Number of students learning an instrument in Scotland hits new low

For the year 2019/20, the IMS report recorded 56,198 instrumental music pupils, while the number peaked in 2016/17 with 61,615 students learning an instrument. 

Local authorities in Scotland have blamed ‘increased charges and a reduction in teaching capacity due to financial constraints’ for this year’s drop, according to the report published in November 2020. 

The results are collected through surveys issued to local authorities, and the report states that ‘not all local authorities were able to provide responses for all sections of the survey.’ 

Out of 32 local authorities in Scotland, 25 reported a reduction in pupil numbers between 2018/19 and 2019/20, which was ‘by far the largest proportion of local authorities reporting a decrease in pupil numbers in any iteration of this survey.’ 

The report highlights the impact of COVID-19 on music services, as well as the increase in fees this academic year, although argues that fees cannot account for the trend alone. It states, ‘With budgets declining on average in real terms in 2019/20 there is clearly less capacity to offer services to pupils.’ 

Out of the 56,198 students participating in local authority provided music tuition, 13,283 (35.6%) of these were in receipt of concessions or exemptions from fees, which does not include the local authorities that do not charge. 

This is the eighth consecutive year in which the IMS report has run, detailing tuition fees, concessionary rates, instrument hire and loan policies, pupil numbers, cost of services, instructor numbers and additional activities. 

The full report can be read here.