Free music tuition in schools in SNP election manifesto

Revealed by The Times yesterday, an £18m commitment to instrumental learning in schools will be part of the SNP’s manifesto ahead of the Scottish Parliament elections in May.

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland principal Jeffrey Sharkey and John Wallace, convenor of Music Education Partnership Group (MEPG), said in a joint statement: ‘Music is essential to the creative development of every child. 

‘Providing free access to high-quality music teaching and progression pathways is a tremendous step forward with the potential to be life-enhancing and transformative, not just for individual young people but for a nation that puts creativity, equity and well-being at the heart of both its communities and economy.

‘We are delighted to see the ambitions of the Music for Scotland manifesto, which include a recognition of the professional status of school instrumental music instructors, being embraced so wholeheartedly as an election commitment.’

The MEPG’s Music for Scotland manifesto also calls for professional status of instructors (GTCS registration), and the rollout of We Make Music to replace the music-making formula fund currently based in schools and delivered by local authority music services.

In December 2020 it was reported that the number of students learning a musical instrument in Scotland was at an all-time low, having dropped by almost 5,500 since 2016/17.