Scotland looks at best practice for musical tuition

The individual backgrounds of pupils should not be a barrier to accessing music tuition, says a report by the Scottish Government’s Instrumental Music Group. The group has offered 17 recommendations overall, and emphasises that Local Authorities should review their charging policies to ensure location, income and disability are not factors in accessing instrumental tuition.  Proposals include research into the wider impact of music as well as greater collaboration between local authorities in the provision, purchase, and repair and sharing of instruments and the delivery of tuition. Sponsorship for tuition from private and voluntary sectors was found to already exist in “varied but generally modest arrangements” and given the financial climate, it is suggested “more could be done” in this area.  The Group has met five times between January and May this year, and in five different Scottish cities. Members including local authorities, music teachers, Trade Unions, parents and community groups involved in music were tasked with a review of instrumental music tuition services rather than music taught in the classroom.