Twenty years ago, the announcement by Jack McConnell, who was Scotland’s first minister at the time, that every child would receive one year of free music tuition by the time they leave primary school under a new nationwide arts programme - the Youth Music Initiative (YMI) - coincided with the publication of the What’s Going On? audit of youth music provision.

This report predicted that the YMI would increase participation in music-making from 60,000 to 160,000, but the breadth and depth of the impact on schools, educators and pupils have been beyond expectations, with over 360,000 young people reached in 2021 through both local authorities and non-governmental organisations. Some 86 per cent of funding specifically targets areas with high levels of socioeconomic deprivation.

Still, statistics fail to tell the true story of how transformative consistent YMI funding has been for children and communities in Scotland over the past two decades. One particular project, which has been funded predominantly by the YMI for 15 years, is the whole-class strings project in East Ayrshire Council schools.

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Starting as a small pilot project, these strings lessons are now part of the fabric of 21 primary schools and two secondary schools in the area, including Doon Academy in Dalmellington, with 2,000 pupils per week, and their teachers, benefiting from the positive power of music making. Previously, it had been apparent that a social-class expectation existed around the strings, and one music tutor told us that some children were even frightened to touch the instruments at first due to a lack of self-belief.  

But the YMI, which is administered by Creative Scotland, and the funding that comes from it have levelled the playing field.

Impact of the Youth Music Initiative

Karin Lowrie, music tutor at Doon Academy, notes the sense of pride and achievement that she’s witnessed growing among pupils over the years from their success in lessons, local festival slots and, for one school, performing at the Houses of Parliament. “They’re not just learning music; they’re developing as a person and learning how to cope,” she says.

Kenneth Reilly, headteacher at Doon Academy, says: “Funding has been a huge issue nationally for music, in terms of charges for music tuition and that kind of thing. At one point, as headteacher, I was really worried that money would get in the way of people being able to take part in an activity that I was lucky to take part in.

“I came from an area that would be considered to be deprived, so I understand how important it is to do what we can to enable young people to get that first opportunity. If this initiative hadn’t come along when it did, the level of talent and confidence we see in our young people now we might never have seen.”

(Picture: Venture Creative)

Music lessons provide a safe space where young people can completely be themselves: from quiet to confident, from anxious to calm. 

Elle Kerr, an S4 pupil learning violin through the project, says: “When I’m playing music, it’s so calming and releases anything you’re feeling. I have the stress of my exams coming up, but as soon as I pick up that instrument and hear the sounds, all the worries just go away. That’s why it’s a really good thing, and so positive for young people, especially for their mental health.”

The whole-class strings project truly sums up the ethos of the YMI. It’s free, accessible and young people are learning music making side by side. It’s another form of peer learning and provides progression pathways starting in primary, right through to secondary school, so it’s a constant in their lives.

Looking forward to the next 20 years, consistency will be the focus of the funding - ensuring the right of all young people to be musical and to express themselves in a creative way.

Morag MacDonald (pictured above at an event marking 20 years of the YMI) is Youth Music Initiative manager at Creative Scotland