A proposed new music tuition platform would “unlock opportunities for every child”, Scottish Labour has said.
The party has today outlined plans to establish a “national online support platform” to provide music learning to more children in Scotland.
High demand for lessons combined with huge pressure on local authority budgets means the Scottish government’s promise of free music tuition amounts to “empty words” for many children, Labour has warned.
Tes Scotland understands that a number of local authorities are looking to cut music budgets, including some run by Labour.
Labour says that 27 out of Scotland’s 32 councils have waiting lists for music tuition, citing research from the Improvement Service’s annual Instrumental Music Services Survey.
Rebounding from Covid
However, in January Tes Scotland reported research on instrumental music instruction in Scotland that showed pupil numbers rebounding “very strongly” after participation took a hit during the Covid pandemic.
The number of pupils benefiting from lessons last year was at the highest level since the Instrumental Music Services Survey began in 2013.
Labour says that its proposed online platform would “supplement in-person lessons and enable music teachers to deliver lessons to large groups”.
A similar platform has been used by the Labour-run Welsh government, with every child in the country getting access to the Charanga Cymru online service.
‘Empty’ free music promise
Scottish Labour culture spokesperson Neil Bibby said: “For too many children, the SNP’s promise of free music tuition is just empty words.”
He added that “hundreds of children are already stuck on waiting lists and things are at risk of getting worse” as the SNP and Greens in government “inflict yet more brutal cuts on council budgets”.
Mr Bibby said: “We can transform music tuition in this country, starting by harnessing the power of technology to expand and support music learning.”
Scottish Labour’s proposed platform would be used to help instrumental music teachers, but also to support non-specialist teachers - particularly in primary schools - to provide music learning.
The platform is not intended to replace in-person music tuition and Labour says the estimated cost would be £500,000 a year.
A Scottish government spokesperson said: “While local authorities are responsible for the provision of instrumental music tuition in schools, the Scottish Government is providing £12 million in 2024-25 to ensure that the tuition offered is free - helping to ensure that young people are given the opportunity to take part in music regardless of their background.
“As a result, the most recent figures showed 61,715 pupils participating in instrumental music lessons, the highest number since the annual survey began.”
The spokesperson added: “To widen access to music-making for children and young people more broadly, the Scottish government provides support for the Youth Music Initiative programme. In 2023-24, we awarded £9.5 million to the programme.”
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