Record numbers of Scottish pupils learning musical instruments

The uptake of music tuition has hit a record high, with almost one in 10 pupils in Scotland now learning an instrument, new figures show.

Since the Covid pandemic - when participation in instrumental music tuition slumped as lessons moved online - pupil numbers have rebounded, with record numbers participating in 2023-24, according to the latest annual survey of instrumental music services (IMS).

The research, carried out by the Improvement Service on behalf of Heads of Instrumental Teaching Scotland (HITS), says this reflects “the ongoing popularity and appeal of these services”, as well as the government’s decision to scrap fees in 2021.

However, while record-breaking numbers of pupils are accessing instrumental music tuition, the research also shows that councils are incurring record-breaking costs and struggling to meet demand.

There are waiting lists in all but three councils, running to hundreds of pupils in some areas.

Councils struggling with demand for music tuition

The Improvement Service report says several councils highlighted that the funding provided by the Scottish government to remove fees was insufficient “to meet growing demand or even to maintain capacity, with local authorities continuing to need to make savings”.

Some high-profile budget cuts being proposed for 2025-26 by councils involve instrumental music services. Stirling Council, for example, is considering a range of cuts to education, including a review of its music tuition service, in order to save £400,000 over two years.

Campaigners say if the cuts proceed they would “effectively mean the end of over 60 years of instrumental and vocal teaching in primary and secondary schools”.

• Background: Instrumental music tuition fees to be scrapped
• Council funding: Music a ‘soft target’ for education budget cuts
• Analysis: Music tuition is a success story in Scotland - so why is it in danger?

But the report says: “The key takeaway...is the record number and proportion of pupils participating in the service.”

In 2023-24, 65,985 pupils - 9.5 per cent of the school roll - received instrumental music tuition.

In 2022-23, 61,715 pupils participated, equating to 8.9 per cent of all pupils. In 2021-22 that figure was 8.1 per cent and in 2020-21 it was 6 per cent.

The research also finds that, overall, children from disadvantaged backgrounds are “overrepresented within instrumental music services”, with 23 per cent of IMS pupils from the 20 per cent most deprived areas.

However, the report says this was “heavily influenced by Glasgow City Council” and “in most local authorities (18) IMS pupils from the most deprived areas were underrepresented”.

Costs higher than ever for councils

Demand for IMS is “extremely high, in many cases higher than it has ever been”, but costs are also higher than they have ever been, the report says.

Based on data from 27 of Scotland’s 32 councils, costs rose by £3 million - or 9 per cent - between 2022-23 and 2023-24, taking the total to £35.6 million.

Only three local authorities were able to provide lessons to all interested pupils - down from five in 2022-23.

“In one of the three local authorities that could offer lessons to all, it was noted that this would not be sustainable beyond 2023-24,” the report says.

Most areas maintain waiting lists, sometimes with several hundred pupils on them.

The report states: “Some local authorities said that only a small number of interested pupils were placed on a waiting list. In other areas the level of demand was vastly larger than supply. The Highland Council had around 500 pupils on their waiting list and Angus Council said this was 258 pupils. In Renfrewshire Council around one-third of those who were interested could be provided with lessons.”

Instructor numbers have also failed to grow in line with pupil numbers.

The report says there is “continuing pressure on local authority teaching capacity” and “each year instructors are providing a greater number of pupils with tuition”.

In 2023-24 there were just under 105 pupils per instructor. In 2022-23 the figure was 99.

The report notes that “full-time instructor numbers are at their lowest on record, while part-time numbers have continued to rise”.

The report concludes that with costs increasing and resources failing to keep pace, it is questionable whether current levels of provision can be sustained.

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