would signal the end of any meaningful instrumental provision in the authority. Many parents will feel obliged to seek private tuition – those who cannot afford this will yet again be marginalised and denied access to the undoubted benefits that music tuition can provide. I am a professional musician whose own pathway into a career came through a Local Authority instructor – my own family could not have afforded private tuition -  and I am profoundly depressed that Renfrewshire council does not seem to attach any significant value to its own service. I would be grateful for your continued raising of awareness of the actual impact of these proposals”.

Wendy said:

“I am launching a petition for parents and pupils who want to keep music lessons weekly not fortnightly. Anyone interested in objecting to these plans should email me at wendy.alexander.msp@scottish.parliament.uk We all know of our famous musical sons and daughters. So let’s stop making music teachers and instructors redundant.

Just two years ago I was celebrating a Labour Scheme that gave musical or voice tuition to every single Renfrewshire pupil before they finished P5.